No Liquor at the Reception???

amberlynned

Hello Ladies,

FI and I absolutely LOVE a particular venue that has everything we want. The only problem is that they ONLY allow beer, wine, and champagne. My guy LOVES Jameson and I personally am a vodka gimlet girl.... needless to say, some of us would be disappointed if there is no hard liquor.

But the venue is perfect!!!

I'm afraid that if we go with this venue people are going to think there's no liquor because we're cheap, or one of us has a drinking problem or something. Can we be good hosts without hard liquor? Are we making too big of a deal out of this?

MyNameIsNot

Limited bars (beer/wine) are perfectly acceptable, and fairly common for budget reasons.  You can also mix up some kind of specialty drinks like sangria or champagne punch to add a little more variety.  There is certainly no rule that you have to offer alcohol of any sort, much less a full bar. 

It's really a choice that you have to make.  Think about your guestlist and what your guests drink.  If the majority of your people drink beer or wine, they'll be fine.  If you have a lot of people that are like you and really only drink one specific drink of choice, you may decide that it's better to pick a different venue.  It's really a decision you'll have to make.

lyndausvi

DH and all my VIP's drink liquor.  We would pick a venue where it is can be offered.

But it's really only you can choose.

SarahPLiz

I am more of a liquor person but my family is entirely fine iwth wine and beer. We are only serving wine and beer because that's what fits in our budget. My uncle and my dad prefer whiskey, but are more than happy to drink beer for that night, because they also drink beer. I told them that if they wanted to, they could bring a flask;)

However, I think that if you served only beer and wine to people who ONLY drink liquor, then you are really wasting your money because they won't drink it, and your wedding will essentially be dry for them. In my circle, more people are Beer and Wine Only people than Liquor Only people, and some will drink whatever is there as long as its free.

aerinpegadrak

I would poll your VIPs (parents, WP, other important guests) and see how they feel about no liquor.  You may find they're okay with it for one evening, or maybe not.

Personally, I'm a girly drinks girl, but if it's beer and wine only, as long as it's good beer and wine, I'd be happy.  So as long as you had a good craft beer to satisfy a snob like me (Stone, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada), no worries here, even though my drink of choice is a chocolate martini.

jennylove810

I am perfectly happy with a couple glasses of wine at a reception, even though I'm a rum girl.  If you LOVE your venue, that might be more important.  People will get by on beer and wine, and you won't hear a single complaint.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_liquor-reception-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:a07ae264-f174-4a38-b221-1bc17aab77d5Post:a98b835d-074d-4c58-a354-78947122ab69">Re: No Liquor at the Reception???</a>:
[QUOTE] if it's beer and wine only, as long as it's good beer and wine, I'd be happy.  So as long as you had a good craft beer to satisfy a snob like me (Stone, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada), no worries here
Posted by aerinpegadrak[/QUOTE]

I agree with this. As long as there is a good variety and/or good quality of beer and wine, I think it will be okay (a white wine, maybe 2-3 reds, light beer, dark beer, wheat beer, etc.)

Lots of girls on this board do beer and wine receptions. No biggie. You're still being a good host.

wcvsb3b5

I think you two are the ONLY ones that could make this decision. FI and I couldn't care less about liquor because we are both beer drinkers (as well as most of our family and friends). I don't think you should worry about whether your guests think you are 'cheap' for this though...

rainsfallsoftly

My cousin had a reception at a winery that only served beer and wine, but they made mixed drinks with the wine as well.  I actually liked the wine cosmos better than an actual cosmo, and I got the recipe from them and made them at home later on.  They also had long island wine teas, wine sours, and about 5 other mixed wine drinks.  If I were you, I would stick with the location you love and ask them to make wine cocktails for mixed drinks lovers.