Champange for everyone! or not...

logana1 · March 2014

So I'm trying to decide on a few different bar options for our guests.

Option #1 Happy hour hosted by the bride and groom, full bar but a dollar limit. Once the hour has past or they reach the dollar limit, whichever happens first, then it goes to a cash bar.

Option #2 Hosted beer and wine by the bride and groom, until they run out, then cash bar.

Option #3 Open bar until a certain dollar amount is reached.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions????

-----

Champange question:

Given the combination of options above for adult beverages, a friend questioned me on if it was necessary to have a champange toast available for everyone. I thought it would be nice to offer champange for everyone, however, it is charged by the glass. She suggested maybe only the wedding party get champange because with any of the other options above, a guest may already be starting their night on beer or wine and not want to par take in the champange.

Thoughts??

doeydo · March 2014

logana1 said:

So I'm trying to decide on a few different bar options for our guests.

Option #1 Happy hour hosted by the bride and groom, full bar but a dollar limit. Once the hour has past or they reach the dollar limit, whichever happens first, then it goes to a cash bar.

Option #2 Hosted beer and wine by the bride and groom, until they run out, then cash bar.

Option #3 Open bar until a certain dollar amount is reached.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions????
-----
Champange question:
Given the combination of options above for adult beverages, a friend questioned me on if it was necessary to have a champange toast available for everyone. I thought it would be nice to offer champange for everyone, however, it is charged by the glass. She suggested maybe only the wedding party get champange because with any of the other options above, a guest may already be starting their night on beer or wine and not want to par take in the champange.

Thoughts??

A cash bar or anything that requires/asks your guests to get their wallets out is not OK. Please read this post
http://forums.theknot.com/discussion/995381/cash-bars-everything-you-need-to-know-in-one-place/p1

RedJacks25 · March 2014

If you can't afford a fully hosted bar, don't serve alcohol.

Maggie0829 · March 2014

A cash bar in any manner is rude.

Host what you can afford for the full night. If in the end, that means no alcohol then a dry wedding is perfectly acceptable.

As for champagne, not everyone likes it so a lot may go to waste. People can toast with whatever drink they have in their hand at the time.

mysticl · March 2014

Like others said a cash bar should not be an option.

As for the champagne it should be available to every guest over the legal drinking age or it should not be served at all. Even if people are drinking something else for the night they will often take a few sips of champagne for the toasts. It is not polite to provide your wedding party with something special that is not available to the rest of the guests.

KatWAG · March 2014

Options 1-3 are rude/ tacky since they involve a cash bar. Your guests should never have to reach into their pockets.

If you want a champagne toast, it needs to be offered to everyone. Dont tier your guests

grumbledore · March 2014

logana1 said:

So I'm trying to decide on a few different bar options for our guests.

Option #1 Happy hour hosted by the bride and groom, full bar but a dollar limit. Once the hour has past or they reach the dollar limit, whichever happens first, then it goes to a cash bar.

Option #2 Hosted beer and wine by the bride and groom, until they run out, then cash bar.

Option #3 Open bar until a certain dollar amount is reached.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions????
-----
Champange question:
Given the combination of options above for adult beverages, a friend questioned me on if it was necessary to have a champange toast available for everyone. I thought it would be nice to offer champange for everyone, however, it is charged by the glass. She suggested maybe only the wedding party get champange because with any of the other options above, a guest may already be starting their night on beer or wine and not want to par take in the champange.

Thoughts??

JIC and http://forums.theknot.com/discussion/995381/cash-bars-everything-you-need-to-know-in-one-place/p1

JennyColada · March 2014

Save money by not doing a champagne toast (have guests toast with whatever they are drinking at the time). I doubt you will look back and thing "thank goodness Great-aunt Sally toasted with champagne and not her red wine!"

Hosting just beer and wine is certainly more affordable than a full hosted bar of liquor and spirits.

