I'm at a wedding with a cash bar.

[jennlin]

Did the bride never consult the national boards on TK?

Discuss cash bars. Go.

[Deleted]

If you can't afford to have a bar don't have one.

[kwpnjumper55]

The wedding I'm Shooting tomorrow is a potluck. I will take a cash bar over potluck

[dawnyp]

Our venue tried to tell us it would be fine to host an open bar during cocktail hour then switch to a cash bar for dinner. We hosted an open bar all evening because it was important to us that our guests not pay for anything.

[jennlin]

H and I are not big drinkers..but I still think an open bar (even if it's just wine or beer) is necessary. Should be budgeted as part of throwing a wedding. If you can't afford it, cut someting or pick a later wedding date.

[Deleted]

We just couldn't afford an open bar at ours. We had tons of beer and wine but no liquor. Our venue required us to hire a bartender if we had liquor, but didn't need one for beer and wine, it just wasn't in the budget to add that extra cost.

I would much rather go to a dry wedding than go to one with a cash bar.

[emyinpink]

Cash bar = super tacky. We did unlimited beer and wine (DH's homebrew and wine from the winery our wedding was at, they didn't allow hard alcohol).

[emyinpink]

Aug 11, 2012 20:33:08 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Aug 11, 2012 20:21:03 GMT -5 @sounderschick said:

We just couldn't afford an open bar at ours. We had tons of beer and wine but no liquor. Our venue required us to hire a bartender if we had liquor, but didn't need one for beer and wine, it just wasn't in the budget to add that extra cost.

I would much rather go to a dry wedding than go to one with a cash bar.

Beer and wine is perfectly fine for a wedding! That's what we did. It was more affordable and we didn't need anyone getting sloppy drunk.

well beer and wine can get you sloppy drunk....or maybe that's just me and our friends/family haha

[joenali]

We didnt have alcohol. And I don't care if there is a cash bar or not.

[jennlin]

Exceptions for recovering alcoholics and religious reasons.

[Deleted]

My FIL, he was our officiant, didn't want us to have any alcohol at our wedding. His reasoning being that if anyone got in an accident leaving our reception it would be considered our fault.

[Deleted]

Aug 11, 2012 22:21:03 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

I know I'm in the minority here, but cash bar >>>>>> no bar.

This. Also, I think you should let people know ahead of time too. (roadies anyone? Just kidding!)

I know this makes me sound like an alcoholic, but half of h's family is mormon. They're nice people, but their family gatherings can be super boring.

[Deleted]

Oh and a few years ago I was invited to a potluck wedding. It was hard to side eye though, it was a shot gun wedding because she was 5 months pregnant and they didnt have much money for a wedding with a kid on the way. I couldn't go, but yeah....

[marynjoe]

If you can't make it through a wedding reception without a drink, you should be at an AA meetng.

If you have some money, do beer and wine. If your budget is really low, just offer soft drinks, water, tea, coffee, whatever. I'm not big on cash bars either.

[joenali]

Why do people have to get drunk at weddings to have a good time? Seriously you don't need alcohol to have fun!! I also think getting drunk is way tackier than a cash bar at a wedding. Not saying you all get "drunk " but some of you seem to be saying you need alcohol to " losen up". I guess I just do get it. I'm not a recovering alcoholic nor am I religious. And I do drink on occasion.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't consider going to a friends wedding giving up my night. Alcohol is not necessary at any event by any means. Most of the time anymore I don't even want a drink when we are out.

[emyinpink]

I don't think you need to have alcohol at a wedding, but if you're not going to give me at least a glass of wine, it should be a daytime wedding. Definitely not an alcoholic, but DH and I enjoy having a drink (or a few) when we're out at night, especially at events like weddings or with family .

[emyinpink]

And I also think that not having alcohol should reflect the rest of the event. A bride spending 2 grand on her dress with elaborate floral centerpieces and not providing at least wine/beer for guests, not cool. A small, close friends and family afternoon get-together totally fine. I definitely don't think people need to spend a lot of money on a wedding, but taking care of your guests should be the first concern.

[jennlin]

Oh we can definitely make it through a wedding without drinking (we didn't drink tonight), AND we had a good time. I am definitely not the type to need a drink to losen up. I am the sober-karaoke'er usually. but if you're going to invite us to a grand event, don't expect us to split the tab with you.

