Cash Bar

A cash bar means guest pay for their own drinks like a normal bar. Every cash bar reception I have been to has only given out a free glass of champagne for the toast. Everything else is paid for by the guests. It is also a good way to keep guest in line and releases alot of liability off of you.

Many brides opt for a cash bar. Most companies available will handle set up, etc. And will stay as long as they do $100 in business per hour. (this varies from company to company)

I have also heard of handling the bar 50/50. Guest pay for half....Or you could have an open bar for the first hour, then cash after that. There are many ways to work this.

Here in the south a cash bar in a wedding is extremlely rude. That is the same as charging them for their food. Now in other parts of the country it might be ok to do this but I have never heard of it.
Other options to save money.
1. No alcohol
2. Champagne toast only
3. Beer and wine
4. Only have a bar open for the first 2-3 hours of the reception.

Hello,
The weddings I have attended that had a cash bar was very nice. The drink prices were not too high and they had tea and coffee served at the tables and then the toast drink. I didnt hear any complants about the cash bar. So I guess it all depends on who you are working with. :)
Ang

I was going to ask about "etiquette" on having a cash bar. My fiance and I are going the traditional route of paying for the wedding with my parents footing most of the bill...but I am making him pay for drinks, because it will be most of his friends consuming! We thought about offering beer, but having a cash bar for mixed drinks, etc. Because I think that is where it gets expensive!

Yeah we guesstamated that our bar bill will be $1500.00 for the night. We never thought about cash bar. I thought it would be rude. But the more people I talk to about it think its the smart thing to do. Then you are not reliable for someone getting too drunk. If they buy it themselves than its there responsiblilty

Hi Shelley Ann
Truthfully, I have never been to a cash bar. I just assumed that was a thing of the past. Most are open bars now, which is what I feel it should be if you are hosting an event.
Good Luck.

Yeah we have talked it over and we feel the same way. It is our decission to have the reception with beer, alcohol, etc. So we will be paying it in full. That was the plan in the beginning but I just heard about cash bar and thought I would see what it was all about.

Thanks for all the responses.

Hosts should never charge their guests for anything that they serve at the wedding.

Unfortunately, many brides today feel it`s okay to charge guests for drinks. Many brides and grooms cannot afford to pay for a full bar so they eliminate the bar or they put a time limit on the bar or they serve only a small selection of drinks (ie wine and beer). The halls and hotels don`t like this because they don`t make as much money. So over the years they have convinced unknowing wedding couples that it`s okay to charge the guests for their drinks. Of course the wedding industry will tell you it`s perfectly acceptable! They`re out to make money and it doesn`t matter to them whether the bride and groom look tacky and cheap! They are not particularly interested in whether or not it is rude because the backlash falls on the hosts of the wedding, not on them. They instead laugh all the way to the bank. What a shame that brides in huge numbers are falling for this scam more and more.

If you can`t afford it, then either eliminate it completely or scale it down till it`s affordable. But don`t ever put a cash bar at your reception, no matter what anyone tries to tell you.

Went today and booked wedding site, reception site, dinner arrangements, and drink arrangement. Put down deposit. WE ARE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING!!
We feel good about the decision too.

We are having a toonie bar (Canadian money, 2 dollars a drink)....it should take care of the cost of the alcohol...and pay 2 waitresses....no one around here minds paying that for a drink......and I have never been to a wedding here where there wasn`t a cash bar. Couldn`t imagine paying for the whole thing....wow........

Why should your invited guests be responsible for taking care of the alcohol and the waitresses at your affair?

Holy cow...obviously things are done diffrently in your area than around here....I have been to a lot of weddings in my lifetime and have NEVER been to a reception where drinks are free, other than the toasting wine......People around here LIKE TO DRINK and there is NO WAY....anyone could afford to have a free bar...my god.....people would really take advantage of it......there is absolutely nothing wrong with charging a bit for a drink to help the couple out. Last month I attended a wedding where drinks were $3.75 a drink....as far as i am concerned there is nothing wrong with that...but each to their own i guess......

I`ve never been to a wedding with a cash bar. At my wedding we had no alcohol. Me and my husband paid for everything at the wedding. Our families did not agree with the wedding and would not help us. I don`t think that it would be rude to have a cash bar. Making it an opion for people to have is fine, but it`s an extra if they want it. Having one will cut done on the drunks at the party. And trust me, i`ve seen drunks at weddings. Not a good thing. Just think of the Wedding Singer. Do you want that at your wedding? lol. Whatever you do will be perfect. Just don`t let it ruin your wedding. It`s going to be the best day of your life. Trust me mine was. Good luck with everything everyone.

I was going to have NO alcohol but I have had SEVERAL friends say that they want alcohol and they are more than willing to pay for their own drinks. I am not sure yet. I really don`t want anyone getting drunk at my wedding, but on the other hand hardly anyone in my family drinks. What are your ideas? Our budget is really low but I really want my friends to enjoy themselves.

Amanda

Would it still be considered rude to pay for beer and wine, but mixed drinks would be paid for by guests, if they wanted them? I have considered this, or just having wine and beer only.

Also, you could consider drink tickets. I have seen those at weddings (1 or 2 free drinks, and then it is a cash bar).

In my opinion, asking your guests to pay for anything is Tacky. There are many options, and I don`t consider a cash bar to be one of them.

I am getting married this summer and we are having approximately 300 guests. I`m also trying to keep our costs under 10k. I never even considered having a cash bar. Instead, we are having several different kinds of beer (some imports, some domestic), lemonade (with and without vodka), and a local sodapop on tap.

I think the key is to provide choices that are within your price range - and I think it`s possible to do that even if your family and friends "drink like fish" (which mine, by the way, do!)

Sibbonribbon - I am Canadian also, and have NEVER been to a cash bar! I don`t know where you`re from, but don`t be fooled... A cash bar is NOT the norm.

I have heard of this and the weddings I have been to it is very common. If you are paying for everything else you might want to give yourself a brake and let the guests pay for their own drinks? I mean if you have an "open bar" you may end up paying not only for domestic beer but, top and premium liquor. Just a thought...good luck!