Post # 62
Member
1208 posts
Bumble bee
The weddings in my family on both sides have had open bars, and towards the end you can tell both sides cannot hold it.
I will be attending a dry wedding this spring (for our officiant and his awesome fiancee) and it should be fun. There will certainly be dancing (FH, officiant and I met his fiancee at a meeting of a swing dance group that she helps organize) and plenty of dancers will be invited.
Our wedding will be dry, for reasons I’ve stated in other threads. There will most certainly be dancing and if people do not feel like dancing (we’re having a lesson during “cocktail hour” so everyone will know something) the (19 piece) band is still something to watch! I’m sure some relatives will whine but they can get over it. I plan on organizing it much like other dances I’ve helped run as an officer of a dance group (I’m now social chair so I’d like to think I know one or two things) but being prefaced by a ceremony, dinner and CAKE! (I’m excited for the cake, and the ceremony of course)
Post # 63
Member
227 posts
Helper bee
I have to say I’ve only been to one dry wedding, and although it was a lovely wedding, we didn’t stay as late as we would have otherwise. I don’t drink as much as I did in my college days, so I always look forward to weddings as a chance to let loose and dance with my friends. I have to admit I would be disappointed if there was absolutely no alcohol.
Post # 64
Member
2689 posts
Sugar bee
I’ve been to one dry wedding and yes it was boring. Not because of the lack of alcohol, but I’m sure alcohol would have helped that horrible thing.LMAO
Just because people like to drink, doesn’t mean their alcoholics. I hear so many people here talking about people can’t control their alcohol…how old are these famed people? I haven’t seen a person wasted since college, and I’m 29.
Post # 65
Member
351 posts
Helper bee
- Wedding: September 2010 - MacLean Park
I’ve been to quite a few dry weddings, and I still had a great time. It is a two-sided coin though, as the dancing has always been pretty slim. But I think it’s also because they didn’t have great dj/music. I think it’s your call, if you don’t want alcohol, your guests will still celebrate with you.
Post # 66
Member
608 posts
Busy bee
I have been to weddings with no alcohol and I’ve been to weddings that have a full bar. The drinks don’t make a difference to me on whether or not I’m going to have a fun time at the party. I posted on other because I didn’t think the other categories matched my opinion. My friends will have fun at either type of event because they are just plain awesome people… (Some of my friends might be more comfortable at a reception with a bar and others would probably wish that the bar didn’t exist… but they are going to have a fun time because the party isn’t about the drinks for them but about spending time with people you love. I think that there are some faith backgrounds that are stricter on what you choose to drink and serve, but my family is in the moderate category. We might have a drink, but I’m guessing that the average bride at a hen party would drink more in a night than I would in a 6 months or more. I have friends who don’t go to the local pizza parlor because they serve beer, and friends who have grown up with beer in the frig.
Post # 67
Member
1208 posts
Bumble bee
@MsMamaBear: Both sides had weddings where the middle-aged adults were the first to get more than tipsy. On my mom’s side is usually her older brother and he’s close to 60. At my cousin’s wedding (dad side) those her age were probably the best at controlling themselves. I certainly would not say only the college age were the only ones far gone.
I undertand that’s the culture for my mom’s side so I just avoid it. That’s what their side wants in a wedding far be it from me to say otherwise- for them. As it’s been stated, to each their own.
Post # 68
Member
3165 posts
Sugar bee
I have been to many without alcohol. I don’t drink and neither does Fiance, so we’re not having any either.
Post # 69
Member
1206 posts
Bumble bee
I’ve never been to a dry wedding and don’t think it would be so bad. Most of the weddings I’ve been to are open bar or open beer/wine (like we did). I think a lot of the time it’s not that people need to drink to have fun but if other people are it makes it less fun. Also if there is nothing to do and no drinking, then it’s overall a boring night – regardless of alcohol.
Post # 70
Member
11 posts
Newbee
Yeap, I have been to a dry wedding. It was a huge reception so I think they were trying to save $$$.
xoxo,
Fen
Post # 71
Member
529 posts
Busy bee
When there is no alcohol, I miss it. I like to drink at parties. But I would not dream of being unhappy simpy because I could not drink. Yes, I would notice it wasn’t there, but I would still dance and talk and eat and be happy.
The main reason I go to a wedding is to show my support. The secondary reason is to have fun and see friends. Alcohol is not needed to achieve either objective.
Post # 72
Member
1237 posts
Bumble bee
I’ve only been to one dry reception and it was a cake and punch reception. Although my family and friends consist of drinkers (we do quite a bit of drinking when we’re together!), it wasn’t uncomfortable at all. It only lasted a couple hours, but it wasn’t boring in the least bit. Also, there was no music or dancing either.
I wasn’t appalled or disgusted in their choice, it was theirs to make!
Post # 73
Member
1958 posts
Buzzing bee
I’ve been to a dry wedding, and most people brought flasks…
Post # 74
Member
4194 posts
Honey bee
I’ve never been to a dry wedding or any kind of party or gathering without alcohol. I would definitely miss it if it wasn’t there, even if I wasn’t drinking that night (which sometimes happens). Like Sand Dollar said, drinking and dancing kind of go hand in hand for the most part so it totally changes the feel of a wedding or party. Plus I know for sure at least my family and friends would totally leave the wedding early to go get a cocktail and I’d feel really bad for the bride and groom.
Post # 75
Member
1351 posts
Bumble bee
This is my opinion for my wedding:
Wedding=ceremony, saying “I do”, church mass, religious ceremony
Reception=fabulous party, my big Irish family + FI’s big Italian family, drinking and dancing all night=open bar
Do we HAVE TO drink to be social? No, we are amusing sober people too. However, bars are part of a social atmosphere and part of our traditions.
If I went to a dry wedding because of religious reasons or budget cuts, I would keep an open mind.
However, if it is a huge wedding and the bride and groom are jetting off for a month in europe afterwards (but have a dry or cash bar), I might judge their choices a little bit.
Post # 76
Member
1475 posts
Bumble bee
I’ve been to two and they didn’t have dancing either. It would’ve been different if there was something to do besides stand around, talk to random people, and eat snacks, but it was really boring. I think it can be pulled off, but these weddings didn’t do that. Maybe have some games, picture montage, or something to get conversation going. Just an idea. I’m not opposed to dry weddings, it’s just the ones I went to were not well organized and fell flat.