And definitely, cash bar > no bar.

[carylee07]

I def don't need a drink to have fun but I like having the option. So I would rather be at a cash bar then no bar at all.

I went to a dry wedding once and it was awful. Not awful I guess but you notice every little thing wrong with the reception when you are bored AND 100% sober. Haha

I personally made sure ours was open bar but if I go to a cash bar wedding, it's not terrible as long as I know ahead of time and make sure I actually have cash on me.

[marynjoe]

I am so not getting some of these posts. A bride and groom spent thousands of dollars to celebrate their wedding. They invite you to share in one of the most important days of their lives. They offer food and drink, dessert, music, and all at no cost to you (unless you give a gift). Either way, they are spending way more on you than you are on them. Yet people get miffed, upset, mad, whatever, because you aren't also given alcohol? What happened to just being there to celebrate the happy occasion and share in that with the newlyweds, and being happy because you were invited?

Besides that, there may be reasons for the lack of alcohol that you know nothing about.

[sarack]

I wouldn't do it but atleast they have booze available to you...?

[marynjoe]

Aug 12, 2012 15:07:46 GMT -5 sarack said:

I wouldn't do it but atleast they have booze available to you...?

Why?

[joenali]

Aug 12, 2012 15:02:06 GMT -5 marynjoe said:

I am so not getting some of these posts. A bride and groom spent thousands of dollars to celebrate their wedding. They invite you to share in one of the most important days of their lives. They offer food and drink, dessert, music, and all at no cost to you (unless you give a gift). Either way, they are spending way more on you than you are on them. Yet people get miffed, upset, mad, whatever, because you aren't also given alcohol? What happened to just being there to celebrate the happy occasion and share in that with the newlyweds, and being happy because you were invited?

Besides that, there may be reasons for the lack of alcohol that you know nothing about.

I agree with you.

[joenali]

If people come to a wedding without alcohol and are pissed then they can leave.you can't please everyone!!

[Deleted]

Honestly, I don't see what the big fuss is. A cash bar is not ideal but booze is hella pricey! I think if you have a cash bar, then it should be offered as a first two drinks free sort of thing. However, I see no reason why anything beyond wine/beer needs to be there, and even that, I don't think it's a big deal...especially if the couple/family doesn't have much money or have personal/family issues with alcohol (or venue/religious).

That said, we had an afternoon wedding and reception and the only booze was champagne we provided with the toast right before cutting the cake.

[stretchad]

I was at a wedding this weekend that had free beer and wine until 9:30pm and after that it was 100% cash bar. Also, you had to pay for your soda ALL NIGHT!
Then, they ran out of water at about 10:30 and the "bar" didn't have any water either. I had to ask someone who ran the facility for water and she went to a completely separate room down the hallway to get me a bottle of water. WTH??

I just wish I knew it was going to be cash because DH and I just never have cash on us and this weekend was no exception. I stuck to beer until 9:30 and begged for water...

[Deleted]

Aug 12, 2012 15:02:06 GMT -5 marynjoe said:

I am so not getting some of these posts. A bride and groom spent thousands of dollars to celebrate their wedding. They invite you to share in one of the most important days of their lives. They offer food and drink, dessert, music, and all at no cost to you (unless you give a gift). Either way, they are spending way more on you than you are on them. Yet people get miffed, upset, mad, whatever, because you aren't also given alcohol? What happened to just being there to celebrate the happy occasion and share in that with the newlyweds, and being happy because you were invited?

Besides that, there may be reasons for the lack of alcohol that you know nothing about.

I agree with this. If the bride and groom don't want alcohol at the wedding they don't have to provide it. If you don't like it you are free to go home and have a drink there.

[madDawg228]

A bride and groom doesn't need to provide alcohol at a wedding, but I'm going to side-eye the hell out of anyone who has a dry/cash bar weekend evening wedding and acts all butthurt when everyone leaves right after dinner. The expectation for everyone to stay until the end of the reception is what bugs me with dry/cash bar weddings.

[joenali]

People left our wedding at 9pm... When it was over. We were not "butt hurt". We also went to an afterparty, which was at a bar, and people had to pay for their own drinks... OMG the nerve of the bride and groom!