RD Question

jcamm11

I want to have our RD at a bowling alley.  I will provide pizzas and pitchers of soda and beer.  I plan to rent 4-6 lanes, and just have a good time with BP and OOTers.

If my guests want a drink from the bar, should I have it put on my tab, or allow them to wander over and buy it themselves?  Should I also pick up the tab for shoe rentals?  Is the whole prospect of having it at a bowling alley tacky?

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Oh, sorry, I saw you were providing beer.

In that case, yeah, if they don't want it... well, they can go buy whatever they want on their own.

MyNameIsNot

I think doing it at a bowling alley is awesome.  If you go that route, you do need to cover the bowling and their shoes, though.  You should make it so that no one needs to pay anything to participate.

IMHO, covering pizza and beer is fine (although I'd offer salads or some kind of alternative for people that don't eat pizza for whatever reason).  I'm dead set against cash bars at any time for any reason, but it's perfectly fine for you to offer what you can afford and don't offer what you can't.  Since you are in a public place, you can't exactly have the bar close.  If anyone wants something you aren't offering, that's their decision and can be on their dime.  It's a totally different situation than if you had a private room and put a cash bar in it.  

jcamm11

Thanks, for the support girls!  I think I will pick up the shoe rentals.  Not sure how that works, but I'm sure the place does bday parties and whatnot frequently enough where a host pays, they should be able to direct me.

polichik

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_rd-question-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5b2ffeb2-b564-4520-b061-d95e3136dd69Post:62624617-cff3-43be-a1d1-abb51e193314">Re: RD Question</a>:
[QUOTE]I think doing it at a bowling alley is awesome.  If you go that route, you do need to cover the bowling and their shoes, though.  You should make it so that no one needs to pay anything to participate. IMHO, covering pizza and beer is fine (although I'd offer salads or some kind of alternative for people that don't eat pizza for whatever reason).  I'm dead set against cash bars at any time for any reason, but it's perfectly fine for you to offer what you can afford and don't offer what you can't.  Since you are in a public place, you can't exactly have the bar close.  If anyone wants something you aren't offering, that's their decision and can be on their dime.  It's a totally different situation than if you had a private room and put a cash bar in it.  
Posted by MyNameIsNot[/QUOTE]

I was going to type out a response, but I'll just "ditto" this excellent advice. I'd LOVE a RD at a bowling alley! So much more fun than just sitting awkwardly at a restaurant. I think the drink situation is akin to somebody hosting beer and wine at a wedding but not stopping guests from going to the hotel bar in the other room if they want liquor. You're in the clear.

P.S. Can I come? hehe :)

andy71781

Yay that sounds like a lot of fun.  I ditto PPs - as long as you are paying for pizza beer and the bowling you are good to go.

jcamm11

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_rd-question-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5b2ffeb2-b564-4520-b061-d95e3136dd69Post:62624617-cff3-43be-a1d1-abb51e193314">Re: RD Question</a>:
[QUOTE]I think doing it at a bowling alley is awesome.  If you go that route, you do need to cover the bowling and their shoes, though.  You should make it so that no one needs to pay anything to participate. IMHO, covering pizza and beer is fine (<strong>although I'd offer salads or some kind of alternative for people that don't eat pizza for whatever reason</strong>).  I'm dead set against cash bars at any time for any reason, but it's perfectly fine for you to offer what you can afford and don't offer what you can't.<strong>  Since you are in a public place, you can't exactly have the bar close.  </strong>If anyone wants something you aren't offering, that's their decision and can be on their dime.  It's a totally different situation than if you had a private room and put a cash bar in it.  
Posted by MyNameIsNot[/QUOTE]

1. I was leaning on the same thing, so I really appreciate another opinion on that!

2. You worded my point so much better than I did.

Thanks!

jcamm11

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_rd-question-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5b2ffeb2-b564-4520-b061-d95e3136dd69Post:d5f496fd-e9ce-4f7a-a6c9-1c0a0fdb96ba">Re: RD Question</a>:
[QUOTE]P.S. Can I come? hehe :)
Posted by polichik[/QUOTE]

If only I could invite half the ladies off the knot!<img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_rd-question-4?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5b2ffeb2-b564-4520-b061-d95e3136dd69Post:475521b1-634a-4dcc-a618-2597afd73568">Re: RD Question</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks, for the support girls!  I think I will pick up the shoe rentals.  Not sure how that works, but I'm sure the place does bday parties and whatnot frequently enough where a host pays, they should be able to direct me.
Posted by jcamm11[/QUOTE]

Yup, I've been to parties before where you can get shoes, 2 games, and sometimes food for a set price per person. I'm sure they'll work with you!