Limited Bar... acceptable?

I would personally only do wine, beer and soda. I wouldn't have a liquor cash bar.

You can only serve beer and wine and still be properly hosted.

View Quoted Comment Agreed! No cash bar option.

I think this sounds fine, as long as you're hosting beer and wine. I would be fine if you had no liquor option at all, as long as beer and wine were free.

Just a heads up, the only time I've ever been blackout drunk was from drinking wine. Making people pay for liquor will not stop them from getting super drunk if they want to. Any attempts to control the behavior of adults will likely end in frustration.

I would only offer beer or wine then, and not even have the liquor option-- or maybe offer a signature mixed drink for those who don't like beer or wine.

I have blacked out on wine before soooo, expect the unexpected. I wouldn’t do a liquor cash bar, just beer and wine.

For all of you that said no liquor cash bar...why is that?

Hosting beer and wine only is perfectly acceptable. Do not have a cash bar for liquor though as that is rude.

Your friends and family are all adults (if they drinking) and do not need you to monitor their alcohol intake. A cash bar will not prevent people from overindulging all it does is make you look cheap. If all you can afford is beer and wine that is fine but, then that is all you offer. If you want a full bar selection available than you need to pay for it.

I would just do beer and wine. We decided not to have liquor cause we know that if some of our guests get a hold of that it could go south fast. We are providing two beer options, champagne, red wine and soda, water and iced tea.

It’s just as easy to get blackout drunk on beer and wine.

That seems to be the norm in my area. Many couples will host beer and wine and then do a car bar for liquor. I think it's mostly to alleviate costs. We are planning on hosting beer and wine and having a cash bar for liquor. It seems silly to me to pay and extra $5 pp/ per hour to have liquor when only a handful of our guests would chose liquor over beer/wine. I think it depends on your circle.

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It's just not cool to ask your guests to pay for anything on your wedding day. I personally don't mind much as long as beer and wine are hosted, liquor is just mostly unnecessary and if you aren't hosting it may as well just not be an option at all...

As someone who doesn't drink much beer or wine, I would appreciate the option to buy my own mixed drink.
But that definitely don't stop people from getting blackout drunk.

Won't *

Correction

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Wouldn't you rather have the option though of liquor than not? I mean if we take away that option, the people that loveeeee liquor won't even have that & I don't want upset guests lol.

I can't believe the responses to this Q! Have a cash bar for liquor, it gives people the option to drink other things if they don't like the other choices. If they think it's rude you've not paid for liquor why would you even want them at your wedding. Nobody is there for the bar, they're there for you! I know it's very American and I'm in the UK but over here an open bar is not a done thing! We are having one however but only because we got it at around £20 per person for the whole night!!

I would personally choose to just have the beer and wine option. I wouldn’t want any of my guests having to pay for their drinks. If you want the option of liquor without making it a complete open bar option, you could always add one or two signature drinks with the beer and wine.

Unfortunately with any type of alcohol, you risk someone getting intoxicated. If you’re worried, you could always ask the bartender to be watchful of the guests intake so they can cut off if necessary.

Are you able to have the bar set as consumption vs option? Like pp said it's rude to ask someone to purchase alcohol at an event that they were invited to.

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Literally no one is saying she needs to host liquor. We're saying it's sort of unnecessary to have it available as it's not proper etiquite to ask your guests to open their wallets at your wedding.

That being said, this wouldn't really bother me, personally. I prefer wine to beer or liquor, so I would be happy and I can imagine that some people would rather have the option, paid or not, to have liquor.

Though it does feel a little weird, like you're telling them that some alcohol is okay and some isn't. Like a lot of us have said, it's just as easy to get smashed on wine as on a jack and coke...

View Quoted Comment No it's not rude! In America do people not ever pay for drinks at parties, bridal showers, brunches, dinners, family events? etc. Mind blowing concept over here (UK) as why would you expect someone to pay for you because they would like your company, you're going to see your loved friend or family member get married not for free food and drink 😒

Sometimes I just think people are too dang sensitive on here, everything seems to be "rude". I would not think its rude if I was a guest and there is a cash bar if wine and beer is being served for free. I would say if you think its rude then don't have the option but would I think its rude as a guest...no. You do not have to buy it if there are free options if you are a guest, it's a choice.