dry wedding reception?

Question

my fiance and i want to have a dry reception, but we are afraid people won't want to come and party with us without alcohol. What do you think?

really Laura! people will think i'm cheap. Maybe im an alcoholic, and dont want to drink. maybe i found Jesus, and want to change my lifestyle.

Answer 1

honestly, i know people that have dry weddings... here is what the guests think:

1) cheap.
2) lame.

sorry :(

Answer 2

Your true friends and family will still come. Some people may not stay as long, but I'm sure they will still come. Unless you put it on the invitations, they won't even know until they get there. (And that's not usually the type of thing you write on an invite.)

I've been to a few dry receptions and they were fine. More low key than weddings with open bars, but people still had fun. One was my sister's wedding. It was in the church fellowship hall, so they couldn't have any alcohol. They just did cake and a toast with sparkling cider. Another was in a country club, but the bride and groom did not drink. They had a champagne toast, but that was it. People were fine--still dancing and having a good time.

So don't worry. Do what you need to do to have the right reception for you. Your friends and family know you and will understand.

Answer 3

I'm going to kind of play Devil's Advocate here.

Unless you specifically tell people why you don't have a bar, yes, people may think you are cheap.

You have to remember that while the wedding is all yours, the reception is to be shared with your guests. You are thanking them for taking time out of their lives to come to witness your vows and the embarkation of your new life.

If you are against alcohol for a religious reason and you are having a religious ceremony that will make this obvious, then don't serve it. Expect some people to be uncomfortable with that, unless the only attendees are people of your religious affiliation.

If you are a recovering alcoholic, then you seriously have to consider if you want to impose your views on other people. I respect that you cleaned up and got straight, but to deny other people it at a party you throw for them, some may resent.

Remember that not everyone drinks to get drunk. Wine compliments food. A drink can take the edge off and loosen people up.

Without alcohol, expect people to leave earlier than they would if there were alcohol, again unless all feel the same way as you do. I'm not saying either way is right, just giving you somethings to consider.

Answer 4

My husband and I are in recovery - we had a dry wedding/reception. My parents - actually most of my family - are active heavy drinkers. We decided not to have any alcohol and it was great. There were some threats from family that they wouldn't show up without alcohol, but in the end everyone showed, and we are still getting comments about how fun our reception was...one of the best people have been to. Plus we didn't have to worry about drunk behavior or drunk driving!

If people are going to judge you as cheap - they should know if you are by now or not from the way you live your life.

Do what you want - if you decide to serve alcohol, are you going to be spending your wedding/reception keeping tabs on people? Remember -this day is about you and your spouse to be...

Answer 5

It is your reception and you should feel free to do what you want, as your wedding day is a way to celebrate you as a couple. If your guests care about you, they should be supportive of the decisions you choose to make.

That being said, if you are worried about a lack of alcohol and how that will affect your guests, you may want to have alcohol for your guests, even though you and your spouse will not partake.

I would suggest a compromise. Maybe have wine with the meal (can be fairly inexpensive if you rent a wine fountain and have one choice) or your wedding toast could be with champagne or a sparkling white wine, with, of course non-alcoholic alternatives.

It is your day, do what you feel is appropriate!

Answer 6

You're the host, so if you're not into serving alcohol, then that's your prerogative. People can and do have fun without having to get all drunk and stupid! And if people don't want to come to your reception because you're not serving booze, then you know who your REAL FRIENDS are, don't you?

An alternative might be to offer a service bar and issue 1 or 2 drink coupons per adult ... if they want them. If they don't then don't give them the coupons, and when the coupons are gone, so is the booze. No one can buy it and the bar tender is given strict orders to serve only those who have the coupons...cash is NOT allowed.

Answer 7

So long as you have music and dancing, or at least something fun, people will come and enjoy themselves. Having it early also helps, so that those who want to be snockered can go and do whatever afterwards.

My friends had their wedding on a Sunday afternoon (actually it was about 11 am - but they are Jewish so no conflict with the church times), no drinking, but lots of dancing and a live band.

Good luck with the planning.

Answer 8

I don't know anyone that goes to a reception solely for the alcohol. If they do, they shouldn't even be invited. Yes, your friends will still want to come to it!

Answer 9

I think if they don't support your choices, you don't want them there anyway. My wife and I had the same concern, as we had just changed our lifestyle. We had an ice-cream social with our wedding cake, which was quite fun. We had lots of different kinds if ice cream and every type of topping you could think of. We got a lot of positive comments about it, it was inexpensive, and fun.

Answer 10

There is nothing wrong with a dry wedding. Remember it's YOUR DAY! If they are your true friends, they will respect your wishes. God Bless, and Good Luck!

Answer 11

It's your choice - do what you want. However, there may be some people who will not show up. At the end of the day, that's their choice and your choice is to have it dry.