Wedding this weekend was a let down!

To me, "open bar" would include liquor as well.

That's not an open bar.

Premium open bar means they are serving top shelf liquor ( patron, Grey goose)

At least around here, open bar would include liquor. Premium open bar would include not just liquor, but premium brands of liquor. We had open bar but not premium open bar.

To my mind, there is nothing wrong with having just wine and beer, or even no alcohol at all. But you are setting people up for disappointment if you say there is an open bar, and there isn't.

Open bar means you don't have to pay, she did have open bars. A lot of cities don't even allow liquor in places like that anyways. We had no alcohol because we didnt want everyone drunk at 2 Pm on a Sunday. Lol.

Likely the no liquor is a rule of the facility... But it wasn't a cash bar... So yes it was open

A search on google says its a bar at a special function in which the drinks have been prepaid for by the host/hostess...

It's still an open bar. It's called a limited open bar. I've never heard anyone complain about having free beer and wine.

People's idea of open are always going to be loosely different depending on where you go. I wouldn't have told anyone we were having an open bar even if we were.

Yeah she even bragged to another friend how she should do an open bar ( that other friend gave beer during the cocktail hour and unlimited bottles of wine on the table) like I don't see what the difference is...

She had a limited open bar. We're considering one as well.

Think of it this way: if she had to purchase all of the alcohol in advance, and all she bought was beer and wine, of COURSE you wouldn't be able to pay extra at the event in order to have a cocktail.

And to whoever said I'm complaining about the free beer and wine? No I'm complaining there was no other options when she informed everyone it was open bar. I'd rather pay for a rye and coke then get bloated off beer or drink cheap wine.

Well I'm not having hard liquor at my wedding either... Hopefully the free beer and wine that we provide will be appreciated...

Technically your friend did have an open bar. I guess I agree that she should have specified that she was having a beer and wine bar, since she talked about it so much. However, I don't quite understand your reaction in this respect: You seem OK with having to pay for hard liquor alongside the free beer and wine, but not OK with beer and wine only. Had there been hard liquor available for purchase, would you have made a post outlining your disappointment in your friend's open beer and wine bar?

@miriam no I wouldn't of. Everything is appreciate for sure, like I've said but when you tell a friend it's not ok to just give beer and bottles of wine on the tables but you do the same thing. It's quite tacky

OK. I can understand that, and agree. It sounds like you're not really so upset about the "open bar" label; you're upset about your friend's hypocrisy.

Lesson learned: always bring a flask

@kirsten I normally do, the " open bar" rumour convinced me otherwise.

Hmmm... I'm thinking your friend may have deliberately deceived you if she knew about your habit of bringing flasks to weddings.

I probably would have done the same thing.

@Barb I was kidding.

When i hear open bar, around here, that means liquor included. open beer and wine is called...open beer and wine lol. we are having open beer and wine, but people can purchase liquor. i dont think our venue allows shots. so it seems like it would have been fine if she had called it like it was, but weird that she worded it the way she did

The technical term for a bottomless beer/wine bar is "limited" (the same term applies to bars that provide ALL liquors -- which are free -- for a set period of time, or a bar that limits how many drinks -- made with any liquor -- a guest can consume for free by handing in a drink ticket). An open bar provides all liquors and cocktails at the hosts' expense for the duration of the event. A top shelf/premium open bar offers all premium brand liquors at the hosts' expense for the duration of the reception.

You're right, OP. She did not have an open bar. She hosted a limited bar. No judgment, just industry terms.

@the centerpiece flowers, boom!