Hosted Bar Dilemma

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having only beer and wine available as far as alcohol (and I personally love both French 75 and Sangria)! You will find that most people agree that whatever you do, do not make your guests pay for anything (such as a cash bar).

I’ve been at two weddings recently with only beer and wine and it’s been totally fine. Never even missed the liquor. One of those weddings had one signature drink, I think it was a bourbon of some sort which was fine as well but I think many could have gone without. My wedding is a full open bar and I’m actually a little nervous about that! Just do what fits in your budget and it’ll all workout!

I think wine and beer is totally fine!

Beer and wine is totally OK. No need to offer a cash option.

We did strictly beer and wine (our venue's liquor license didn't allow hard liquor). No one was unhappy. Just make sure you have different varieties of beer and wine available for guests.

If it saves money and you want to, you can also forego the champagne toast - people mostly waste the champagne and are perfectly happy to toast with the drink they already have.

Only serve what you can afford to host. Guests can toast with what they are already drinking as many don’t like champagne and only drink it out of obligation.


Ask your guests (if you are close enough that only a few will be invited) what they prefer to drink and base your bar selections on that. Use GoogleForms if you need to

I don't see an issue with having a cash bar option. Do what you can afford and provide options, unless adding a cash bar is going to cost you something. We are having an open bar which only includes a certain "level" of alcohol and if someone wants something "better" they will have to pay

We are having beer and wine as well. My FH is a recovered alcoholic and we will be inviting other members of that club, so we also added Heineken 0.0 to our beer selection. 😁 To make it easier for all we will have some kind of sparkling juice for our toast. (Still experimenting there) Anyone unhappy with those selections can leave after dinner and find a local bar! LOLOL

Beer and wine is totally fine. People won’t miss the liquor.

My friend did exactly what you’re proposing (beer and wine all night, champagne toast, and cash bar for liquor if people wanted it) and it worked out great. Some of the guys wanted liquor and they bought drinks and were completely fine with it. I think most people stuck with the beer and wine and we’re happy with it.

Thanks everyone, that makes me feel so much better about potentially doing beer/wine only! I'd love anyone's thoughts on a couple follow-up questions that we're still a little stuck on:

- If we offer beer/wine all night: Would it be nice to also offer a cash bar for liquor, or would it be better not to offer that as an option at all? I've read so many posts on here where a cash bar of any kind is seen really negatively by guests (even if it gives them more options). Help??

- If we offer beer/wine all night: FH thinks we should offer a couple specialty cocktails during cocktail hour only, and then it's just beer/wine afterwards. I've also read that guests react to that negatively, and it's better just to be consistent (even though it's technically giving them a little more during that hour). Thoughts??

Totally lost here. Thanks so much!

Definitely skip the champagne. They can toast with whatever is in your hand. Know your crowd. Our experience and many in our area is that if you offer only beer and wine, only 3-3 bottles of beer get opened out of 100. Serve a cocktail, and beer and they both down equally with few requests for wine. There are areas where wine is more popular. If offering beer and cocktails, do not offer just one signature cocktail . Buy the liquor, and ask a local bartender about local popularity. Usually one with juice or mix, one with soda, one made with another liquor.
So stock up on decent vodka, and make it with cranberry juice, orange juice, a lemon or lime mixer , and make martini in flavors. Region or season will tell you light rum, blended whiskey, or other base drink, to have with beer, and fewer complaints. Most wine drinkers will settle for a juice and light
Amount of liquor.

View Quoted Comment Serve what you can afford only. Do not have anything else as an option because it is not polite to ask guests to pay for anything at a party you are hosting.


I personally don’t drink beer or wine at all. I prefer liquor but I don’t require it to function nor would I miss it if it wasn’t there. I know many people who are the same. So we would be ordering your nonalcoholic drinks. What options do you have for that?

View Quoted Comment

Yes, we definitely want a variety of NA drinks for the non-drinkers: Currently discussing cucumber water, a seasonally flavored ice tea and/or lemonade, and kombucha.

As Michelle said, hosting means guests don't have to pay for anything. I wouldn't offer a cash option at all. I like FH suggestion, but maybe see if you can serve the cocktail all evening? Definitely you don't have to offer a champagne toast.

I love your NA ideas!