- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
We are doing the same beer and wine only because of cost. We just can't afford to do a full bar or even a speciality drink (which I really wanted). I think you guests will be fine with it unless they don't drink beer or wine. There are some people I know will be disappointed. But we made the call for budget reasons so I hope they will understand. We are paying for a bartender to run the cash bar if they feel they must have hard liquor. They will have to pay for it but at least it will be available.
Edit: I forgot to add, since it is only the rehearsal dinner, I really think it is ok. I think your wedding party members will be excited to be there together with you and family it wont really matter. Besides, if it were my rehearsal dinner, everyone is paying for themselves.
@edisonsgirl: I think if budget is an issue, this is a great alternative. But fortinuately, budget isn't an issue here. FMIL tends to just be on the more conservative side.
I think it is perfectly fine, especially for a rehearsal dinner! I also don't think people who expect open bars at weddings (which is most people in my area) have the same expectations for rehearsal dinners. I don't think guests will be upset at all.
For rehearsal dinner, I think it's totally fine. I'm more likely to want wine at an event like that anyway, since it's probably much chiller and low-key than a wedding.
I drink wine so it really wouldn't phase me. But its nice that beer was added. Your wedding is full open bar though right?
Ah! My computer spazzed and I accidentally voted for "I'd think you were being cheap...". I meant to vote for "it's fine...". And to me it is. I assume you're having an open bar at the wedding the very next day? So no one should assume it was because of anyone being cost conscious, otherwise you'd be doing that across the board. In fact, it might be wise to limit the selection. This can at least cut down on the possibility of anyone over-indulging and feeling the effects the next day, when you need them on their A game. I wouldn't worry about it. Wine and beer with dinner are the best compliments to a meal anyway, everyone will be just fine :)
I think this is actually a safer choice. Last full bar rehearsal I went to resulted in Jager shots, people hugging trees/Yaar-ing like pirates, and the bride and groom having to drive them all home haha Amusing...yes. But I like planning the idea of the big celebration with crazy stories being at the wedding reception. I, like your FMIL, have mandated a beer/wine rehearsal :)
How do you all feel about beer and wine only at a reception?
P.S. Forgive me, VirginiaMarie, for piggy-backing off your question. I just wanted to understand some of the previous posters' responses.
I'm a fan of beer/wine only rehearsal dinners/receptions because I think people don't get as intoxicated. That being said (i'll probably choose a full bar b/c I love my a french martini)...
If you are concerns about not having the option to drink liquor because that is what you and your FI prefer, maybe talk to your FMIL about offering a limited selection of liquor or a signiture liquor drink at the rehearsal dinner. You could work with her on deciding on it, she'd probably like that.
@Gemstone: That's ok. I have to say, I expect a full open bar a wedding. I understand why not all weddings can be this way... But IMO, it's part of being a good host. If I couldn't afford a full-service open bar at my wedding, I would scale down my wedding. I'm sure that's going to upset some of you! Sorry! I just wouldn't!
@jennifer_espos: HAHA thanks for clarifying! When I saw the cheap vote, my heart sunk! I would hate for people to think we're being cheap.
@VirginiaMarie: I understand. We're planning wine + beer because it came with our reception package. It's more of an all-inclusive thing to us rather than trying to be cheap. Neither FI or I are big drinkers, but we did want to provide alcohol for our guests. I never thought anyone would find a huge problem with that, which is the only reason I'm inquiring more here. Thanks for sharing your thread space. :)
I plan to have our rehearsal be beer and wine only. Not for budget reasons, but because I don't want anyone being so hungover they can't function the next day. Save the real partying for the reception!
I don't think anyone will mind. Most folks just go with the flow on this kind of thing.
If they really can't be without booze for an evening, they may have a bigger issue to deal with!
Our venue wouldn't allow hard liquer so we could only have beer and wine, which in the end was cheaper for us, and I don't think the guests minded. We had my husbands 2 favorite beers and my 2 favorite wines. It was still an "open bar" in that it was unlimited amount for the guests. I think we had the best of both worlds!
We're doing beer/wine only for our reception. If someone thinks we're cheap because we aren't offering liquor, it really doesn't bother me. It's not about the money, since I think we have budgeted enough for our open bar that we could possibly offer liquor, but it's just that I didn't want liquor served.
I've been contemplating one signature drink so it'd be beer/wine/sigdrink but I don't know yet.
one thing to keep in mind is that you can include sparking wine with a wine bar too, so that would be a nice option also!
and it might be a good idea not to have full bar anyways since you don't want wedding party getting sloshed before the big day =)
i think beer and wine is fine for the rehearsal but like the OP, I usually expect a full bar at a wedding, (although I understand the myriad of reasons why this is not always feasible).
Drinking hard liquor with dinner has never really appealed to me, as wine and beer are much more compatible with food. I wouldn't worry about it!
It's just the rehearsal dinner. And honestly, I wouldn't mind it, even for the wedding. It's not the guests place to complain about what is on offer, they should just be thankful that they are invited to enjoy the day with the couple and their families, IMO.
we are having just beer and wine as well, i think its just fine for a couple reasons:
1) i dont want people taking shots and getting wasted the day before my wedding... hungover does not make for good photos.
