Hi all!
My father has gotten the idea that it would be fun to throw a golf tournament the day before the wedding. Some background:
Over 70% of our guests are from out of town and many of them are planning on arriving Thursday. My father and whole family really are avid golfers (they can't understand why I don't like it). He thought it'd be a great way for family and friend of both sides to get together before the event. The reception is at an Hotel Spa & Golf Club and most of the guests are staying at this hotel, so they would also play at the course there.
My father would organize a captain's choice tournament with teams of four complete with boxed lunches, carts, and custom golf shirts for each player. Also the winners would possibly be recognized at the wedding. He will invite all the wedding guests but leave it up to people on whether or not they'd like to play. He was planning on asking those who'd like to participate to pay about $45/person (which is basically just the greens fee heavily discounted).
Now I've been to plenty of golf tournaments and $45 is cheap for one. I believe it is proper etiquette for those playing in a golf tournament to pay to enter. However, since it is associated with the wedding is it rude to invite guests to pay to play in a golf tournament? I have absolutely no idea. I know it's rude to expect a guest to pay for things at a wedding (ie cash bars), but does a pre-wedding event like a golf tournament fall under these rules? Help!