Is a cash bar unacceptable?

palomboemily

My FI and I are thinking of having a cash bar to save money since an open bar can be a really big expense. My FI thinks a cash bar isfine, but I am worried. I have read in a number of differerent places that cash bars are unacceptable since your guest should not have to pay for anything at your wedding. I am also aware of the option of offering bottles of wine at the tables or having certain signature drinks be free to guests. Would this actually save money? I'd love to hear what other people are doing for their bar.

mrjcre2011

On the one hand, yes, it's preferable to cover all the costs as the hosts. But on the other, it's super expensive to pay for alcohol for 100+ people, so by at least providing a cash bar, guests have the option to drink whatever they want. I'm not a big wine person, nor do I want a beer at a wedding, so I've been highly disappointed at weddings that didn't give me the option to pay for my own mixed drink. I would have been happy to do so. We're doing open for the cocktail hour and cash for the reception. We couldn't afford open the whole time so this was the best way we could think to compromise. We're also going to provide a couple of bottles of wine per table as well as the champagne toast, so people have plenty of alcohol to consume. No one seems to mind this arrangement that we've spoken to. And quite frankly, anyone that does, probably won't say anything to us so there's no need to stress about it. I don't have the extra $5k to cover it, and the beer/wine option is the exact same cost open (don't get me started on a couple of their pricing things), so I have no other choice.