I am VERY anti cash bar. I think it's the height of rudeness. So - people who think a cash bar is OK, I have a couple of questions.
1) Would you ever invite people to your house and ask for donations? Or invite someone to a restaurant and pay for their meal but ask them to pick up the drinks? How is a wedding any different?
2) What is the deal with saying it's acceptable "in my circle" or "in my region"? Isn't etiquette just etiquette? I don't think that saying something is acceptable just because other people do it too makes any sense.