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Refreshments at Ceremony

KPBM89KPBM89 member
500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer First Anniversary
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
My fiance and I will be having an outdoor ceremony next year in August, followed by an indoor (air conditioned) cocktail hour and reception.  Since the ceremony will be outside in the heat (at 3pm), we want to provide cold beverages for our guests.  We already plan to have water available, but wanted to also do a lemonade and were considering another drink as well (like a light alcoholic drink).  The entire day will be our style: very laid back and fun.  

My question is: is it against proper etiquette to have an alcoholic drink available at the ceremony?  We're perfectly fine with just doing water and lemonade if it's tacky to have alcohol.  Nothing really fancy, just something light and probably fruity.  Thanks in advance ladies!
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Re: Refreshments at Ceremony

  • cmelliottcmelliott member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    I'd say if your ceremony is laid back and you're not worried about any "religious" implications, I'd say having alcohol at the ceremony is just fine if it's something you think your guests will enjoy.
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  • CheleLynCheleLyn member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Our ceremony will be outside at the reception site. We'll have non alcoholic drinks available outside and the bar will be open inside for anyone who wants it.

    ~*~June 21, 2014~*~


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  • SunriseAmberSunriseAmber member
    500 Comments 25 Love Its Second Anniversary
    I don't think it's tacky. You should go for it. Are you planning on having a bartender to hand out the drinks?
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  • southernbelle0915southernbelle0915 mod
    Moderator 10000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary
    I don't think it's tacky to have alcoholic drinks available as long as there are no religious or ceremonial implications (sounds like there aren't any). It'd probably be easier and cheaper to do just water and lemonade, but if you can afford it I think a mojito, daiquiri, or John Daly would be fun and refreshing.
    *********************************************************************************

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  • KPBM89KPBM89 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer First Anniversary
    @cmelliott Yeah neither of us are really religious, nor are our families so that shouldn't be an issue.

    @CheleLyn We considered leaving the bar open during ceremony time (they're at the same place, just the ceremony is outside next to the venue), but knowing some of our guests, they might get caught up at the bar.

    @SunriseAmber Yeah we would most likely have a bartender there.  Either that or we could use those large dispenser things, since it would probably just be one type of drink.  Some of his family members have children and teenagers, so it might be necessary for someone to supervise the drinks!
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  • itzMSitzMS member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers First Anniversary

    Sure. Have a nice sangria available, and a bartender to serve it up!

     

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  • KPBM89KPBM89 member
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    @southernbelle0915 We were thinking a mojito!  Although now that you say it, a John Daly would be perfect as well :)
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  • CheleLynCheleLyn member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Check with your venue to see if they REQUIRE you to have a bartender. For multiple reasons our venue doesn't provide bartenders or alcohol so since we are providing alcohol we HAVE to provide a bartender...thankfully, we know several who are more than willing to tend bar for us for what we are offering to pay. 

    We've been to functions that have those dispensers at the bar and the guests can pretty much help themselves, but there has always been a bartender there, too to ensure anyone under age isn't sneaking some.
    ~*~June 21, 2014~*~


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  • KPBM89KPBM89 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer First Anniversary
    @itzMS Ooo sangria is a good idea as well!

    @alisonmarie658 Yeah I'm definitely thinking we'd need the bartender.  It won't be an issue for my side of the family (youngest is my 23 year old cousin), but his side has tons of kids and teens and I'm sure they'd love to partake!  His brother's wedding won't allow kids for this reason...
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  • harper0813harper0813 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    A mojito sounds great - or even a boozy lemonade. I think it's a very nice idea.
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  • misssunshine17misssunshine17 member
    2500 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary 5 Answers
    edited September 2013
    I think it sounds great. I would also suggest having fans, maybe seconding as a program so people can fan themselves since it sounds like it could be warm. 

    @zobird I'm waiting for a AW!!
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  • KPBM89KPBM89 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer First Anniversary
    @CheleLyn Yeah our venue doesn't require we have a bartender (it's a totally DIY place...they just provide the building), but we did have to purchase a liquor license for the day because there will be alcohol on grounds.  I think we'll be on the safe side and just pay the bartender a little extra to do the ceremony, too.  My parents both work for restaurants, so we're using their connections for our bartender...I'm sure they'd be willing to make some extra money for a little more time!
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  • harper0813harper0813 member
    500 Love Its 1000 Comments First Anniversary First Answer
    misssunshine17 said:

    I think it sounds great. I would also suggest having fans, maybe seconding as a program so people can fan themselves since it sounds like it could be warm. 


