No alcohol at wedding

I've never been to a dry wedding. I have been to one cash bar wedding. It was about 7 years ago and people still talk about it.

Most of my and FH's relatives don't drink. FH and I don't drink. We would have no problem with people bringing drinks, but I see no reason why I should have to provide alcohol. Everyone close enough to me or FH to be invited knows we don't drink and don't intend to have alcohol. I know many people who can celebrate without alcohol. If any of my guests can't rejoice over the fact that we are starting an adventure together, they certainly don't deserveD me spending the extra money to give them alcohol. It seems like with everything else on here the answer is "it's your wedding, you do you", but with alcohol it's "you don't have any choice, you have to serve alcohol". Why is that? Ok, rant over.

I've been to a couple dry weddings, but most had alcohol of some kind. Not serving alcohol is weird, but for some couples it's the right decision.

We're having an open bar since it's included in the food.

However, I'm trying to work with them on lowering the cost for the teens (eating adult meals, but too young for alcohol). The children are eating a children's meal, but what about these in-betweens?! Most venues we looked at offered teen meal pricing for those under 21, but the one we booked with does not offer that but is willing to work with us on that. Such a hassle.

@Willbe, I don't think you've read this forum long enough. "It's your wedding, you do you" is NOT given as advice by the majority of posters or vets when it comes to elements that affect guest experience (food, bar, comfort, seats, etc). Anyone giving that advice is usually corrected quickly. That advice is only appropriate for elements that don't affect guests such as flowers or BM dress colors.

We're having champagne but probably not a full bar. We're on a limited budget and, considering FH and I met in a recovery meeting, the two of us and a lot of our friends don't drink at all. We'll have sparkling cider for the nondrinkers to toast with.

@Abby others obviously disagree that certain occasions are acceptable for not serving alcohol. But, in addition to religious reasons, I also think being in recovery is a totally acceptable reason to not serve alcohol. Congratulations to you and your FH and continued best wishes to you and your FH in your sobriety.

We are having a brunch wedding so it will be mimosas, bloody maries and beer. But I wouldn't fault anyone who didn't have alcohol at their wedding. People have their reasons and it's not my business to know their reasons. I'm not really sure where the entitlement of having alcohol at a wedding has come from. Unlike serving food during meal time and having comfortable seats, alcohol is far from a necessity.

We are doing beer, wine, and sig drink. We personally couldn't justify the steep price difference between that and an open bar when 99% of our guests prefer beer and wine to hard drinks.

I've been to one completely dry wedding (religious reasons) and one cash car (I knew in advance and smuggled in a flask). We were originally going to pay for the bar on consumption but after negotiating with the venue were able to cover an open bar with beer/wine. I'm psyched that we don't have to worry about a huge bill with our heavy drinkers lol

@Emily thanks for the clarification.

@Jennifer- exactly! There is so much entitlement going around in and out of the wedding experience.

My wedding is dry. I can't drink and my FH doesn't drink. If you are at my wedding for the sole purpose of food and alcohol, I have to seriously rethink our relationship. Weddings have become a way to flex your pockets instead of celebrating the love of two people

Me & DH can't drink due to medication reasons but we are having an open premium bar at our brunch wedding. We are thinking about toasting with tea (we both love tea) while everyone else has champange

Willbewilkins, the entitlement is alllll on the side of the wedding couple that fails to host properly because "they don't see why they have to".

@jacks That's not being entitled. If they have a reason not to serve alcohol (religious reasons, health reasons, recovering alcoholic, would rather spend that money elsewhere treating their guests) then you become the entitled one for expecting it at a party regardless.

@goldfisch if the couple chooses not to provide alcohol and instead puts that money into more food or a photobooth or awesome wedding favors that people want, that's still hosting their guest. It's like if you decide to host a brunch wedding over a dinner wedding. Maybe some guests are inconvenienced by that. Maybe they're not. Maybe the guests hate the music that's being played. Maybe they don't like any of the food options. Host your guests but it's completely unreasonable to expect you to do something that doesn't work for you in the sole name of pleasing your guests. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to not serve alcohol at a wedding.

That's strange. I've been to close to 15 weddings over 7 years and only one has been dry.

No WIlbe, the entitlement is all yours.

Seems like a good time....

Cash Bars /Dry weddings

Yep, there is plenty wrong with a both, it's just that no one will tell you to your face. And no, your guests who have spent hundreds to be at your wedding will NOT understand.

But yes, definitely put it on your invites (tongue firmly in cheek). To warn them. So they can stay home.

Top Ten Bogus Reasons People Use to Justify Dry Weddings and Cash Bars

11: (a bonus) My family is diabetic. Every one of them. We wave cake at them like vampire repellent because they have no idea how to control their own health.

10. None of my guests drink. Not one. I've polled all 120 of them and not one of them does

9. All of my guests drink too much; they will get sloppy, drunk and violent. It they are not throwing up into the crock pot weenies.

8. Kids will be in attendance. They might mistake Cosmos for Shirley Temples.

7. We're really really Christian, and our hyper Christianity requires us to not only not drink but to inflict our believe that this is HOLY by making our guests not drink. Because they should believe what we believe. Even though we can't explain it. Someone told us this and we think it's true.

6. We don't like the taste of alcohol. So no one else should either

5. We are not going to pay for other people to enjoy themselves

4. My grandparents don't drink and they won't come if anyone in the surrounding area does.

3. We have to hire bartenders, security, armed forces and the national guard to serve alcohol.

2. People can have fun without alcohol. If they really loved us, they'd come regardless

1. We're cheap.

We're having a "booze canoe" at our barn venue (that is forest/mountain themed) - filling up a canoe with assorted beers and wines and some liquors. Even though fiance and I don't drink (we just think it's nasty lol), I'm super excited for my guests!

Kelsey, is there going to be someone monitoring consumption? Who's taking on the liability involved in that situation?

We're doing beer and wine.

My friends and family love to drink! We'll have full open bar plus wine, beer and champagne. Can't wait!