Soft drinks?

View Quoted Comment When you host guests in your home so you charge them for a beverage?

My venue was charging $4 per can of pop plus service charge so $3 per sounds phenomenal. Thankfully we were able to negotiate that to be included with the venue. I know it’s another cost and weddings get expensive, but I would definitely include it.

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This is how I think of it, too... When you have friends or family over do you ask them to hand you a dollar before they can take a soda from your fridge? When you host a wedding reception, you're exactly that - a host. Asking guests to pay for their own refreshments is bad hosting.

View Quoted Comment When we host something at our house our friends bring alcohol if they want that to drink. We also don’t usually serve soda that is $5/can...

I see that. It’s just not a necessity to me and honestly more than half of my guests don’t drink. If people really care about me they would be fine with whatever I serve. These comments are a bit wild, especially since this is concerning
my wedding that I am paying for. There is a difference between giving advice and being rude. Just bc they want to spend thousands on alcohol doesn’t mean I want to. If they want to pitch in on the open bar then by all means, if not they can keep their negative comments to themselves.

View Quoted Comment These comments are representative of what your guests will think. If you don’t care what they think, that’s fine, but you should know so you can make informed decisions.

View Quoted Comment It’s against the CGs to tell people to keep their comments to themselves.

Are you going to charge them for dinner too? I don’t drink, either, but you can be damn sure I provided free and plentiful booze (and soda because apparently that’s an issue) for my guests.

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I don't see giving an honest opinion as being negative or rude. You asked what we thought. Yes, weddings are expensive and yes a lot of vendors will jack up the price of something just because it's a wedding. If you can't afford to properly host your guests with at least some soft drinks, then you should cut your guest list until you can. IMO a cash bar isn't as bad as a completely dry wedding, but still pretty rude.

Do what you want, but like PP have said these comments are pretty representative of what your guests will think, even if they don't say it to your face.

The point that many are trying to make here is that your wedding reception is supposed to be your way of thanking all of your guests for attending your ceremony. It is you thanking them for taking time out of their busy lives to come to an important event in yours. Guests sometimes have to travel as well as arrange accommodations, and then they often bring gifts for the newlywed couple. They do all of this to be a part of your special day.

In return, the couple (or whoever is paying) typically is responsible for properly hosting their guests at the reception. You are free to define "proper hosting" however you please, but the consensus is usually a fully-catered meal with -- at least -- beer and wine.

Like I said, you can define "proper hosting" however you like. Just be forewarned that many will not agree with you, and your guests may consider you cheap/tacky/poor hosts.

View Quoted Comment I don’t remember putting anywhere on this post about not paying for the meal. But carry on..

I’m going to a wedding soon that we just found out is going to be cash bar. The bride is also planning to do several other serious breaches of etiquette (for example, making a few of her relatives wear wristbands saying they aren’t allowed to drink more than x drinks because she’s worried they’ll get too drunk) and I’m half expecting to be charged for the meal. FH and I are going to go but any money that might have gone to their gift or their card will be going to their bar, because they are not hosting properly.

Moral of the story: you’re paying for it one way or another. We’re also probably leaving right after dinner.

View Quoted Comment Free alcohol is part of properly hosting your guests, just like the meal. That’s the point.

I disagree.

Enjoy the ride when your guests talk about the wedding where they were “expected to pay for soda” for years to come. People don’t forget!

View Quoted Comment Well we are not going to charge anyone for the food. We just don’t want to spend thousands on alcohol. I’m sure our guests will be just fine. People on this post are more upset than our guests will be.

View Quoted Comment I don’t care..If that is the only take away they got from our wedding then they didn’t really care about us to begin with. My family and friends aren’t that shallow anyway.

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Expecting to be properly hosted at an event like a wedding has nothing to do with being shallow. I'm not going to a wedding for free booze, but it doesn't hurt. Most celebrations tend to include alcohol.

View Quoted Comment It is when you care more about us having a cash bar more than enjoying the company of people there and having a good time.

View Quoted Comment Are you done yet?