Morning Wedding: Drink Tickets or Cocktail Hour Hosted Bar?

Cash bars have a bad vibe, most people hardly carry cash anymore, especially not to a wedding unless they know in advance. I think the drink tickets are a better idea than the cash bar, but the best idea (and probably the most expensive) in my opinion is the maximum bar without drink tickets. Then again, you're having a morning wedding so I'm not sure everyone will be getting hammered if they know they still have half a day to go after the wedding What time are you planning on the reception ending?

Don't do drink tickets. I cant imagine people will be drinking that much at a brunch wedding, so I would probably just do an open bar on consumption (per drink vs. per person) with no max. It's pretty crappy to switch partway through a reception to a cash bar.

I agree with PPs. Consumption or open bar is my vote!

I'd probably just do the open bar to a certain amount. That gives guests a chance to get drinks without having the ticket aspect. I'd set the limit high enough for at least 2 drinks per person, if not more.

I have zero issues with cash bars as they are the norm in my area. That being said, I do find drink tickets tacky. (We have a lot of local events that require purchasing drink tickets, so it gives me a carnival vibe more than anything else.)
I'd just put a max on the bar. If someone is slamming booze that hard in the am, they need to be cut off. And probably need to seek help.
And I say that as someone who has had more than their fair share of breakfast margs.

Consumption bar or open bar. I wouldn’t do drink tickets or a cash bar (or even a half-cash bar). When you do the “half” cash bar people will hoard drinks during cocktail hour or get tanked, knowing they’ll have to pay for the second half of your wedding.

Thanks, Amber! Fortunately, our venue does accept credit cards. I apologize -- I should have been more clear. And the reception ends at 2pm. I like the idea of an open mimosa/bellini bar during cocktail hour, I just wish the wedding party would be able to take advantage of it to. Don't love the ticket idea -- but at least everyone would be able to get the same amount of drinks.

Lady -- I definitely hear what you're saying, but an open bar without a maximum isn't realistic for us. Essentially, we'll have to go with the open mimosa/bellini bar during cocktail hour or put a maximum spend in place (with or without tickets).

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This is good feedback -- Thank you, Mandi!

Do a consumption bar. People most likely won't drink a ton since it's so early in the morning.

Please no drink tickets - my former father in law wanted to do this and I was horrified. This is not a carnival - it is a wedding. Do a consumption bar, people are not going to be drinking that much in the morning and especially if it ends at 2pm.

When my mom heard about the drink tickets she stepped in and offered up an open bar!!

Our wedding was at 11, reception until 3 and our consumption bar bill was low and we hosted 50 (or so) people.

View Quoted Comment Agreed!

They can carry their cocktail hour drink into the reception, right? I’d probably drink a glass of champagne then take a refill with me to brunch but then no more if driving. 🥴

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Unfortunately, we cannot afford a consumption bar without a maximum spend. We have 115 people coming -- my family alone is 85 people. I'm trying to decide between the open mimosa/bellini bar during cocktail hour or a maximum spend for the wedding (which would be very modest). I think I agree with everyone here -- drink tickets are not a good option.