Rehearsal dinner - drinks included or cash bar?

We provided a full meal and open bar.

We are doing a restaurant that is also a brewery. Everything was included, even the booze.

I'm almost never a fan of hosting something and asking people to pay, so the rehearsal/wedding/brunch on Sunday for those who want to join us will all be on us.

But! We're doing a low key rehearsal at a house FH's parents are renting. It'll be catered and we'll be hitting Costco for drinks.

Open bar, but it could totally be a limited bar.

The cost is the reason we aren't doing it at a restaurant. We are doing a Low Country Boil at our house for 26 people. Because of some family connections, we can get the seafood for about $100. We will provide alcohol, but are able to buy on base since FH is retired AF. Possible a total of $300-400 instead of $2500!

We are doing full open bar for our RD on Friday (60 people) and just beer and wine for our "welcome party" Friday night. Beer & wine open bar could be a good middle ground, especially since no one will want to be hungover for the wedding!

I wouldn't invite people to a rehearsal dinner and then expect them to pay for drinks.

We're doing a consumption beer/wine bar.

We're doing open beer and wine. If you're hosting people you really should provide some sort of adult beverage.

There is one venue that we're very interested in that has no drink package whatsoever (Portillo's, for those wondering) and it has to be a cash bar. We're still waiting to find out if we could simply open a tab for everyone or what the logistics of that would be...

With the average drink price in Chicago ($9-$14) and a handful of family members that will only drink top-shelf, packages are just more affordable. We're leaning more toward open-bar for 2 hours -- but just wanted to see what people thought. We wouldn't expect anyone to pay for something but I feel it doesn't hurt to ask!

Mine was at a restaurant. Guests ate and drank as they pleased :- ) (consumption based, not a package price)

Definitely host the bar.

My daughters Mother in Law hosted her RD. She paid for all drinks....except those for my ex husband, his wife, my sister and me!!!! Totally rude.

We paid for 100% of everything else, including the honeymoon and she (due to her jealousy) decided to "get back at us" by making us pay for our own drinks. My ex, being a gentleman, picked up our tab.

Anytime you are hosting something, that means guests don't (shouldn't) pay for anything! Have some sort of alcohol, even if its just wine service on the tables or something.

We are having it at the inn the night before. We will be offering beer and wine. We are purchasing it and bringing it to the inn.

We did heavy apps (but enough to make up a meal) and full bar. We paid by consumption.

We're not having a bar at our rehearsal dinner (wait, just hear me out!). Our RD is at a public park, so alcohol is illegal. Everyone will know that going in because it's a public park. If we could legally provide booze, we would. ETA: would you be allowed to buy bottles of wine or beer in advance? Then folks aren't choosing other than "wine or beer". The venue may work with you on a super limited option like that.

Check out Lou Malnatis! They're prices aren't too bad (in comparison to "nicer" places)

We booked a hotel meeting room and had our caterer/chef (for the wedding) also cater the rehearsal dinner. We estimated one beer and one wine per person and paid the caterer for that (I think we had like a $200 budget for that) -- granted if we provided it ourselves it would have been cheaper but due to licensing/permits, it was easier for the caterer to provide it.

It was for 32 adults (if I recall correctly).

Thanks all! I appreciate the advice. FH and I just talked it out on an evening walk and we're 100% doing open bar but for a limited time/limited quantity (i.e.: beer & wine)

Thank you again!