Post # 1

Member
672 posts
Busy bee
We are most likely going to have only beer & wine at our wedding (due to budget). Our venue has a full bar and says that many people have a cash bar for hard alcohol. We are very against this– as we don’t want anyone to pay for anything at the wedding. Is it wrong to only have beer/wine.. and if someone asks to buy a shot or hard alcohol drink to say NO!?
Post # 3

Member
5147 posts
Bee Keeper
I think if you are providing beer and wine, that is enough. But it’s not bad or tacky to have a cash bar option beyond that.
That’s what we did. We didn’t announce it, we just said beer and wine were provided. If someone asked for hard alcohol the bartender would tell them we were only providing beer and wine and they would have to pay for any hard alcohol.
Post # 4

Member
5474 posts
Bee Keeper
I think it is ok to host beer and wine only. You are hosting what you can afford, and at the same time, providing for your guests. This is 100% ok, as per etiquette 🙂
Post # 5

Member
3618 posts
Sugar bee
If beer & wine were free, I’d just drink that rather than having to pay for a drink. Having beer & wine is perfectly acceptable.
Post # 5

Member
1868 posts
Buzzing bee
I think beer and wine is perfectly acceptable. I see the point in having a cash bar becuase some people may only drink liquor but I think its tacky to ask people to pay for drinks at a wedding.
Post # 6

Member
5283 posts
Bee Keeper
Beer & Wine only is totally acceptable. No worries!
Post # 7

Member
13563 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Originally, ours was going to be beer/wine/champagne only, and my dad was adamant that guests be allowed to order (and pay for) liquor because he knew many of the guests would want to. We eventually opened up the bar entirely so it became a moot point.
I don’t think it’s wrong to do just beer and wine, but I can see merit in allowing guests to pay for drinks if they choose to.
Post # 7

Member
4753 posts
Honey bee
I think you should allow the hard booze to be bought. It’s great you’re offereing beer/wine (I’m a wine drinker) but I do think there should be the *option* of having vodka et. al.
Post # 8

Member
869 posts
Busy bee
Thanks for posting this! We’re in the same boat! 🙂
Post # 9

Member
9589 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
I’d rather have the choice to pay for a drink I actually like than drink free beer, personally. I see nothing wrong with allowing the guests to pay for their own hard liquor if they so choose.
Post # 10

Member
1866 posts
Buzzing bee
I can understand you not wanting the guests to pay for anything, but on the other hand, shouldn’t they get what they want, and what if it’s hard liquor? That being said, I would definitely give them an option for a cash bar. Another thing you have to think about is what kind of beer and wine you are serving. For example, there are only specific types of beer that I like. My sister had beer/wine at her reception, but I didn’t like her beer, so I bought vodka cocktails for myself.
Post # 11

Member
47214 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Limiting your alcohol to beer and wine is perfectly fine.
I would not have a cash bar for reasons that have been discuused to death on other posts.
That doesn’t stop anyone who wants something else from asking the bartender if it is available and paying for it themselves.
Post # 12

Member
218 posts
Helper bee
Beer and wine is totally fine! I think it would be fine to have a cash bar as well, but you certainly don’t have to. I totally get your feeling of not wanting anyone to pay for anything. Do what feels right to you!
Post # 13

Member
6996 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I would be perfectly fine with beer and wine – i dont think there is a harm in providing a cash bar for liquor though because some people prefer it.
i know if i were to go to a wedding and the beer and wine was free that is what i would be drinking.