Are Drink Tickets a "No No?"

dori851

We have finally decided & come to an agreement with FILs of where we are going to have the RD. However, they don't want a full open bar, & we (FI & I) do not want a cash bar. So, our RD venue offers drink tickets. They suggested to give two drink tickets to each person. They can use the drink tickets to get whatever they'd like. Once those drink tickets are gone/used, they are responsible for paying for their own alcoholic drinks.

Is this rude? Tacky? Or is it okay?

aragx6

I'd rather go to a dry wedding then be handed a drink ticket. You need to host whatever you offer to your guests at the reception, so this really isn't OK.

Have you looked into doing beer and wine only? That can be an easy way to save some money.

mica178

Drink tickets are not appropriate for wedding receptions. 

Meegles4

What is your ILs definition of an acceptable open bar? Are they fine with just beer and wine? If so, I'd do that and then if someone wants a mixed drink, they can pay for it.

I think drink tickets, especially at something like a RD is a bit odd. I'd offer some level of open bar, like beer/wine and/or a signature drink or punch, and then if someone wants something above that it's their choice and they can pay.

I'd think most people will fall in line with what's being hosted and be fine with paying if they truly hate the offering. Plus, RDs aren't really for getting wasted, so you're really just offering something to enjoy with dinner and I think beer and wine are fine in this case.

Beachy730

Yes, they are a no no.  

If your FIL's refuse to do a full open bar, work it out with the vendor that the FIL's will pay for 2 drinks per person (so if you have 25 people they pay for the first 50 drinks).  After that the place runs a new tab that you and your FI can pay for at the end.

jennamarie10

For a rehearsal dinner? I guess personally I feel like people won't drink more than a few drinks anyways (at least I don't at RD's!) so maybe you can just cover the whole thing yourself?

mica178

Also, I've noticed that most people don't drink too much during the rehearsal dinner as they usually don't run as long as wedding receptions and no one wants to be hungover for the wedding.  The overall tab shouldn't be too high.

Habs2Hart

What's the venue?  Can you just put wine on the table and then maybe have some beer available?  That should be plenty in addition to non-alcoholic drinks.  Most people wont drink too heavily at an RD.  We actually had a dry RD and it was perfectly fine. 

dori851

The reason FILs don't want to do just beer & wine is because the guy at our RD location gave us this example: He said that one Guiness is the same price as a rum & coke, so why not let the guests choose what drink they want?

He also told us to expect a $5 average per drink. So now I'm thinking we can just have the FILs pay for two drinks per person (based on the average drink amount), then we'll cover the rest.

ETA: Thanks for the advice!

sparent2010

I wouldn't do drink tickets. Maybe host beer and wine like the others have said and cover that cost yourself.

Habs2Hart

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_are-drink-tickets-a-no-no?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:048ea507-f305-4de3-9bd5-9ee4ab9092d2Post:e3678c60-2a60-4d55-827f-c234f4b7e2f3">Re: Are Drink Tickets a "No No?"</a>:
[QUOTE]The reason FILs don't want to do just beer & wine is because the guy at our RD location gave us this example: He said that one Guiness is the same price as a rum & coke, so why not let the guests choose what drink they want? He also told us to expect a $5 average per drink. <strong>So now I'm thinking we can just have the FILs pay for two drinks per person (based on the average drink amount), then we'll cover the rest. ETA: Thanks for the advice!
</strong>Posted by dori851[/QUOTE]

Go with this. 

Maggie0829

You said you didn't want a cash bar, but that is in fact what you will have once the tickets run out.

Tickets are rude.  Host what you (or your FILs) can afford.  If your FILs do not want an open bar or host alcohol at all, you and your FI can certainly cover the tab to have a happy compromise.

At a rehearsal dinner people won't drink that much since it doesn't last very long.

specialk84

We had a dry RD. 

Your  FILs can pay up front for two drinks per guest, and you and your FI can cover the rest.

mbody

No drink tickets- that makes me think of a work holiday party or something. I like the idea of just having your FILs pay for a certain amount (2 drinks per person) then just cover the rest. I've never really drank more than one glass of wine at a RD- especially if the wedding is the next day.

aragx6

Wow, sorry I can't read, and now I'm late. Sounds like you have a good strategy worked out.

rebarobert2012

I think that the drink tickets are a bad idea.  It's rude to ask guests to pay for their own drinks since the RD is a party that you are hosting.

annie912

My ex-FIL suggested this for my first wedding. While I personally wouldn't do a cash bar, I don't know that I would side eye someone who did. However, drink tickets would definitely strike me as tacky. I managed to get him to give up the drink ticket idea, and would like to say that was the last time I encountered "tackiness" in my ex's family, but, well....

There is nothing wrong with a dry RD. Especially if you have any in the wedding party that you may be concerned about overindulging at the RD. One of our ushers wound up yakking in the bushes at our wedding. Granted they went out after the RD and it wasn't fron drinking at the RD, but still.