Alcohol For a Noon Wedding?

REveritt06 · November 2009

My wedding is going to take place at noon, with a reception from 12-4. My family and I have tossed the idea back and forth about whether or not to serve alchohol during the reception. There are no cultural, personal, or religious reasons preventing us from serving it, but it it mainly just a matter of cost. Even just doing a beer and wine package is over 3 grand for the number of people we are expecting. I don't want my reception to be exteremly boring however. There will be a DJ and dancing for sure, but I can't figure out what to do about the drinks. It shouldn't be missed that much in the middle of the afternoon should it?

danieliza1127 · November 2009

In my experience with daytime receptions, if you don't have alcohol, don't expect people to dance. Usually alcohol free afternoon receptions just last about 2 or 2.5 hours and that's it. People socialize and visit with each other and the bride and groom, eat finger foods and cake, and that's it. It's not boring, it's just not a party type dancing reception. If you want a party type dancing reception, I would recommend you serve alcohol. If you're okay with the daytime social reception though and not necessarily looking for it to be a big party, then skip the alcohol.

duckie1905 · November 2009

From what I know of the afternoon receptions I've attended, mainly the dry ones, they are very short (2-2 1/2 hours tops) with no dancing. People mingle for a bit, eat, and leave. Even with a DJ, not that many will dance and I'd bet that many won't stay four hours, either. While I love booze and also think dry afternoon weddings are fine they have a very different feel that an event that is serving alcohol.

mbcdefg · November 2009

If you can swing the extra $3k I would provide beer and wine. If not, don't sweat it.

REveritt06 · November 2009

We don't have any control over how long the reception lasts. The ceremony should be from noon to 1, then pictures and the reception has to be over by 4 no questions asked. We are at one of those venues that can schedule up to 3 weddings in one day so we can't run over. We are also serving a meal. Is it worth it?

REveritt06 · November 2009

We can't bring in our own drinks either. We have to have the venue do it, which is why it is so pricey.

mbcdefg · November 2009

Do you think your crowd would miss having alcohol?I know that, if we cut alcohol, our family and friends would be pretty taken aback by a dry wedding. I doubt anyone would walk out in disgust, but I think they'd be a bit disappointed not to be able to have a drink or two at a social function (especially a wedding). Any chance you can negotiate with your hall? If you tell them that you simply can't afford $3K for booze and would have to cut it altogether, maybe they will cut you a deal ... they'd probably rather get 50-75% of that $3K than lose it completely. Or see if they will include hard liquor in that $3K, or maybe some more food or desserts. I found that halls were more willing to throw in more food (or things like free chair covers, an extra hour of partying, etc.) than they were to cut down the price. At least if you have to pay $3K they can make it worth your while by adding more things onto that package price.

REveritt06 · November 2009

I understand what you meant. I had forgotten I had written the times in that 1st post. It's really just a matter of price vs available time I guess... My in laws that do drink usually throw themselves an after party with tons of drinks after every wedding anyway. I just want to feel like people are at least having a good time while they are there.

tenofcups4me · November 2009

I'd "expect" alcohol at a daytime wedding, the same as a nighttime wedding. If you're planning on the DJ and dancing, then yes, I do think it would be missed.

REveritt06 · November 2009

It's about half and half when it comes to who drinks and who doesnt. My parents and aunts and uncles and cousins don't drink. His side of the family, and a few on my side do drink. At the last wedding we went to the people were complaining that were no drinks AND no dancing (the last wedding we went to was baptist so the church wouldn't let them have either) If it was up to me and my fiance we would do it, but my parents are paying for it, and the cost just seems so high...

Leah&Christian09 · November 2009

It's really up to you and your budget, but alcohol does get people on the dance floor. Do you have the option to serve a couple of pitchers of sangria or mimosas or spiked punch or something? People drink a lot lighter in the afternoon, too.

shellybeth · November 2009

I know some people look down upon this, but can you have a cash bar? That way if they want alcohol it will be available, but you won't have to go broke over it. (okay.. now let's see who is going to bash me.. )

jenn.daniel · November 2009

I don't think anyone should EVER expect alcohol at a reception. You have to provide food and drink, but you aren't expected to support peoples drinking habits. Personally, I'd ask close friends what they like at receptions. I hate how people are pressured to break the bank to provide alcohol for everyone.

Leah&Christian09 · November 2009

can you have a cash bar?I'm not going to bash you, but being rude to your guests is not the solution.

aerinpegadrak · November 2009

I certainly wouldn't miss alcohol at an afternoon reception. However, I doubt I personally would be much inclined to dance, even if the booze were free-flowing. If you're not going to serve any kind of alcohol, you may as well save your money on the DJ and dance floor, because they're probably not going to get used very much.Sangria or another alcoholic punch may be a good idea; there's still booze, but it's daytime booze. Plus it's cheap and can be mixed up in large quantities.

shellybeth · November 2009

Well some people may think that not providing any alcohol is rude.. at least with a cash bar they have the option of getting a drink if they wish as opposed to not having the option of drinking at all.But, that is how I look at it (for alcohol only).To OP, maybe you should just NOT have alcohol at all.. three grand is a lot to spend on just drinks IMO

lyndausvi · November 2009

I'm like ten.... We always have alcohol at every event regardless of time of day. So I would (and my guests) would expect alcohol. Especially with dancing. But your family and friends might be different.