Provide only what you can afford to fully host. If that is full open bar then so be it (you don't have to literally host it ALL night, if you cut it off maybe an hour or half an hour before reception end time then that's a good way to wind down the evening), if that is beer and wine only then so be it, if that's just non-alcoholic beverages then so be it.

CMGragain · March 2014

I think champagne toasts are a total waste of money, and venues are eager to sell it to you. You cannot serve one thing to your wedding party that you do not also serve to your guests.
Instead of full open bar, compromise with wine and beer, or a signature cocktail. Never, ever offer a cash bar. Horribly rude and tacky!

ashleyep · March 2014

As a guest, I love champagne toasts. I just love champagne. But if it wasn't included in our package, it would be one of the first things I would cut. A lot of it is wasted, and if I really want champagne I can go to the bar and get a glass.

QueerFemme · March 2014

I think you should skip the champagne toast. It's a nice touch, but unnecessary and if you are on a budget, you should skip it.

All of your options are rude though. Your guests should never have to open their wallet for anything at a party that YOU are hosting.

your options should be

#1 Beer and wine served all evening

#2 Dry wedding.

Viczaesar · March 2014

It's not ever appropriate to switch to a cash bar. Host what you can afford to host the entire event. Do not offer something that you cannot afford to pay for all of. If you can't afford wine and beer all night long, then have a dry wedding. Skip the champagne toast either way, it doesn't sound like you can afford it anyway.

AddieCake · March 2014

No cash bar and no special alcohol for certain people only.

OBX2011 · March 2014

logana1 said:

So I'm trying to decide on a few different bar options for our guests.

Option #1 Happy hour hosted by the bride and groom, full bar but a dollar limit. Once the hour has past or they reach the dollar limit, whichever happens first, then it goes to a cash bar.

Option #2 Hosted beer and wine by the bride and groom, until they run out, then cash bar.

Option #3 Open bar until a certain dollar amount is reached.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions????
-----
Champange question:
Given the combination of options above for adult beverages, a friend questioned me on if it was necessary to have a champange toast available for everyone. I thought it would be nice to offer champange for everyone, however, it is charged by the glass. She suggested maybe only the wedding party get champange because with any of the other options above, a guest may already be starting their night on beer or wine and not want to par take in the champange.

Thoughts??

Not even reading what PP's wrote....you NEVER do a cash bar at a wedding. EVER. Period.

You host the wedding you can afford. If it's wine and beer, then that is fine too. But never ever, have a cash bar. Your reception is a thank you to your guests for witnessing your day, don't ask them to open their wallets so they can have a drink.

christoutopor · March 2014

I'm sorry, but I have been to plenty of weddings that had cash bars, and I did not think it was rude. I'm a bit perplexed by so many people saying it is.

Maggie0829 · March 2014

christoutopor said:

I'm sorry, but I have been to plenty of weddings that had cash bars, and I did not think it was rude. I'm a bit perplexed by so many people saying it is.

Just because you don't think it is rude doesn't mean that others feel the same way. It is rude to throw a hosted affair and then charge money for drinks. A hosted affair means that everything is hosted by the person/persons throwing the event. Guests should not have to open their wallets even if the guest prefers to buy a mixed drink rather then have no alcohol at all or a limited amount of alcohol to choose from.

jules3964 · March 2014

christoutopor said:

I'm sorry, but I have been to plenty of weddings that had cash bars, and I did not think it was rude. I'm a bit perplexed by so many people saying it is.

If you had a dinner party, would you charge your guests for alcohol? I would guess no, because that would be rude. Same goes for a wedding.

mrsb53 · April 2014

Although a champagne toast is a nice touch, I don't think it is necessary, and it is an added expense. Guests can toast with whatever they are drinking at the time.

Jen4948 · April 2014

Whatever you do, don't do a cash bar or restrict alcohol to certain people. Both of those are extremely rude. You can do toasts with non-alcoholic drinks.

Champange for everyone! or not...

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