Post # 1

Member
138 posts
Blushing bee
I’m not sure where to post this, but our venue doesn’t let us purchase the alcohol for the reception other than a keg. I hate having to do a cash bar but don’t have a choice. How do I indicate this on the invitations so people know? We’re also serving appetizer type food and not serving a full sit down meal if that helps at all?
Post # 3

Member
9050 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
What?? That’s so weird. If your venue has options available other than the contents of that keg, why do they care who pays for it?
I guess you could note “no host bar available” on your reception card, but if your venue accepts all types of payment most people have some sort of debit/credit on them and it shouldn’t be an issue.
Or you could just designate a guest to stand by the bar and pay for drinks individually…haha. Not really an option, but I just can’t get over your venue’s random rule…
Post # 4

Member
138 posts
Blushing bee
@SapphireSun: Yeah, I was actually really upset about this. I’ve always had it in mind that I would pay for all the alcohol at the reception. I don’t know if they do this to keep the drinking to a minimum, hoping people won’t want to pay for their own alcohol and once the keg’s done, the drinking will be too.. or what? Not really sure, they didn’t explain it. But that’s true, I didn’t even think of them taking debit/credit. I don’t know why they wouldn’t.
I was just going to put something about food and drinks to follow ceremony on the invitation itself. (only much nicer than that!) should I add a reception card instead? Or is there a way to put it on the invitation?
Post # 5

Member
16 posts
Newbee
Can you just leave an open tab and pay the entire tab on your credit card at the end of the night? That way, you still pay for all alcohol?
Post # 6

Member
138 posts
Blushing bee
@LexiNYC: No, we have to pay for the keg ahead of time and then people can either drink the beer or buy their own drinks when they order them. No one can have a tab, not sure why.
Post # 7

Member
10450 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
Do you have a wedding website? You could put it on there, or ask friends to spread the word.
Post # 8

Member
1697 posts
Bumble bee
They will not even let you run a tab? I would ask why. But in any case, I have read over and over again that it should be word of mouth that it is a cash bar. Find out if it is cash only, meaning they dont accept debit or credit, where the nearest ATM is. I had a friend who did a cash bar but had the gm/BM go and buy rounds for people. That’s an idea if you are so restricted but want to pay for your guests (at least your bridal party) drinks.
Post # 9

Member
9050 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
@Angelz_love: Yeah, that’s actually a thought. We had wine on the tables, and a cash bar for everything else, but a few guests that I knew didn’t drink wine I went up to the bar myself and bought them one.
Is there any resistance to one person buying lots of drinks? You could do exactly that, and designate your wedding party to take a couple “orders” from each table and obviously repay them, or give them cash ahead of time.
Post # 10

Member
4192 posts
Honey bee
- Wedding: July 2012 - Baltimore Museum of Industry
Can you have wine at the tables at dinner? Would they let you purchase drink tickets/each guest gets a set number? Their restrictions do seem bizarre…if they’re trying to limit alcohol consumption, what’s to keep me from buying drinks for someone else? Are they going to limit guests to one drink purchase at a time?
Post # 11

Member
13943 posts
Honey Beekeeper
will your venue let you do a consumption bar? where you pay for every drink ordered at the end of the night?
I think it sounds really bizarre that it’s either a cash bar or nothing.
Post # 12

Member
2657 posts
Sugar bee
Never heard of this. Hope it works out.
Post # 13

Member
10713 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
I have pocket fold invitations with 4 different papers with information on them. I put it on the ‘Reception’ card and just wrote “Please join us after the ceremony for dinner and dancing a cash bar will also be available”. I also have it on my wedding website on ‘Important things to know’.
Post # 14

Member
2359 posts
Buzzing bee
What kind of venue is this? i’ve never heard of this! They should give you options for choosing them and spending alot of money.
Maybe see if you can pay a certain amount up front since they won’t let you pay after….. and once the cap of that is used, see if you can add on, or just have a cash bar from that point on.
Post # 15

Member
882 posts
Busy bee
Yeah, this is so strange. Where is your reception, if you don’t mind me asking.
Post # 16

Member
7899 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
- Wedding: March 2012 - Pelican Grand Beach Resort
This is so strange. I’d make them give you more information about exactly what their policy is and why. Can you prepurchase bottles of wine at least to be served with dinner? I can’t think of a single non-sucktastic way of dealing with this.