Cash Bar??

amanda_steve12

What are your thoughts on a cash bar??

tickledpink1843

I wouldn't do it. Asking guests to spend money at your wedding doesn't seem appropriate to me. Sure, they can choose not to drink... but still, I personally would be put off by that.

If you are worried about alcohol costs, a way to keep that down is to have only one or two signature drinks. Or, only have wine and beer. That is what FI and I are doing and we are only spending 400 dollars between the cost of alcohol and the cost of our bartender.

latashaphillips81

i was back and forth about this one my self. i originally wanted to do an open bar but it was too costly for us, so then my second thought was a cash bar (because i had some of the wedding party asking would they at least be able to buy drinks) or if to have anything at all.

i'd say it just depends. i hear that its really tacky to do that but i probably would do it if my wedding was an evening wedding but since we're getting married on a sunday @ noon i just cut out the whole bar thing together....hth

nicoleflores2005

I'm not a fan of the cash bar.  Your guests are already spending a lot of money on you (travel expenses, wedding gifts, etc.) and it's just rude to ask them to bust out their wallets at the actual wedding to pay for their own drinks.  

akg0053

In the past I thought a cash bar was always tacky, no matter what. Then I went to a wedding where cash bars are standard among those people. Now my position is that it depends on your wedding, but I wouldn't do one.

We are already asking so much of our guests. We're doing a Friday wedding so they have to take more time off work than normal. The church is about 20 minutes away from the reception, so we're asking them to drive. Then, they might have to pay for parking at the hotel (I'm trying to negotiate this and it's not working). For us, asking them to then pay for alcohol wasn't an option.

jedaniel

I personally wouldn't do it. Guest are already spending so much on the wedding between gifts and gas. If you really wanted to cut cost I would cut the bar completely. Not to mention who really carries cash these days. I cant remember the last time I had cash on me. I totally understand the bar being expensive ours is almost costing 800 dollars but everyones loves to drink!

kellster22

I suggest limiting the choices and drinks, margarita machines are cheap, beer deals can be found and find a nice but inexpensive bottle of red and white wine and be done. Not a cash bar but not crazy expensive either.

SarahPLiz

I say host whatever you can host, but you don't have to have the option of a full bar. You know your crowd.

Ours is fine with beer and wine, so that's what we are serving. We will also have soda and iced tea. The option for liquor would have cost us another security guard in the parking lot.. and the liquor, so we decided against it.

If you do a cash bar, PLEASE don't charge people for sodas or bottled water.

Cercamom2011

I second the charging for water or sodas.  That is really tacky and like others have said, who carries cash any more? As far as the cash bar, you could even see about hosting for only a couple of hours or so.  That way you can keep costs down, but not the cost of a full 4-5 hour hosted bar.

pacificgalx

We're still undecided. We're at a hotel for our reception so it's gonna be an arm and a leg to do an open bar. We are thinking of just hosting beer and wine only since it's less costly. You can also do an open bar for just the cocktail hour or just do a limit on a certain amount.

amanda_steve12

Thanks for all the advice. Most of the weddings I've been to are cash bars, but I guess I never really noticed since I'm not a big drinker. I'm so glad I asked. I would feel terrible if my guests had one more thing to pay for. I reall like the idea of just serving wine and beer.

may2005

I don't think a cash bar is a good idea.  Does your venue let you bring in your own alcohol? 

We got married at the Caswell House which let you bring in your own alcohol, so I stocked up on beer & wine for the few months preceding my wedding.  I also served bottled water & soft drinks at the bar stations, and saved ALOT of money.

twinksicle

I've been to a wedding with no bar, and I'd say a cash bar is better than that. But I suppose it's not the best etiquette. My FI and I are doing beer/wine for 3 hours and then cash bar for the last 2 hours.