Cash bar

I'm not a fan of cash bars personally, guests don't really anticipate having to pay for anything when they attend a wedding. If it's a religious issue, I would say just don't provide alcohol if he's not comfortable paying for it. However I would be aware that some guests will either have their own alcohol in their cars if they know it's a dry wedding or leave early to go elsewhere and drink.

The overwhelming response you will get here is to have no bar at all or an open bar. Cash bars are seen as rude because guests are having to pay. Since it's a religious issue, I would skip the bar altogether!

I’d skip it. You don’t need a bar and since people are already getting gifts I personally don’t think they should pay for anything else. But it’s up to you.

My FH and I are not big drinkers either. We are currently planning to have a cash bar, but a champagne toast will be provided to everyone on us. We may change from a cash bar to an open bar, but having a cash bar is a bit more reasonable being that we are paying for all of our guests to eat dinner which is over $20 per person

I'm not a cash bar fan, but it's WAY better than a dry wedding. It's also a "know your crowd" type thing. Do weddings typically have open bars in your friend/family group? Is there always alcohol at events?

When I got married, I provided wine, and the rest was cash bar. No one complained (that I knew of) that they had to pay for their hard liquor...and no wine was left over. The decision is between you and your FH.

I would have a dry wedding before I would have guests pay for any aspect of my event.

A cash bar is fine.

You bought them dinner and dessert.

You gave them music and dancing.

And more important, you invited them to share with you your special day.

If they chose to have a drink, they can get one.

I have been to many weddings throughout my years, cash bar, open bar and dry bar. I had a ball at every one of them and never judged the bride or groom for what they did or didn't give me.

Have a great wedding!

If I’m being totally honest, if I go to a wedding with no alcohol I think the wedding couple aren’t drinkers, NBD (and if I’m at the wedding I probably already know that). If I go to a wedding and am asked to pay for a glass of wine after buying an outfit, paying a sitter, buying a dress? I think the wedding couple are rude.
Part of me hates to be so blunt, but honestly I think it’s better to hear it from a stranger on the internet than from people you care enough about to invite to your wedding.

*I meant buying an outfit, paying for a sitter and buying a gift. Sheesh. It’s been a long day!

I agree with others. If no alcohol is truly a religious conviction or a commitment to sobriety issue, then have a DRY wedding because that is consistent with the couples' values. I like to drink wine, so as a guest, I'll be kind of bummed about a dry wedding, but I'll understand the couple made a choice that is consistent with their values. However, to me, SAYING religious convictions prevent you from PAYING for others' alcohol, but you're fine with serving it, I think that is a cop-out. My perception of that situation is that the couple is hosting poorly by asking their guests to pay for something while trying to pretend they aren't being cheap, just "committed to their convictions." No, no you aren't; if you think alcohol is wrong, it should be wrong all the time -- not just when the hosting expectation is that you should pay for it. Just my opinion. As another pp mentioned, there are many of us who think this way, so it might be helpful to understand some of your guests might think similarly. You can do whatever you want, but other people can perceive your choices the way they want to, as well.

We are going to do beer and wine at dinner and then when it's gone its gone. They can purchase their own drinks after that. We aren't going to pay for drinks for our guests to get loaded (some of them can drink A LOT), and we aren't going to be paying for drinks to be left sitting on tables full and or spilled due to irresponsibility. We are going to be in our 40's when we get married and have children. I think most of our guests will be fine with it. There seems to be more cash bars than open bars in our area anyway.

Thanks for the comments my husband doesn't even want to serve liquor at all I thought it would be best to give the guest an option. But it seems that just having a dry wedding would be best. Plus it wont put me at odds with my husband as he is really against having it at any of our gatherings.

I think if you guys don't drink and don't want to pay for others - it would be a much better idea and more in keeping with your ideals to just not have alcohol. Dry weddings are perfectly fine and cash bars are very rude, regardless of the reason.

Ultimately the choice is up to you and your future husband but my opinion would be to skip the bar. If it's not something either of you are going to take part in and if it for religious purposes, there is no reason for you to pay for it in my opinion. I'm not a big drinker but my fiance does drink with his dad and friends so we are having a full open bar. If neither of us drank, I would probably do a beer and wine bar for free at the wedding because I do agree with what some other brides have been saying. Guests may bring it with them or leave the reception early to go somewhere else to drink if they know it is a dry wedding.

You know your area and your crowd and what the norms are. Where I'm from cash bars are actually much the norm. In fact I'm not sure.ive ever been to a wedding that wasn't.

If it's the norm to have open bar than maybe a dry wedding would be a better option

This decision is purely yours to make. I know my crowd and cash bars are no big deal. I would NEVER think a bride and groom as rude for having a cash bar. I'm getting married in 12 days and I know how expensive this entire 5 hour long celebration is costing me and so do your guests! I'm doing open bar for cocktail hour then to cash bar. I personally enjoy a glass of wine or 2 when I attend a wedding ( helps with the dance moves😊) but I am happy to go up and buy it myself and would certainly understand where you and you FH dont drink. Good luck and you do you!!