I know that having a cash bar is wrong and that you should do what you can afford. I am having a reception that includes a sit down dinner and a dance. We are planning on having alcholic punch before dinner, wine at dinner, and 2 tickets per person to get a drink of their choice during the dance. This is what we can afford, I cannot afford to have an open bar all night long. Knowing who will attend, it will be abused and people will have 12 drinks (or more each), and then behaviour may become an issue. Also our location is in a rural area and we don't want drinking and driving. We were thinking of keeping the bar open so that if anyone wanted more than that they could still drink but pay for it themselves. Do you think this is unreasonable? In my opinion anyone who wants more than the punch, wine and 2 drinks is over indulging. Many etiquette people say that you wouldn't invite someone over to your house and expect them to pay for drinks, however, I don't think people would come over and take advantage of our hospitality and drink in excess as they will at an open bar at a dance. Should we close the bar when everyone has had their 2 drinks or leave it open for people who want more but will have to pay.
You're correct when you say that having a cash bar at a wedding reception is tacky since you would never invite a guest to your home and then hand them a bill. The same holds true for any size party you host so either have an open bar, limit yourselves to serving just beer and wine, just champagne / punch or have a dry wedding.
If you are concerned about behavior, the ticket idea will probably not work since those who wish to drink more will drink, tickets or no tickets. I'd stay away from the whole ticket idea completely.
Personally, I think a better way to handle this, and stay on your budget, is to forget the bar and serve a few carafes of wine and a few pitchers of beer to each table during dinner and leave it at that. Top Wedding Questions Forum Moderator - "Write your sorrows in the sand, your blessings in stone".
(This post was
edited by TWQadmin on Dec 7, 2004, 3:34 PM)
Partial cash bar
