Venue will only allow Cash Bar

It's not that you CAN'T have a cash bar, you just shouldn't (at least for a wedding).

Ask about a consumption bar, you may be able to go that route. Sorry that you found an amazing venue, but it's bar options suck!

I'm with PP if you like the venue and that's the only problem just pay the tab at the end.

Good instincts OP!

My favorite venue didn't have a handicap entrance because it was a historical site and legally didn't need to alter the building for that. It was a bummer but it wasn't the perfect venue. We moved on.

As PPs have stated, I'm sure there is an option for them to run a tab and YOU pay it at the end of the night. The venue shouldn't care who's paying as long as they get their money at the end of the night.

Have them ring up every drink and pick up the tab (which I suspect will be less than you think...)

Or find a new venue. Cash bars blow.

Serving only beer is not an option. And by the way Impatient, it won't prevent people from 'getting sloshed".

I would say no cash bar. Is there no option to just pick up the tab at the end of the night?? Our venue is essentially a cash bar too but they will let us put money down as we need to as people order drinks.

You need to run the tab through your venue and pay it off yourselves. You do not allow your guests to subsidise your wedding.

Find another venue. Tell them why. Or have people get drinks and hand you the bill at the end.

See if you can pay an upfront amount and get refunded for what isnt used

If you really love the venue then pay the tab at the end of the night. Or keep looking! There's plenty of venues out there. Good luck.

You know I don't understand why people say cash bars are rude. I mean, if you aren't having a destination wedding, then there usually isn't a lot of expense going into someone attending a wedding. At a wedding you pay for tea, coffee, lemonade, appetizers, dinner, and cake if they want it. If they want to drink, why can't they pay for it themselves. I consider as a party and sometimes people ask if they can bring something, so how is that not the same?

"then there usually isn't a lot of expense going into someone attending a wedding." HA. HA. HA.

Sure. When I have a party at my house I charge $5 a drink. Super normal. Everyone loves me.

@Mafia so if someone offers to bring something to a party, you say no? Every time?

Well, in today's society giving a gift or money or whatever isn't a must. So you can go to a wedding and not spend a thing. I do t see why that's a laughable notion?

Making sure you don't show up emptyhanded to a party is not the equivalent to having a cover charge.

I personally will not have this problem as there will be no alcohol served at my wedding, but nevertheless I have never understood.

@Carolyn, that's not at all true.

If I'm invited to a wedding, I'm paying for a bridal shower gift (~$50-$100 depending on how close I am to bride and groom), a wedding gift (~$150-$200, depending on how close I am to the bride and groom), a hotel unless I can UBER home, childcare/pet care, I'm probably buying a new dress or shirt for FH at least some of the time, gas/tolls/transportation/parking...

If the wedding is on a Friday or other weekday, I'll need to take off work. If it's on a holiday weekend, accommodations and travel will be extra pricey.

I could easily spend ~500+ to attend an in town wedding. A destination wedding or even an hour-two away will require hotels and pet care/childcare, which easily bumps you over $1k even without a new outfit.

Expecting me to open my wallet at your wedding because you're too cheap to properly host an event means I'm opening up my card and using some of my generous gift to supplement the cost of my drinks.

A wedding isn't a fucking potluck or Super Bowl party FFS. The reception is a thank you to your guests for attending your wedding - why would they pay for their own drinks if the entire point is to thank them?

You're reaching, big time.

Cash bars never bothered my FH or me until I joined WW.

And then we ended up at a cash bar wedding (after driving 8 hours one way)

and now my FH won't stop talking about his friend's "cheap wedding" with a cash bar!

You don't want your guests to talk about how cheap your wedding was behind your back! Don't do that to your guests!

Crossing fingers for your venue allowing a consumption bar!

Your wedding sounds like it'll be a blast, Carolyn.

Weddings don't cost a lot of money to attend? I'm spending (as it stands right now, maybe more) $3,000 on weddings this year, only one of which I'm a bridesmaid in, and only one of which I need a hotel for.

Weddings cost a lot of money to attend. Give your guests a free drink for fuck's sake.

We wouldn't even let the bartender have a tip jar. You come to our wedding, we're paying for your drinks AND we're doing the tipping.