Post # 1
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
My situation is a bit unique. I’m marrying a soon to be pastor and most of our guests do not drink. There will be lots of pastors and people in ministry there who do not drink. We have guests who are recovering from alcohol addictions. On top of it the venue we selected has strict alcohol policies. However, my Dad’s side of the family does drink. Every get together we have, there’s alchol present.
I guess my questions are: Will they be offended with no alcohol? Will they understand the situation?
I hope so. We love them so much and don’t judge them by any means for drinking. It’s a personal choice. We just don’t think it will be appropraite for our wedding. Is anyone else dealing with this situation?
*Please be respectful in the comments* Thank you. 🙂
Post # 2
Member
1555 posts
Bumble bee
I don’t think they will be upset at you. They will just wish they could drink and probably have less fun.
Post # 3
Member
1917 posts
Buzzing bee
I would probably host a daytime reception and understand that your guests may not want to stay late into the night if therre isn’t a bar.
Post # 4
Member
2848 posts
Sugar bee
I grew up in an area of the country that is strongly Southern Baptist. I have attended many a tee total wedding. 🙂 I have never been offended by it. I will say most dry weddings did tend to be daytime affairs. FWIW…
Post # 5
Member
7366 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I agree with the PP that you should make it daytime rather than evening- it will go over much better.
Post # 6
Member
1181 posts
Bumble bee
If possible I would serve wine. By most religions as far as alcohol is concerned, wine is the most forgivable version of it.
If not then your father’s side will just have to deal with it. They may not be offended but they also may not enjoy themselves as much and/or stay late. In some families not having alcohol at a wedding, is like not having a cake at a birthday party.
Post # 7
Member
119 posts
Blushing bee
I went to an alcohol where there was no alcohol, unfortunately I think most of the guests were frustrated about it, at least those of us who were not family members. It’s hard to get a dance or anything fun going without a little bit to drink.
Post # 7
Member
1657 posts
Bumble bee
My brother is having two weddings. FSIL’s family drinks a lot and our family doesn’t at all. However some of FSIL’s side is invited to the Christian wedding, but they understand why we are choosing not to have alcohol. I don’t think your guests will be offended but like PPs said they may not have as much fun. I’m also planning to have a “dry” wedding as well. Good luck!
ETA: I don’t think alcohol is needed to have fun at a wedding 🙂
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This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by akirasan.
Post # 9
Member
2481 posts
Buzzing bee
I think that polite and courteous people will respect your decision to have an alcohol free wedding. Now it may be that some folk prefer to drink at social events so they may leave early. But that’s going to be their choice although you would be wise to bear it in mind if proceedings conclude earlier than you’d expected.
I do drink, albeit fairly modestly, but also attended a wedding that had no alcohol provided last year. They chose to get married at 2pm with an afternoon reception to follow and it was a great day. It might have been slightly less fun had it all taken place in the evening when alcohol is most usually taken but certainly, in mid-afternoon, at no point did we mope around being gloomy because we couldn’t get an alcoholic drink.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 12 months ago by
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Post # 10
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
Wow! who knew daytime would solve the problem (mostly). Great advice, everyone. Thank you. 🙂
Post # 11
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
akirasan: I’ve been to many dry weddings as well and have had sooo much fun! Hopefully they do too. 🙂 Thanks for the input!! 🙂
Post # 12
Member
2168 posts
Buzzing bee
emilyluwest: FI and I are both recovering alcoholics ourselves and we are definately not having a dry wedding. His family especially likes to drink (responsibly) at get togethers, and let’s face it…the majority of people ARE NOT alcoholics and like to loosen up with a few drinks. Just because drinking is no longer apart of our lives does not mean that people around us can’t have a few. We want our wedding to be fun…and most people like to loosen up with alcohol. That being said, our families are respectful of our recovery and no one ever gets completely wasted around us. Anyone shitfaced at the wedding will be told to leave.
Post # 13
Member
5280 posts
Bee Keeper
emilyluwest: We had a relatively alcohol-free wedding. I say “relatively” because we did have Mimosas available for anyone who wanted one. And there was champagne for toasting. I honestly worried about not having alcohol more than any other wedding decision I made during the planning stages. We ended up doing a daytime ceremony and reception, and it made the whole thing very easy. Since it wasn’t in the evening, no one seemed to expect or even really miss having alcohol. Everyone was more than happy with what we had.
Post # 14
Member
129 posts
Blushing bee
longtimemrs: I’m not against alchohol for the toast- we’re concerned about an open bar.
Post # 80
Member
11 posts
Newbee
emilyluwest: We’re Christians, we did not have alcohol at our wedding and that decision had nothing to do with the guests’ opinions. Nobody complained, because they know us. We had games for entertainment instead and everyone had a great time.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 11 months ago by MrsNeptune.
