Limited Alcohol Receptions / Dry weddings (UPDATED)

Many of FH college friends have had dry weddings for religious reasons, the few of us that do drink, just went to a bar before or after and had a beer or two. It didn't change the wedding for us and we understood. Now now having any type of bar because you don't feel like paying for it is another story. I like the options of the consumption bar tho, and it should be decently cheap for you. For those that it's going to piss off, there's really nothing you can about that besides talk to them about it. Or (and I know this isn't the best way to go about it) just don't say anything and add the consumption bar to your package if the venue allows it.

Host a consumption bar.

@Ambrok: Giving a heads up is a great idea! I thought maybe putting it on the invitation itself might seem unnecessary/tacky, but the website is a perfect place. Since this would only apply to a handful of friends anyway, I could also just text them in advance letting them know that hey, this is the situation, feel free to pre-game beforehand.

Going completely dry isn't an option if any of your guests drink.

I've been to dozens of Indian/Hindu weddings, and they all had open bars. People can choose not to drink if they don't want to drink, but prioritizing their experience over your friends who do is bad hosting.

@CMC and @laurenh2704 - Great idea, thanks so much! Ideally we'd like to host an after party for our friends at club, but the idea of traveling an hour into the city past midnight when we're all tired and having to get up for brunch the next morning with family seems exhausting...

I sense that we will soon find ourselves talking to a wall.

I would say consumption bar for the few that want to drink. So at least its available to them and you cover the cost. Of its only 5 people you won't spend a crazy amount.

You should do a consumption bar. So it is still free for guests. If "literally like 5 people" will be drinking alcohol it won't cost you much at all to pay for their drinks.

And I'm sorry. A signature mocktail? Are we 11?

Thank you everyone for all the ideas! Lots of good options here to consider

And for what it's worth, please note that not all American weddings have receptions where everyone gets wasted. Some weddings are Muslim, or Hindu, or Jain, or conservative Christians, or have alcoholics in the family, or whatever. There could be a million reasons, please don't judge, thanks <3. It doesn't mean you can't have a hoppin' dance floor!

@Miranda - good idea, thanks for the consumption bar idea!

Regarding mocktails - um, some of us don't drink much and it's nice still go into a bar and order something nice other than ginger ale or sprite every single time? Please don't hate on others drinking choices.

Consumption bar. Never cash bar.

Is it seriously that big of a deal to have a dry wedding?!

OP has a legitimate reason to not have alcohol, and the few guests who do drink should not be offended if there is no alcohol.

Going dry is DEFINITELY AN OPTION. It's your wedding. The majority of your guests do not drink, so it makes no sense to have an open bar.

You can have a consumption bar if you want, but it's really up to you.

I guess I'm in the minority here.

And I don't care how great the DJ is. Without a cocktail I'm not dancing. And would probably leave about an hour after dinner.

I think in this case since it's religious/cultural you're fine and I'd do a dry wedding. I'd understand if I went to a friends wedding and it was dry for those reasons.

No Akshall, plenty of American weddings have receptions where no one gets wasted, and that's really kind of insulting.

I've officiated at Muslim weddings, Hindu weddings and weddings with alcoholics in the family. Guess what? They all offered alcohol for the people who enjoy it.

@Miranda - of course, that's your choice to leave. No judgement there. Just know that you'll be missing out on all the fun, shrug.

@queserasera - RIGHT? Reading through I was like goodness, why all the hate, guess I must be the only one who can have fun without drinking...thanks for your note of kindness.

"And for what it's worth, please note that not all American weddings have receptions where everyone gets wasted."

So, if we don't fall into any of those categories you went on to mention, our wedding is just one big booze, instant inebriation, tumble onto your ass party?

Good to know my Pagan ass is having a wedding for the sake of alcohol and not to marry the love of my life.

Thanks, OP!

@Celia Milton - I apologize, I guess my 'wasted' comment was out of line and an overgeneralization. And to your point, yes that's true there are plenty of South Asian weddings that are fine or even encourage alcohol. Our families just don't happen to be one of them :/ But again, there are other things we care about more, so the alcohol wasn't the fight we wanted to pick with our families. Thanks for your response!

@Jay - wait what?! This is getting out of hand. I do apologize for what my comment implied, I didn't mean to overgeneralize so I'm sorry about that. But no need to get so dramatic, goodness!

Obviously we are all capable of having fun without alcohol. But a wedding reception's fun only lasts so long without a drink. These posts are all the same. You get mad and say we are judgmental, but you are totally judging us too! "Guess I must be the only one who can have fun without drinking". "Not all American weddings have receptions where everyone gets wasted". Judgement. Coming from you. Apparently there is no in between with weddings, you can either have a dry one or get totally wasted. Hmmm.