Community› Wedding Discussion Boards› Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
New Discussion

Hard liquor v. wine/beer

marlenamacmarlenamac
in Wedding Cakes & Food Forum
Hey all, 
So I'm the first of my friends to get married, and have been to all of one wedding in my whole life. My fiance and I assumed that open bar with hard alcohol was the norm these days, but my mom seemed shocked by that and said that every wedding she'd been to only served beer and wine, and if they served liquor at all, guests paid for it individually. So who's right?? Our families have some pretty heavy drinkers, but I don't think that embarassing intoxication will be too much of a problem (but can anyone really anticipate these things?). What has everyone else done regarding open bars? Thanks so much!!
Report Reply to Post

Re: Hard liquor v. wine/beer

  • ViczaesarViczaesar member
    Ninth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    Host what you can afford, whether that be an open bar or only beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinnks.  Do not have a cash bar.



    Report Reply
  • jessicabessicajessicabessica member
    2500 Comments Third Anniversary 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    We had an open bar with wine, liquor, and beer (no shots, per our venue's policy), plus one signature cocktail that was passed during cocktail hour.  

    Host what you can afford.  It sounds like your guests will enjoy hard liquor, so host it if you can.  If you cannot pay for it, just host what you can afford, but do not have your guests pay for their drinks, as PP said.  If you have not picked a venue and caterer yet, ask about what their open bar policies are (can you bring your own?  if not, do they charge by person, by drink consumed, or either?).
    Report Reply
  • Maggie0829Maggie0829 member
    Eighth Anniversary 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers

    There are many variations that you can have...
    1) Open bar
    2) Beer and wine only
    3) Beer and wine with signature drink
    3) No alcohol what-so-ever

    No matter what variation you choose do not make your guests pay for anything.  If it is within your budget to have an open bar then do so, if not then hosting beer and wine is fine as well.  If you don't have the money for alcohol at all then just serving sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages is perfectly acceptable.

    As for our wedding, we had a middle of the road open bar (not top-shelf liquor but not crappy liquor).  Our guests had mixed drinks because they were available, but I have been to many weddings where they only had beer and wine and everyone seemed fine with that as well.


    Report Reply
  • zaedowzaedow member
    First Comment

    We are hiring a bartender (our location does not have any) and providing 3 types of hard liguer. A vodka, A rum and something else, all the setups,renting a margarita machine and ordering several kegs (hidden behind the bar). When the drinks are gone the party is pretty much over.

    Report Reply
  • zaedowzaedow member
    First Comment

    based on the a drink calculator we will need close to 6 bottles of each (the gallon ones the way our friends drink). Whatever drinks can be made with these bottles is what guests can have.

    Report Reply
  • kelnash89kelnash89 member
    10 Comments
    LIke the previous posters said, host what you can afford.

    If your venue/caterers allow you to bring in your own alcohol (a lot cheaper), maybe stick to beer and you could set up some kind of wine tasting station to add variety for your guests who may be looking for liquor.
    Report Reply
  • sofifi684sofifi684 member
    First Comment
    Like most said do what you can afford. Our venue allows us to bring in our own alcohol so we will just be doing beer and wine to make it easier and cheaper for us. Then we'll have some chamapagne for the toast. If you decide to go with beer and wine, maybe you can throw in a signature drink for people to also choose from. I may or may not have vodka or rum available for the wedding party....haven't decided yet!
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards