alcohol

izzyjenni

Is it ok to have just beer for free at a reception?

Veittobe

Personally, I think it's totally fine.  I know there are others on the boards who would disagree with that.  But IMO, whatever you can afford to do is totally fine.  We are covering keg beer and wine only and doing cash bar for the mixed drinks.  

Ultimately, it's your wedding.  You can't go bankrupt covering the alcohol.  Just cover what you can - your guests love you and will understand.  

izzyjenni

Thanks Veittobe.  I am really stressing over this right now!  I even edited my post like 3 times.

kkaew816

Totally fine

beka0404

The P&E girls wouldn't agree, but I think it's fine. It's totally a regional thing - I have been to PLENTY of weddings where only beer was hosted.

esmurphy

We are doing keg beer all night and hosting wine during the CH.  We are also hosting pop so at our venue that knocks down the mixed drink price.  I have only been to one wedding with a full open bar so we don't feel bad only hosting beer.  

Veittobe

I totally understand your stress.  I did the same thing when I started reading the boards where brides were saying it was a faux pas to cover all or none.  But then I figured - who cares.  It's my wedding.    lol

I agree with Beka - it must be regional because most of the weddings I've been to only covered keg beer or maybe beer and wine.  

TriSaratops10

We are doing just beer & wine with a cash bar --- I'm thinking you should give the guests that heads up, has anyone come up with a good way of putting it? (I was thinking of a sign at the bar that says : Beer and Wine compliments of the newlyweds)?? Thanks!

Katiemahler

I agree - totally fine. We are also doing beer and wine with a cash bar. And a lot of places we looked at, only allow beer and wine, so I wouldn't stress. I've never been to a wedding with a full open bar; it's usually beer and wine or a specified time, like hosted social hour and drinks during dinner.

Steph0871

We have to bring in any and all alcohol to our venue, so we're just doing beer/wine hosted.  We probably would have considered a cash bar for other drinks if it was an option.

But a heads up, like Beka said... don't post this out on the national boards.  They get quite feisty about it, but maybe it is a regional thing?  

AmberDerek

That is totally fine!  Just have a sign stating that you are hosting the certain kind of beer.  I think our sign said we are hosting dometic beers, house wines, soda and kiddie cocktails.  It sounded better, but I can't remember exactly the wording.

hkiesling

I would just have a sign posted at the bar as to what is complimentary.  I don't mind paying at a reception, but I feel dumb if I have to ask what's free.

debbieupper

Totally fine in my book. But honestly, even in MN some people will probably be surprised if it's just beer and not both beer and wine (and definitely free pop). It's extremely common to have complimentary wine and beer with a cash bar (or just wine and beer), but I don't think I've been to a wedding that served complimentary beer without the wine (and I catered weddings for 3 years ... albeit in Colorado).

Edit: sorry this is all in bold. No idea why it's doing that!

drdifabio

Yea I agree totally fine. But I would make sure you have a free non alcoholic drink. I have been to a couple weddings where JUST beer was free no pop no juice nothing. It was strange to have no non alcoholic option especially if kids are invited.

blondie424

I agree, I think you are fine too!  And honestly, in all the weddings I've been to in the past 4-5 years (all in MN/WI), there was only 1 that had hosted beer and/or wine all night.  It's definitely a regional thing though.  The rest were either hosted beer/wine cocktail hour or free until the hosted beer/wine was out.

We are buying a certain amount of beer/wine (what we can afford) and will have 1 keg on reserve that my dad might buy if we need to.  Otherwise, it will be cash bar for liquor and after the hosted drinks are gone.  We will have hosted soda all night, our venue charges $200 for that and well worth it to us, especially since FI doesn't drink and I only plan to have 1-2 drinks the whole night.

Like PP, don't stress too much, your family and friends will still have a great time celebrating with you and your FI!!!!