Would it be tacky...

[ginger1981 0]

Basically, in the US the weddings I have attended have had an open bar for at least part of the reception. Due to the copious amounts of alcohol my friends and family can consume (and the fact that we aren't particulary rich) we decided against an open bar and instead paying for the first round of drinks.

However, a lot more guests are planning to attend than we anticipated. Would it be tacky to have a cash bar the entire time (however, we are still going to cover the cost of pop for those who wish not to booze it up)? We are going to do a champagne toast still...but at the same time I don't want to come across as cheap/chintzy. I am an executive assistant and the guys who I work for are high rollers in the company...I know I shouldn't worry about being judged (and the people I directly work for won't care) but you do have to put forth a certain image too if you want to advance.

So anyways...for those of you who did the wedding reception, what did you do for the drink situation?

[Jeraly 4]

We had very few guests but we paid for the toast and the soft drinks - people bought their own alcohol otherwise

[*JG* 2]

It's YOUR wedding. Do what you want with it.

I've been to weddings where absolutely no alcohol is served or allowed.

[*julez* 124]

We wrestled with this concept too and in the end decided to pay for the drinks ourselves. Thankfully, we had a luncheon so most people didn't overdo it. Just my alcoholic sister and my friend's hubby.

If you want to do something, just limit the options of what people can order. If someone wants something not on the list, they have the option to buy.

[no name 1]

I've never been to a cash bar wedding so I can't say.

Some choose to pay for beer/wine only - it's cheaper.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

We had a combination of free booze and bring your own booze. We had so much alcohol, you would have thought we were opening up a liquor store. However, our reception...

...was not a classy affair by any means.

At anyrate, I don't think a cash bar is tacky for a very formal affair. In my case though, I think it really would have been.

[ginger1981 0]

It's pretty informal...it's in an Irish pub. Reasoning it out, most people are driving in so I doubt many people would have more than a drink or two even if there was an open bar.

Since the wedding is in the evening we think that people would appreciate having free food more than free drinks.

[*JG* 2]

We had a combination of free booze and bring your own booze. We had so much alcohol, you would have thought we were opening up a liquor store. However, our reception...

...was not a classy affair by any means.

At anyrate, I don't think a cash bar is tacky for a very formal affair. In my case though, I think it really would have been.

Um......that would explain some of those outfits! How funny.

[BexandAlan 0]

I think the fact that you are providing a toast is enough. I don't tend to actually think about it when I'm at a wedding. I've been to weddings with cash bars and a full bar paid for and i don't remember drinking any differently or thinking bad of anyone for not providing me with never ending drinks. I definitely wouldn't consider it tacky to have a cash bar. Do what is best for you and your SO hun your friends and family want to be there to celebrate your day with you not so they can get drunk at your expense.

xxxx

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I am not sure why it would be completely tacky to ask for people to pay for more than the toast. If most people are going to have to drive anyway, then I don't see why it would be a problem.

Irish pub is a cool idea, btw. My husband and I are thinking about doing something for our 5th anniversary that my family could attend since they couldn't afford to come to our wedding in Germany. That might be something to think about.

[Welshcookie 17]

It's pretty informal...it's in an Irish pub. Reasoning it out, most people are driving in so I doubt many people would have more than a drink or two even if there was an open bar.

Since the wedding is in the evening we think that people would appreciate having free food more than free drinks.

We had an informal wedding in a pub too....we laid on food and whoever wanted to make use of the bar did so

[Jason&Sarah 0]

It's really not that uncommon over here anymore...The last couple of weddings I went to, they had a cash bar. It helps keep prices down for you all, and also helps curb those who might drink in excess...not all, but some

[ginger1981 0]

I am not sure why it would be completely tacky to ask for people to pay for more than the toast. If most people are going to have to drive anyway, then I don't see why it would be a problem.

Irish pub is a cool idea, btw. My husband and I are thinking about doing something for our 5th anniversary that my family could attend since they couldn't afford to come to our wedding in Germany. That might be something to think about.

I looked into doing the traditional banquet type thing (which I guess is the norm here...) but not only was it expensive, but it just really wasn't true to us. I have to say when I went for cake testings that one lady in particular when we told her where our wedding reception was turned her nose up at it! I decided then I wouldn't go with them. The nicest people (who thought it was cool to have the reception in a pub) make Oprah's cakes and have been on the Food Network cake challenges...and here I thought they would be hoity toity but they were the most down to earth of all!

[*julez* 124]

Our wedding luncheon was in an Irish pub and it was really nice. We wouldn't change a thing! I'm sure day will turn out to be a wonderful day too! I know its easier said than done, but try to relax and have fun with it and not worry about what everyone else thinks of your plans! As long as you and Nicky are happy with it, that's what really matters.

[Slightly Bonkers 0]

We're in a lucky situation in that we're having the reception in a not ridiculously expensive city

Plus we kinda feel that a lot of the people coming (about 50%) will have spent about 1500$ getting there (damn august prices)

So we're buying everyone their drinks

We did debate about it for a long time, and most of my irish friends think we're crazy but ... we're looking forward to treating people.

We're having it in an awesome microbrewery with the best red ale. Mmmm yummy