Bar budget...

Re: Bar budget...

• CnJ2014 member

  

  January 2013 edited January 2013

  Please don't stress over that, I think it's perfectly fine, in fact I plan on doing the exact same thing if I can even afford that!  Of course, it does depend on your family/social circle.  My family and friends would be very satisfied with that and in fact would be (happily) surprised if I did do open bar all night.  I have been to weddings where there were no complimentary beverages at all aside from the champagne toast.  My sister recently went to a wedding where there were no complimentary beverages, and she was a little surprised, but only because the family is known for being on the wealthier side, but nonetheless no one thought poorly of the wedding or the couple because if it.
  
  The knot and other sources assert that it is tacky to allow your guests to pay for anything at all during your wedding... but the way you are doing it, they can still drink during cocktail hour and have wine with dinner without having to pay, they only have to pay if they want something different or they want to drink even more than that.  I also think Boston is more expensive than many other parts of the country, which is why so many people on national forums insist that open bar is the norm.
  
  Take cues from what others in your family and social circle have done and don't let "etiquette rules" allow you to go broke!

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• melb2013 member

  

  January 2013

  CnJ2014: Nobody saying that it is tacky to not have an open bar, it is tacky to have  cash bar.  Whatever you serve, serve it graciously.

  
  

  OP, I think what you have planned is perfectly fine.  As a guest I wouldn't think anything of it- I usually just drink wine with dinner anyway.

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• ciligirl

  

  January 2013

  I agree with cnj. I am 43 and I can't even count how many weddings I have been to, i just tried and i was up to almost 20. of them only 3 were open bar all night and one was just beer and wine. I do agree that it is a regional thing and would go more by what your friends and fam think. I have never been taken aback at having to buy a drink at a wedding. But I also agree with melb and what you are thinking of offering is perfectly fine. I am a wine drinker but I will also say we were just at a wedding ( open bar) where all they had was cosmos and wine and my fi and a lot of the other male guests really wanted to be able to buy a beer and it was not an option.

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• MrsGandthebeag member

  

  January 2013

  I would be happy with this option.

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• ascd

  

  January 2013

  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_bar-budget?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:89Discussion:c04e208a-f349-43fd-a887-a4eb8517e0f0Post:aec51fdb-58f3-4b6a-909c-acd64e2cafca">Bar budget...</a>:
  [QUOTE]I'm having my wedding in September at a hotel and I'm having about 100/120 people and having an open bar is way to expensive. They give us a open bar for the cocktail hour but after that its just wine on the table and champagne included for our toast. Should I still stress over the no open bar situation I can't seem to relax?! Help!
  Posted by sciarraali[/QUOTE]
  
  <div>Open bar during cocktail hour, a champagne toast and wine on the tables.  That's PLENTY to give your guests....don't think twice or stress about this.  There is nothing wrong, not one bit, with a guest having to purchase a cocktail if he/she wishes to and/or wants something other than wine.  On average, I'll be at 40 weddings each year (don't ask) and more than 3/4 (at least!) are doing something similar to what you are.  Again, do not stress and enjoy the day!</div>

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• lovahforlife member

  

  January 2013

  I think you have a great option. If anyone complains, they are not close enough to even be invited to your wedding. They don't HAVE to drink a cocktail if they don't want. Is water and soda complimentary?

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