Open Bar at a Bridal Shower?

daisymae314 · April 2010

My cousin is getting married in CT and her bridesmaids mentioned having an open bar at her bridal shower. I think its in bad taste, especially with it being on a Sunday at 12:00 noon and many people will have a considerable drive home. Maybe it's a local thing that's more acceptable?

They want my input, but I'm still not sure how I feel about it so I was wondering what your thoughts were on it. Thanks!

starrbuk13 · April 2010

i don't think it's in bad taste. i think it's nice and unexpected, if anything. i like to give people enough credit to not get wasted at a bridal shower at noon on sunday!

starshollow · April 2010

My shower was on a Sunday at noon. We had carafes of wine on the tables, but no other alcohol was served. People did drink the wine, but no one seemed to mind that beer and hard alcohol were not served. Most of the showers I have attended had wine or some sort of punch, but not much more than that.

Are you helping to pay for the shower? Is open bar something that you can afford to pitch in for?

baystateapple · April 2010

I went to a bridal shower on a Sunday, and yes, there was an open bar, and it was in Kensington. We had a wonderful time. Nobody got wasted (it's a bridal shower, not a kegger), and everyone stopped drinking in plenty of time to drive home, or had a DD (me, because I'm an incredible lightweight). In a case like this, you really have to trust guests' judgment and realize that they are adults who know how much they should and should not be drinking.

Is there maybe another reason this is bothering you so much? Are you one of the ones who has to pay for the open bar? Because if you are and you weren't consulted before being asked to cough up the dough, I can see why you would be upset (I would be too).

Sterna1 · April 2010

My Mom and sister had mimosa's available instead of an open bar. The guests still had the option of buying a drink of they wanted to.

Whippet8 · April 2010

We had alcohol at my shower, it was a saturday at my parents house, but it was earlier in the day. There was champagne and wine, and everyone handled themselves well. For the most part, I almost expect alcohol of some sorts at a bridal shower (I haven't been to many though).

SuMmErKuTiE · April 2010

My mom and MOH are having a mimosa fountain available at my shower, so there will be alcohol at my shower, but I'm not sure about a full open bar. I don't think it's in bad taste, and as Starrbuk13 pointed out you should give adults more credit than to get wasted at a bridal shower on a Sunday afternoon. I've been to showers before where it was open bar and I didn't even get one drink, and then others where I only had one. I just wasn't in the mood to be drinking in front of my friend who's getting married's family. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it, most people if they decide to drink will just have a drink or two to be social. It's a nice option to be available for the guests if they choose to have a drink.

Erin&Mikey · April 2010

I had mimosas at my shower, it was on a Sunday at 11. Everyone loved it!!

banana468 · April 2010

I've never been to a bridal shower that WASN'T open bar.

Offering drinks doesn't mean that the guests are going to be funneling. Starting at noon often means that guests will drink a mimosa or maybe a glass of wine.

Just like if you had an afternoon wedding reception, alcohol would be served. This is IMO no different and rather appropriate.

(what wouldn't be appropriate at all would be to charge the guests for their drinks. THAT is in poor taste.)

ZoeTheDog · April 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_open-bar-bridal-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:65Discussion:a45b5340-9ce8-44b9-b5ff-2eaf0c70609ePost:9236c77e-ab10-4deb-8fa8-cac8b84e58a7">Re: Open Bar at a Bridal Shower?</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I've never been to a bridal shower that WASN'T open bar</strong>. Offering drinks doesn't mean that the guests are going to be funneling. Starting at noon often means that guests will drink a mimosa or maybe a glass of wine. Just like if you had an afternoon wedding reception, alcohol would be served. This is IMO no different and rather appropriate. (what wouldn't be appropriate at all would be to charge the guests for their drinks. THAT is in poor taste.)
Posted by banana468[/QUOTE]

Yeah there is nothing wrong with open bar at a shower. As a matter of fact, I'd expect it, but perhaps that's a NY thing since that's where I'm from.

kls114 · April 2010

I have been to a ton of showers where there were open bars. People definitely are aware of how much to drink, etc.

Personally, I enjoy showers that have a open bar or mimosas or something served.

beach11 · April 2010

I agree with people, some type of alcohol should be served (I think my BM are doing mimosas, punch and wine at mine). People are adults, and they shouldn't get hammered. If you are the one paying for it though I defiantly think you should have had a say in it though!

daisymae314 · April 2010

Thanks for the responses, I've been waxing and waning on the issue. Just to clarify, they're thinking top shelf full open bar (it will be at a restaurant). I've always been to showers where there were either bottles of wine on the table, or mimosas/sangria passed by the wait staff. I'm very much on board with doing something like that since most people would appreciate a drink or two on the house.

I just had a problem with the top shelf open bar thing. It just seems a little over-the-top assuming that people would even want something like that on a Sunday afternoon.

And yes, I do have to pay for my portion of the shower, but that wasn't my concern. I just needed to hear others opinions to see if I was crazy or not.

side note: I definitely enjoy drinking, so it's not like I'm a prude when it comes to alcohol consumption haha.

banana468 · April 2010

Well, FWIW, I think few guests will partake in the top shelf aspect.

As a hostess, you can say, "I can afford to contribute X," so at least you're not going to find an empty wallet at the end of this.

christikao · April 2010

All the showers I've been to (even baby showers) have either open bar or wine. I would hope your family and friends would be responsible enough to not get wasted at 1 in the afternoon.

Vikki2pay · April 2010

We had mimosa's at my shower and it was great.

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