Cash Bar debate

If I were you, I would rethink paying the first $500 for 70 people. Unless a large portion are children or your venue is giving you a real deal on drinks, if drinks average say $7, then everyone gets one drink on average. Even worse, some people will try to grab two or three at first, and others wont get any. If serious drinkers know what you are planning, they may bring a flask. IMHO, that results in more uncontrolled drinking than an open bar. The situation may appear less than gracious. People will go up the bar, one person gets a free drink, the next does not. At a minimum, I would see what else I could cut, and get two drink tickets for each adult.

Good suggestions, thank you! The majority of my FH family does not drink and about 1/2 of my family does not either so we will have several nonalcoholic beverage stations - coffee, tea, soft drinks. We have an idea of who the 'offenders' could be which is why FH wanted an alcohol limit. The tickets are a much better idea

I'm personally against cash bars also. You're hosting an event and that should include food and drinks in my opinion. Plus I'm sure many of your guests have paid for travel and accommodations as well as a gift so I just don't feel right asking them to pay for drinks too. I've never been to a cash bar wedding but had a cousin who almost had one. The groom's parents (my aunt and uncle) weren't aware of this plan so they put down their CC as soon as they found out to make it an open bar. I totally get funds can be an issue so a few options could be to do only wine and beer so that no one gets wasted or put a cap on the amount of the bar tab. This way people are able to enjoy a few drinks, loosen up and hit the dance floor with some liquid courage

I paid over $300 to attend a good friend's wedding last weekend. I would have been pretty ticked if I had to pay for my drinks. I don't go to weddings to get wasted, but I like to have a nice glass of wine with dinner. In my opinion, you are hosting an event for your guests and you should provide all beverages or else have a dry wedding. I do agree that the wedding industry is completely blown up. Ridiculous pricing just because its a wedding. But instead of cutting the open bar we: cut down our guest list and found a venue that lets us purchase our alcohol.

I absolutely agree with everything stated in this. A wedding is also a representation of the hosts.