2007-03-08 05:00:42 · 43 answers · asked by reginachick22 6 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Cash bar is affordable, but it can be insulting to guests. As a Bride-to-be, planning a wedding on a budget, I'm going with a limited bar. We are buying champagne, red,white and blush wine, kegs of beer and having one signature drink. Our wedding is Beach themed, so we will probably go with a fun rum "umbrella drink". Buying the wines and champagne/sparkling wine by the case, avoiding having a huge variety of liquor, and still providing the option to have drinks is a more affordable but still classy option.
2007-03-08 06:31:16 · answer #1 · answered by Kat 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't know why any of us who said "Tacky" are even wasting our time answering this question, since you KNOW they are going to choose the one who says "Practical" as best answer. Anyway,,,while it may be practical to have your guests pay for their drinks, it's really rude and tacky. Food is expensive too...why don't you hand them a bill after the cake is served? Better yet, how about a cover charge too? I can't believe people REALLY think ti is perfectly acceptable to invite someone to your wedding and expect them to pay for drinks on top of 1) travel expenses 2) food/lodging 3) and a gift!. If I got wind I was being invited to a "cash-bar" wedding, I would decline...and I don't even drink alcohol. It's the principle of the bride and groom expecting guests to pay. If you can't afford an open bar, at least put a few bottles of wine on each table. People would be more open to that than to pay their own way. Better let your "guests" know they will have to bring extra cash to your wedding if they want a drink!
2007-03-08 15:58:02 · answer #2 · answered by MelB 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Fact of the matter is, no matter how many unenlightened people disagree, that a cash bar is unacceptable. You wouldn't invite people over to your house and then charge them for drinks, would you? "Hi Bill! Great to see you!! Would you like a glass of wine for $5 or a beer for $4?"
A guest of a party should NEVER have to worry about carrying money with them. If you can't afford to provide alcohol to your guests, invite fewer guests or provide limited amounts of alcohol.
That a bunch of tacky people choose to do it doesn't make it ok. It's still insulting and tacky tacky tacky.
This is directly from ALL etiquette books I've ever read and having been to 'cash bar' weddings - they are usually dreadful and selfish. If you don't care enough about your guests to treat them correctly, then don't have guests.
2007-03-08 06:33:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Bad idea in my book. Mainly because if your guest dont buy enough, most of the time you have to pay a minium amount, which they set of course. Alot of guest may pass up a cash bar, plus drinks are usually more expensive for a cash bar than a host bar. If I wasn't havng a host bar, I wouldn't have had one at all. I've actually been to more weddings without drinks than with.
2007-03-08 11:54:29 · answer #4 · answered by layla983 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, It depends on what generation you are in. Older generations believe it to be tacky while some in the younger generation (like me) believe that if you have a low budget, it is practical. I am getting married in July and my fiance and I were going to do what Kim suggested: everyone gets two tickets for 2 free drinks, after that they pay. But we were also going to make the entire bridal party and our parents free. We have a kind-of restricted budget and we thought that a cash bar would be great. But his parents don't think so. So that is why they are now paying for our alcohol. My view is that unless you are the one paying for the wedding, you have no opinion. So what if other people think it's tacky? It's your wedding, and weddings are expensive. I hope this helps in your decision making. Good luck and congrats!!
2007-03-08 05:20:31 · answer #5 · answered by Stephanie 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Think of this. You have out of town guests. They pay for thier airfare, hotel, and buy you a gift. Now what if they said well since you invited me why don't you pay for my airfare? You would be outraged right? Well so will they if they get there and realize they must pay for thier own drinks. TACKY.
Here is a suggestion when looking at venues check to see top shelf vs. mid or bottom shelf drinks. There is a dollar price per person. Look at the difference b/t costs of the liquer options for each shelf. For instance top shelf would be Grey Goose vodka, mid would be Absolut, and bottom would be smirnoff. Most people may not know the differnce depending on the drink the order. Also consider the type of people you are inviting. Are they high society or down to earth? If you have a little bit of both go with the mid shelf.
2007-03-08 05:30:40 · answer #6 · answered by tucutie 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Very tacky. You have people bringing gifts and the wedding party paying for the attire and you ask them to pay for drinks. Tacky Tacky Tacky
2007-03-08 13:43:28 · answer #7 · answered by dpascoe8692 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tacky, it's one thing to have everyone pay for themselves at a bar, or at a BYOB college frat party, but a wedding reception is supposed to be classy and elegant. If you can't afford a full bar, offer a beer and wine bar, or only offer alcohol during the cocktail hour to save money on the alcohol.
OR, you can do what my brother and his wife JUST did. They had a reception that had no alcohol, that lasted for a couple of hours. People ate, they had the photographer there, and it was very family friendly--which was good because there were alot of kids there. After they did all the photos, the first dance, dinner, cake cutting, toasts, bouquet toss, garter toss, etc., they moved the party to a local bar, where all those who wanted to go paid for themselves. It worked for them.
2007-03-08 05:23:34 · answer #8 · answered by basketcase88 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
I think its tacky. if you had guests over to your home you wouldnt charge them for a drink, so why do it at your wedding? these people will likely be giving you gifts and taking time out of there scheduals to be there to celebrate with you. it would be nice if you supply them with drinks. I had open bar at my wedding...we only had a small like 40 person wedding and the reception was my my parents house...but it really didnt cost us all that much...just a few hundred and there was plenty left over. i didnt do wedding favour or a photographer or any of that unnecessary stuff and I served my guests instead. it was a great wedding and everyone was happy and enjoyed it. thats all we wanted. our friends there to celebrate and enjoy themsleves. my entire wedding was under $3000 so those talking about a tight budget...I know tight budget for a wedding and I still managed to serve my guests like a proper host should.
2007-03-08 05:47:09 · answer #9 · answered by Jenn ♥Cadence Jade's mum♥ 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It's both, liquor means so much more to some people. It is very practicle, yet there is no way that I have the nerve to have a cash bar. If you can't afford it don't do it, it's very understandable. Best of Luck
2007-03-08 05:58:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