Open bar at the rehearsal????

Alwaysabridesmaid!

We are having our rehearsal the night before the wedding in the hotel our guests are staying at.  They gave us a great price on the dinner, however the drink price is out of control.  We do not want open bar but was thinking of just doing beer, wine, and soda.  Is it okay to cut out the beer and wine and not offer our guests any kind of alcohol at the rehearsal?  We are having a huge reception the next day with a full open bar and there is a bar in the hotel they will probably go to after the rehearsal dinner.  I dont want my guests/bridal party/family hung over for the big day but I dont want to be tacky!  Thoughts, ideas?  Please help!  All is welcomed and appreciated!!! 

banana468

Honestly, I'm not a fan of dry rehearsal dinners.   I'd rather you plan the RD at a place that's less expensive than at one where you can't let the BP drink a glass or two of wine.  Most RDs aren't binging events but they are the TY to your bridal party and their spouses.  That's just not a place to cut IMO.

danieliza1127

I would at least offer a glass of wine or one beer per person or something if you can.  Otherwise, completely dry is fine.

mrscheetah

We are having a full bar at our wedding but our rehearsal dinner will be dry. We're having it at a restaurant with an extensive bar so if someone wants a drink, they can go buy one. We're having sodas, lemonade, iced tea, water and coffee, so I'm perfectly fine with this decision.

PharmacyBride

I would look at who is coming to the RD.  Our guest list would much prefer a pizza joint with tons of beer than a really nice dry dinner.  We are going to do something nicer than pizza & beer.. but knowing what they like will definitely help me figure out what to cut and what not to.

If your crowd is completely different than mine- then what you have planned can definitely work.

I consider the RD to be a thank you for being in the WP so their wishes/likes/dislikes should definitely be considered.

[Deleted User]

My FMIL is paying for our rehearsal dinner.  I have printed out separate menus for everyone that was invited that does not include alcohol.  It lets the guests know what they can have without shoving it down their throats.  It's perfectly ok for everyone to drink, just not on my fiance's mom's tab.  We are also having a beer and wine open bar at the wedding. 

GatorWedsNole

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_pre-wedding-parties_open-bar-rehearsal?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:32Discussion:75b1cfdd-00b2-4c10-ad18-774f87f33ef7Post:284568bf-585e-4a45-8d31-90beeb8e82dd">Re: Open bar at the rehearsal????</a>:
[QUOTE]I would at least offer a glass of wine or one beer per person or something if you can.  Otherwise, completely dry is fine.
Posted by danieliza1127[/QUOTE]

I think you might be able to work out something like this with the restaurant.  Another option might be to buy (or bring if allowed) a few bottles of wine for each table and have them set out.  When it runs out, it runs out.
HTH!

flamingtwig72

You should only have a dry rehearsal dinner if no one attending drinks at all. Imagine going to a special dinner and not being able to have a drink. That's unacceptable unless these people are card-carrying non-drinkers. You mentioned them buying drinks if they want them, but isn't that just as bad as having a cash bar at the reception? This is a thank you dinner, so make it as enjoyable as possible. Personally I'd be upset if I were a guest at a dry rehearsal dinner. I wouldn't say anything, but I'd find it very rude.

ellen73

I think we are lucky. Our rehearsal dinner is being catered by the same caterer as the reception.  Both are BYOB-  so for the rehearsal we are planning on just beer and wine/champagne/prosecco,  with a full bar for the reception. The liquor store said we could plan on $6 per person for the liquor, so our beverage total, with bartender fees, will be about $12/person for the reception!