2) my father is very conservative (we never even keep alcohol in the house) and this will be the first time EVER i am drinking in front of my father, he refused to pay for alcohol for the wedding (FH and I are doing it instead) so i can understand your FMIL if shes conservative not wanting too much alcohol at the RD....
3) it doesnt last that long - theres no dancing or anything so i would think folks could get thru a meal without having to have hard liquor. I would also assume that if you REALLY need a liquor drink instead, you could order one and pay for it yourself (if its a restaurant)
but bottom line, if they are paying for it, its their choice. it will be fine, and no one will think it is cheap. trust me - my FFIL sent out invites to the RD via email... not even evite... but an EMAIL. like "hey yall want beef or chicken?" the alcohol offered at the wedding wont make anyone freak out :)
We're doing beer/wine only at our reception in part because of cost and in part because were lazy, and in part because it's probably a regional thing. 95% of the weddings I've been to have been Beer/Wine only.
We are spreading the word among our friends (and may put it on the website) that guests are welcome to byob. But then again, we're throwing a glorified/upscale field party. . because it's us.
I think the alcohol selection at your RD is totally fine and I doubt anyone will bat an eye at it.
@VirginiaMarie: oh and you could always order the lemonade and add the rum yourself via flask :)
We're doing beer, wine and signature drink for our reception and beer and wine only for rehearsal. We don't want people getting completely trashed at our wedding venue because the roads to and from the area are pretty windy. So we are hosting an after party at a bar in the downtown area for anyone who wants to party late into the night and get totally wasted. haha
We are doing beer/wine only reception because of an unfortunate incident involving my bridesmaids. No hard liquor for them!
I wouldn't care because I'm a wine drinker. If any of my bridal party wasn't a beer/wine drinker, I'd care a little more (just because I'd want them to be well taken care of).
I think beer and wine for the rehearsal dinner is perfectly acceptable and probably a better idea than a full bar anyway. My best friend is a wedding planner and runs a beautiful venue in town. I can't tell you how many horror stories she's told me of wedding day disasters due to too much alcohol the day before. Most of the time it's the groomsmen and bridesmaids that are so ill they can hardly function or they don't show up at all. The worst was a groom who spent the night in the ER having his stomach pumped after drinking at his rehearsal dinner. He got out 1 hour before the ceremony, looked like he was going to pass out during it, and spent the reception laying down in the bridal get ready suite. So sad for the bride.
We only did beer, wine, soda, and water for the rehearsal dinner. Turned out great and everyone enjoyed themselves. No one is going to complain... and if they do, who cares. 
I think having just wine and beer is a good idea. You want everyone feeling their best the next day!
I think it's fine. My inlaws have more money than you could ever spend, but are very cheap. They are heavy drinkers and are having our rehersal dinner at a place that has one of the best martini bars in the area, but it will be a full cash bar. I bet people will appreciate at least having beer and wine.
@VirginiaMarie: i'm having the same problem, except my FMIL wanted a DRY rehearsal dinner!!!
mind you, we are having the rehearsal dinner at our home instead of a restaurant (because she decided to throw me a shower at a hall (i didnt want it), we wanted to waive the cost of the RD for her, even though FI wanted to have it at a resturant.)
so on top of us sacrificing the restaurant... she suggested we just have five dollar pizzas and soda at their ranch home (not fitting for 30+ people).
we are going to pay for the RD ourselves, catered food, beer, liquor, wine at our home. we told her this and we are not going to budge, even if she decides to pretend like we didn't let her know.
I second @hilsy85: Rehearsal dinners are usually lower key linger-y events where everyone hangs out and relaxes (or tries!) a little before the big day. Since there's a lot of emphasis on the meal, beer and wine only seems like a pretty good complement and/or compromise. Unless your side of the family are big cocktail-with-meal drinkers, and it seems like an okay setup to you, I think your guests will be pleased!
I wouldn't call you cheap, because alcohol is never required in the first place, nor is it expected or missed as often as most want you to believe. But you will have to provide a ton of non-alcoholic selections for those who don't like beer/wine as many people don't. When putting together your drink menu, regardless if you serve alcohol or not, you have to keep your guests in mind and what they will drink and what they will not. If you know that you have a ton of guests who don't drink beer or wine at all, then it makes no sense to offer only those two beverages. If nearly all of them only drink beer or wine and don't drink anything else, then go ahead and serve it.
We are having NO alcohol at our RD, as a compromise for my Southern Baptist family who thinks maybe we are going to hell for having an open bar at the reception. I'm pretty sure my RD guests will be fine with going 4 hours without a drink.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ellisrobertson | 24 |
| fishbone | 21 |
| ndreighton | 18 |
| MsPanda | 14 |
| ladyartichoke | 14 |
| aduarte3201 | 14 |
| mypinkshoes | 12 |
 rdownie1 |
12 |
| pengoala | 11 |
| sylvia.riggle |
11 |
Sorry, there are no users yet.
I believe in a full, open bar wedding. But my FMIL is planning a beer/wine only rehearsal dinner. Ok, whatever. If you were our guests, would you care? I guess I'll be drinking a lemonade, sans rum.
**Orginally it was wine only.