Half dry reception?

I would do a bar before 9 pm if a lot of 'non-family' guests drink.
The fact the families are contributing doesn't mean they can dictate everything because of their belief. For insrance : if you're not a vegetarian, neither are your and your partner's families you should still provide a vegetarian option for all courses, shouldn't you? On the other hand if you're, you should still provide meat if most of the guests are not vegetarian, right? This is the same when it comes to alcohol.
As long as they are not forced to drink, there's nothing wrong with the idea of having a bar while the mormons are still there.

If they want a dry reception, they should have it. I am assuming people who don't drink still like to have fun? Serious question, not being sarcastic. If they don't want it to be dry, then they should have a bar. Truly, it's their wedding and they should have the day they want. within reason.

I think opening a bar at 9pm could be asking for problems. Some people who don't handle drinking well might try to "catch up" so they feel comfortable doing karaoke. Since must receptions end around 10pm-11pm people would just be starting to drink around the time we would want them to be slowing down.

If they want a party that includes drinking on another day, they should throw it. But, I wouldn't expect the same attendance that a wedding enjoys.

How about doing a cash bar? That way if people would like to drink, they can pay for it.

I’d assume between being in Utah and the bride and groom both having Mormon families, dry weddings aren’t uncommon in the area? I think what you have suggested is a good compromise, given the guests are used to this sort of thing. I would try serving earlier than 9, however, maybe during mealtime the bars can open?

I agree with Cool, maybe try to open the bar at 8. Honestly I don’t get how one group of people gets to determine who drinks, but I guess that’s a compromise. A cash bar is not the solution. If people want to drink they’ll pay but that’s just passing the hosting onto the guests.

I think what you are suggesting sounds reasonable. You can communicate it to the drinkers ahead of time so they will know what to expect.

A lot of people will tell you that dry weddings are poor hosting but people have them every day with no issues. It’s no different from the couple serving pork for example when they and their guests are Jewish in order to “appease” other guests who they think may miss it or be upset if it isn’t offered. That is not how proper hosting works. Serving alcohol is no different. At the same time, non drinkers visit restaurants and ballparks/fairgrounds where alcohol is served and don’t make any fuss about it because no one is forcing them to drink. The same applies to a wedding. As long as you have a wide variety (and plenty of each) of non alcoholic drinks, there is no issue. The people complaining about dry weddings being no fun or bad hosting can decline the invitation because they are attending for the wrong reasons.


There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to announce beforehand what will be offered or not offered as beverages. If people can’t graciously accept what is offered once they arrive, they are attending for alcohol, not the couple.

There are many events that last several hours without a single drop of alcohol and people do know how to enjoy themselves, including dancing. At the same time, that doesn’t mean serve alcohol with the intent of excluding the non drinkers from being able to celebrate, whether that is dancing, socializing or something else. Don’t turn something into polar opposites that can and regularly do peacefully coexist.

As a Mormon myself who is marrying a non-Mormon, if the families are uncomfortable purchasing alcohol due to beliefs then perhaps the couple could just purchase it. Limiting it to after 9 pm just seems off. Either have it the whole time or just do a dry wedding with perhaps an after party with alcohol.

We had a dry wedding and people still danced and had fun and had a good night . If they want to have a dry wedding then go for it. People can go without alcohol for one night .

Opening the bar toward the end of the night sounds like a bunch of DUI's waiting to happen. Usually people start drinking early on and stop towards the end so they can sober up in time