Cash Or Open

With the prices of alcohol, we are deciding to have a cash bar, this is so we get a discount on our hall. We are providing soda and beer, but if our guests want other drinks , then they will have to pay for them. Open bar is outrageous, besides who knows if they actually charge you for actual consumption or if they cheat you out of more!

Definitely a cash bar. Do not go open bar. I went to a wedding recently where the reception had an open bar and my friends dished out $2000 for the bar bill!!! Unless you want to, or can, spend a lot of money.. There is nothing wrong with a cash bar. Maybe you can provide a couple bottles of wine or something.
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It is considered tacky to have a cash bar. People spend $$ to come to your wedding and you expect them to pay for drinks? I am not judging, I am just giving you the majority opinion from what I`ve seen on these boards. If $ is that tight, have a dry wedding and provide a sparkeling white wine for a toast. Or have one signature drink instead of a full bar. Or if cash bar is really what you want to do, go for it. But do try to negotiate with the venue to allow you to bring in your own liquor, it lessens the chance that they will try cheating them, not much $$ in overcharging for juice or soda., and it won`t cost you as much or hurt your guests. Kinda like a 50/50 deal.

There is nothing wrong with a cash bar, if what it is providing is alcohol. Soft drinks, coffee and/or tea should be provided by the couple, but alcohol is definitely not a requirement.

There is nothing wrong with not serving alcohol, but it`s not nice to expect your guests to go out of their way to travel to your wedding, possibly buy something nice to wear (Not everyone has wedding attire in their closet), possible purchase a gift, and then have to pay for their own drinks. Gas prices are very expensive lately and aren`t going down, so a trip to your wedding can be very expensive for your guests. Limit your alcohol choices or no alcohol at all, but not a cash bar. I do understand that your budget is tight, we all have that problem, but your guests might be in the same boat too and will feel inadequate or embarassed that they cannot pay $4 for a beer plus tip. They won`t have a very good time, and will leave early.

There is no obligation on your part to serve alcohol. There is an obligation on your part however, as the host, to pay for whatever you choose to serve to the guests you invited.

Where I come from (UK) it is always a `cash` bar unless you`re loaded. No-one thinks of it as `tacky`. Normally a complimetary bottle of red and white wine is given to each table with a glass of champayne to toast the happy couple - after that it`s up to each guest what the wish to down. You have to think, some guests maybe heavy drinkers and they could drink you out of pocket

However, I am getting married in Brazil and there it is done differently - we have hired a drinks company to supply an unlimited flow of both alcoholic and soft beverages at a set price.

It`s definately better to provide the drinks, but obviously in some cases it`s not an option.

Don`t feel guilty and go with your budget. We are having an open bar BUT our hall puts a flat fee price per person. At least there are no unexpected surprises at the end of the evening. I also chose to limit the guest list because we are also on a budget but having a nice reception with an open bar was important to me.
I think everyone that goes to a wedding enjoys the free food and booze, but if it`s not in your budget it`s not in your budget. It`s your day and iv people are that disappointed then let them leave.

If it`s not in your budget then just don`t serve it.

One of my requirements for my reception hall was to be to carry in refreshments. It is much cheaper to purchase your own refreshments than to have to use the facilites. Because we are able to do this we are going to provide a couple kegs of beer and then if they run out or if they want something else they can bring it in themselves and don`t have to pay the outrageous cost that cash bar charges.