lyndausvi · November 2009

I don't think anyone should EVER expect alcohol at a reception. Most expectations come from past experiences. I've been attending weddings for 35 years now. I average 1-2 a year. I've ALWAYS seen alcohol served. Some weddings have been as early noon, others as late as 8pm. Not one time has alcohol not been offered.That all said, I've never attended any event in my family whether is be xmas day, 1st bay day parties, funerals, BBQ, reunions, etc that alcohol was not offered. Even walking into my grandma's house on a random sunday I would be offered a beer.So if your family and friends are like my family and friends, yes alcohol would be expected. It's not to be rude or think we have some sense of entitlement, it's because we have never not been offered an alcoholic drink. To us a good host = offering your guests a drink.

MeaghanandMichael · November 2009

ditto Lynda. Well said.

tenofcups4me · November 2009

Lynda basically just wrote what I would have written. I've never attended a wedding that didn't have alcohol (with the exception of one, who was a college friend and very different from any of my other friends and family) so my expectations are based on past experiences. By the same token, I'd never "expect" a cake and punch reception since I've never attended one. It's not wrong to have one, but it would be outside my realm of experience. The OP asked if alcohol would be "missed" -- in my crowd, it would. None of us have any way of knowing what HER guests expect.

Simply Fated · November 2009

I think it would be a good idea to ask around to your closest family and friends and ask them if they would be miserable without booze. Don't mention the financial issue involved, though... just ask them if they would terribly miss alcohol if none was served at your wedding. If an overwhelming majority says they would expect there to be alcohol, then it might be worth the extra 3k. If most people say they wouldn't mind, then you can probably forgo to alcohol.

Lasairiona · November 2009

I don't know a single person who drinks alcohol at that time of day. Will your guests really miss it if it isn't there? If cost is a factor, then don't serve something you can't afford and don't make your guests pay for it either.

dsouldiva · November 2009

How about just offering a alcoholic welcome drink or toast? Have all the drinks ready poured for when guests arrived, when it's gone it's gone sort of thing and then switch to non alcoholic alternative.I've never been to a wedding that doesn't have an afternoon and evening part (I'm british, it's the norm over here) but I don't usually drink in the afternoon because I'd be asleep by 5pm if I did, It wouldn't seem that strange to me if there wasn't alcohol.

REveritt06 · November 2009

Thank you ladies for all the helpfull suggestions. I have been conversing with my venue this entire time and think I MAY have worked something out. The biggest catch is still price. Keep your fingers crossed!

JaimeeP · November 2009

Your guests who drink will miss it. Could you trim your expenses in other ways?

hollieheidi · November 2009

Sorry, I read most of the posts, but if I'm not saying anything new sorry... I do like my beverages, but I probably would NOT drink that much at an afternoon wedding and definately not enough to get me out on the dance floor. However, I still feel like I'm alot of fun at parties, alcohol or no. I do not think it's worth 3K for alcohol when you can have a champagne toast and then have an afterparty later that night. I think your guests will still have a good time...alcohol does not a party make. Good food, good friends, good times....

JNL$LSM · November 2009

We did not serve any alchohol, due to th legal responsbility that comes with it. We did not want to start our marriage of with a law suit. However, people I mean everyone dance the WHOLE time! As long as you are dancing people will dance with you. We had the young as well as the old out there dancing and it was GREAT!

ks3pink · November 2009

I agree with PP. I have only been to one wedding where alchol was served and no one danced there, but at others weddings where it wasn't served lots of people danced. If the bride and groom are dancing and there is a DJ and a dance floor someone will dance. Alchol is not necessary for every event you attend and a wedding is not exception. 10/10/10 Bride!!

lyndausvi · November 2009

I don't know a single person who drinks alcohol at that time of day.Seriously? I'm not saying on a regular basis. But you do not know anyone who would have a drink at that time of the day for a special occasion? We see people drink at that time of the day everyday. At 10:30am guests are asking for the drink of the day. On the boat we start serving alcohol at lunch, whic is normally around noon.So not on a normal basis, but it's not unusual for someone to have a drink early in the day for a special occasion. For example include a wedding, tailgating party for a football game or while on vacation.OP - I do admit $3k is a lot.

aerinpegadrak · November 2009

I totally agree with Lynda. The one time I went to Club 33 (the members-only restaurant inside Disneyland, the only place in the park that serves alcohol), it was for lunch. It was 11 in the morning, but you'd better believe I ordered a drink, if only for the sheer novelty of being able to do so. Drinking early in the day isn't remotely unheard of; that's why breakfasty drinks like mimosas, bloody marys, mai tais, and irish coffee exist.

KathyandDave · November 2009

I just had my wedding (Sunday Nov. 1) at noon. We had an open bar and there was a steady line throughout the entire reception (1pm-5pm). The majority of our guests stayed throughout the entire reception. Dancing patterns fluctuated but I'm sure had there been no alcohol a lot less people would haev been dancing. That being said, I know alcohol is realllly expensive...so do what you think is best! I definitely think it's easier to get away with not having it at an afternoon reception... Good luck! Side note- we had tableside wine service throughout lunch that was very well received...so could just doing that be an option?

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