Post # 1

Member
8461 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I’ve noticed this topic a bunch on this board. This is not a debate as to whether or not a bride and groom should host an open bar or not, it’s just to see what is more common. If you’d like to leave a comment as to what area/region you’re from, I think it’d be interesting to see. Please no “you have to have an open bar” or “I would never want an open bar” type comments. Everyone has their own preference and reason for choosing their bar option, let’s all respect and admire our differences.
Post # 3

Member
2708 posts
Sugar bee
We had a full open bar and even brought in an extra keg of Sam Adams because I didn’t want to serve just Miller or Bud at my wedding. The wedding was in SE Michigan.
Post # 4

Member
5479 posts
Bee Keeper
I’m from Virginia and we had a full open bar. I’ve also been to weddings that had beer & wine only, some with a cash bar option for liquor, some without. I’ve never, ever in my life, been to a wedding (or other hosted event, really) that had a cash bar only.
Post # 5

Member
8461 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I guess since I don’t drink, I hardly notice it at weddings. I want to say that all the weddings I’ve been to have had an open bar, but honestly I couldn’t say for sure. I just don’t remember anyone ever complaining about not having an open bar.
Post # 6

Member
752 posts
Busy bee
One wedding I went to had open bar during the cocktail hour, cash for reception. The second one had beer and wine open bar during the cocktail hour, beer and wine for the bridal party all night, and cash for the reception. A third was cash bar all night.
We are putting $1k to the bar that will convert to cash afterward.
Post # 7

Member
110 posts
Blushing bee
Every wedding I’ve ever been to (probably 6-7) has had cash bar only. We’re in Atlantic Canada and this is common and widely accepted.
Post # 8

Member
604 posts
Busy bee
BC Canada-wine provided with dinner then full cash bar…any money made goes to charity and bar is ran by the charity.
Post # 9

Member
1846 posts
Buzzing bee
We’re having a full open bar for the duration of the event.
Post # 10

Member
4284 posts
Honey bee
We hosted Beer and pop. We also had a cash bar available 🙂 Seems to be the norm for around here.
Post # 11

Member
187 posts
Blushing bee
We’re having an open bar for the majority of the time – it will close during the dinner hour but each table will have 2 bottles of wine. If the guests want cocktails during that time, they will have to pay for their own.
Post # 12

Member
671 posts
Busy bee
Open bar here, and I am from Ontario, Canada. I have never been to a cash bar and I’ve been to tonnes of weddings
Post # 13

Member
133 posts
Blushing bee
We’re providing table wine with dinner with a full cash bar available for the duration of our reception in Alberta, Canada. The last wedding I was at provided two drink tickets per guest and then anything after that was cash bar. At another wedding last summer, they provided wine with dinner and didn’t have a bar at all. I think I’ve only ever been to one wedding where they had a full host bar.
Post # 14

Hostess
2999 posts
Sugar bee
having mine at an all-incluse resort so all liquor all the time!
Post # 15

Member
1177 posts
Bumble bee
We’re doing beer/wine plus one speciality cocktail the entire time, mostly for budget reasons.
Post # 16

Member
8584 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
i’ve never been to a wedding that had a cash bar. i would rather there not be any alcohol than have a cash bar.