    @zobird I'm waiting for a AW!!
    I'll see what I can do. :) Pro photos should be done in a week or to, anyway.
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  • KPBM89KPBM89 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer First Anniversary
    @zobird and @misssunshine17 thanks!  I really appreciate everyone's help and input!  And we'll definitely have fans as well.  It's pretty hot in August in MD! 
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  • WonderRedWonderRed member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    When our guests arrive at our ceremony (outdoors... hopefully...  the first weekend of November) they'll be greeted with a hot apple cider & Tuaca drink.  There will be a non alcoholic version available too and they will be served by the venue wait staff but it doesn't really matter for us since our only under 21 guest is my 6 year old son.  We just want to make sure everyone is warm and comfortable if it's on the cooler side. Plus it will help everyone get into a fun, fall, festive mood right off the bat.
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  • ceceibsonceceibson member
    100 Comments 25 Love Its Second Anniversary
    We were married last summer.  The ceremony was in an outdoor public garden, then cocktail hour and the reception followed immediately at another venue down on the beach, about 5 minutes away.

    We hosted a "preception" that began at 1:00 in the garden, with the ceremony starting at 3:00.  We served iced tea, lemonade, bottled water, 2 different sangrias and canned beer.  Also several appetizers [passed and buffet] and chocolate truffles.

    Guests are still talking about how much fun and unique the pre-party was.

    BTW, we did all pictures before the preception, then I changed out of my wedding gown into a short dress, then changed back into my gown for the ceremony and reception.  I was having so much fun at the preception, my mother had to tell me it was time to get dressed for the wedding.
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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    This sounds nice! I like the idea of having cool drinks available when it's hot (and hot drinks when it's cold).  Just make sure it's okay with the venue and have a qualified person on hand to serve it (and make sure that anything alcoholic isn't served to minors).
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  • WonderRedWonderRed member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    ceceibson said:
    We were married last summer.  The ceremony was in an outdoor public garden, then cocktail hour and the reception followed immediately at another venue down on the beach, about 5 minutes away.

    We hosted a "preception" that began at 1:00 in the garden, with the ceremony starting at 3:00.  We served iced tea, lemonade, bottled water, 2 different sangrias and canned beer.  Also several appetizers [passed and buffet] and chocolate truffles.

    We thought about doing an 11 am wedding and having a finger food brunch with mimosas before hand.
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  • cruffinocruffino member
    Ninth Anniversary 1000 Comments 500 Love Its First Answer
    my sister had champagne passed as guests arrived at the ceremony. people loved it. in the heat, i think anything refreshing and light, like a mojito or spiked fruity drink would be nice.
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  • aurorajanetteaurorajanette member
    500 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    I have never had refreshments at a ceremony, but I think it's a fabulous idea! And if I ever saw this at a wedding, I would definitely really appreciate it (especially if it had alcohol!). I love the idea and so will your guests!
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  • ktbabe530ktbabe530 member
    500 Comments 100 Love Its Second Anniversary First Answer
    I think it's a great idea!  I went to a wedding in June where the cocktail hour was before the ceremony, we had light apps, water, champagne, cosmos and beer.  It was fun and people really liked it!  

    My only issue was it was hard to clap for the happy couple with a drink in my hand!  =)
    We had our dream wedding at Mirage on May 3, 2014! 
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  • rkborkbo member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    Did anyone else see what happened to this bride when there were drinks involved? 


    Poor bride, but poor grandma...I would be mortified if I was the one tossing the drink.
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  • KPBM89KPBM89 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments First Answer First Anniversary
    Thank you everyone for the ideas and positive feedback!  We're definitely going to do some type of light alcoholic drink for the ceremony-we just have to choose which kind now :)  

    @rhawndas That poor grandma!  I would be mortified as well! 
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  • allispainallispain member
    1000 Comments 500 Love Its Third Anniversary First Answer
    We had a strawberry lemonade and a hibiscus cooler for our guests before the ceremony - both were a big hit since some guests liked trying something different (the cooler) while others like having something normal and summery (lemonade).
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  • hackedhacked member
    Tenth Anniversary 10 Comments Combo Breaker Name Dropper
    You might also consider misters, which were common in the hot climate I grew up in.  They cool the air and made outdoor events a lot more comfortable.  They are unobtrusive and do not get you wet.  They just keep the air cool.  When people are dressed up and in the sun, it gets hot fast.  Cool drinks help (my mouth is watering at the suggestions PP mentioned) , and the misters help even more.
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