Wine only reception? Then byob?

Everyone will have a difference of opinion on wedding etiquette but I know for me liquor does not offend me be it cash bar or open bar. For me personally I think that is ok. I drink wine but my FH does not so we would bring whiskey to share or something else. We are relaxed like that but some people may turn their noses up at the idea. How is your crowd of people you are inviting? I have heard of doing that and I feel you are offering a liquor option.

View Quoted Comment Our guests are pretty much just family and super close friends! Neither of us are inviting any coworkers or anything like that we just want to pick people that we know we are super close to!

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If they are relaxed people and do not let certain things get to them then I do not see why not? I guess what I mean is I am having a ceremony with my best friend, her hubby and my big bro but my MOH just threw a bridal brunch for me (no registry or gifts expected) but all my friends that came knew how our wedding will be and just came to celebrate our day regardless of the fact they are not coming. That is my friend circle whereas I know that is a BIG etiquette faux pas and some would look down on that. If you're circle would not be offended by that then do it.

You know your circle the best. If you're having a more casual gathering and your family/friends wouldn't think twice about this, then more power to you.

FH and I went to a more casual wedding on a Sunday a year or so ago and I want to say FH brought some alcohol, but I'm not 100% positive.

I personally would not do BYOB, cash bar, etc. for my own wedding because I feel like if I am hosting an event, I should take care of everything for the guests, and we have a lot of liquor fans.

However, as a guest I am respectful of whatever other hosts do. Since I'm not a big drinker, I'd be perfectly content with the wine bar.

I just think this is a recipe for wasted guests. Not even if that’s their intention, but usually people who are not bartenders make drinks way stronger because you don’t even realize it. I’d be careful with this one - maybe just do beer and wine open bar? Even liquor bar but with a bartender would be better.

I don't drink wine and can count on one hand the number of people I know who do so I would hope the bar would at least have plenty of Cokes etc. I would not attend a BYO wedding though, nor would even the most laidback 'don't care about rules' people I know. Serve what you can afford and don't offer what you can't. But it is never the guests' responsibility to provide food/drink/entertainment etc for a wedding you are hosting. BYO works at a family bbq in the park but not for a wedding.

I honestly think it sounds fine. At my wedding we had options of cognac or wine only and we said that it was also bring your own alcohol so whatever you want to bring you can bring

Most all family, and that small a group, in the afternoon, some will grumble, but not be truly offended, and likely will bring liquor.
As long as you are offering an assortment of non-alcoholic beverages, people will have plenty to drink. The problem is if you have a few heavy drinkers. They generously bring large bottles, so friends can share, it is only $20-30 for a 1.75 liter bottle. each of which is 36 shots.
10 people do that, with no regulating the flow as a bartender does, when half are drinking wine, the other half could be sozzled, overserving many 8-10 shots.Since you are already providing coffee, juice and soda mixers, and water and ice, you might do better to also spend $100 on 4 kinds of hard liquor in large bottles, and serve liquor, and know that a max of 36 x 4= 144 shots of liquor will be out there. Not a huge amount more, from guest BYOB. Personally, neither hubby nor I drink wine, and we would not byob, simply have what the hosts provide that is non-alcoholic and accept that. Just coffee or ice coffee is fine at a daytime event.As a host, one who has worked catering where byob events are allowed, the potential for far too much liquor , would be the issue. And the liquor itself costs so little, the cost os a bartender.

I think that’s fine. We served wine only at our reception. Our venue gave us the hardest time about not being able to serve more than one type of alcohol unless we wanted to do a FULL open bar (and we wanted to do a consumption bar). So we basically had to choose either wine OR beer and we chose wine 🤷🏻‍♀️ Some people were a little annoyed that the venue wouldn’t even let them purchase their own beer but it wasn’t a huge deal and they knew it wasn’t our fault lol

I don't see a problem with it. Also it allows your guest to drink whatever they prefer

I think offering wine only is fine. I wouldn't necessarily allow BYOB though. You run the risk of people over serving themselves, and you'd have little control. Just serve the wine and other non-alcoholic beverages. People should be fine.