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Wedding Reception Forum
What exactly is a cash bar?
I always assumed a cash bar meant that the guests pay for the alcohol, but soft drinks are free. I was watching Four Weddings last night, and all of the guests were responsible for paying for all drinks except water. So, when people talk about cash bar here, does that mean all drinks or just alcoholic drinks?
P.S. I'm not trying to start a debate as to whether a cash bar is appropriate or not.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: What exactly is a cash bar?
Planning/Married Biology
In my experience cash bars mean paying for all drinks.
But, I think you can customize with your venue. You can pay for soft drink, or alcholic drinks or both, or neither.
The last wedding I was at, the only free drink was water, : /
[QUOTE]I hate answering these questions because then people start attacking. Cash bars can vary. I have never been to a wedding with a cash bar that made you pay for anything other than water. I think that is horrible to only offer water. I've seen some that offer pop or maybe beer and pop for free and you pay for the rest. At my reception we are having a cash bar. Beer, signature drink, soda, and tea are all free. If the guests want something other than those choices then they pay for what they want.
Posted by ndnikki06[/QUOTE]
I have no intention of attacking anyone. When I saw the episode that I mentioned in the OP, I was truly taken aback. I've never been to a wedding with cash bar. So, I always assumed when people here are talking about it, they meant that the guests pay for alcoholic drinks, not soda, iced tea, and other non alcoholic drinks.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: What exactly is a cash bar? : I have no intention of attacking anyone. When I saw the episode that I mentioned in the OP, I was truly taken aback. I've never been to a wedding with cash bar. So, I always assumed when people here are talking about it, they meant that the guests pay for alcoholic drinks, not soda, iced tea, and other non alcoholic drinks.
Posted by Goldlie11[/QUOTE]
Yea, I've honestly never seen one that only paid for water. I've only been to weddings with cash bars. Usually the host covers some liquor though along with soda. Thank you for not bashing me this time!
Although, I would stick around if I were being charged for booze and just not drink booze. If I'm paying for a coke, I'm not staying past cocktail hour ... and I'm pretty sure I'd be taking my gift with me.
If you fire a WP member, you're against America.
"Meg cracks me up on the regular. Now she gets to do it in two different forums. Yay!!" ~mkrupar
Planning/Married Biology
[QUOTE]I had no idea people had such strong feeling about their liquor! LOL! All of our drinks were free to our guests, but we limited the alcohol to beer and wine. I can't believe someone would be so upset with a bride and groom to actually leave and take their gift with them just because they had to pay for a drink. <strong>Not much of a friend then, huh?</strong> Weddings are expensive and the food and drinks are the major cost for most people. Drinking water or paying for a drink won't kill ya, people! LOL!
Posted by Sarahlynn79[/QUOTE]
<div>Just because you are friends with someone doesn't mean you should just put up with behavior like this.</div><div>
</div><div>I too would take my gift and leave. If I discovered that a "friend" was so greedy with their wedding that they weren't even covering soft drinks, it would seriously change my perception of that couple, and question why they invited me at all. If you don't care enough about me as a guest to host me, then you aren't going to miss me. </div><div>
</div><div>Weddings are expensive, but they are not mandatory. If the host can't afford it, they need to scale back. You don't just invite a bunch of people and mistreat them.</div>
Of course... it's always rude for a guest to complain about what is or is not being offered. Accept or decline gracefully, but to complain about what is or is not offered is just petty and childish.
And you don't complain about what you don't like! I would never say how much I didn't like your dress or hair or how the food sucked. That's RUDE!!! Its the HOSTS decision to pay, not pay, invite not invite, do pretty much whatever they want.
I get it, you think your entitled to something because you spent a little money on an outfit. Had you hair done, make-up, whatever. Then after all that, have to cough up a little extra cash as a gift too. AND even if you did take you gift and go home, you'd still expect a Thank You card.
Seriously, I'm over this whole The Knot thing. I thought this would be a fun site where we all gush about our dresses and flowers. But really its been a non stop flame fest. People just rip each other up for their ideas. I'm appalled. Bunch of snotty brats dressing up for their pretty pretty princess day and how much my wedding is better than your wedding...GROSS!