Self serve bar

Vicki, we'll post however we feel like posting on a public forum but thanks for the good ol' college try policing us!

Mrs. Mac I wasn't playing hall monitor I was actually looking for advice. I would prefer if my email didn't get blown up over silly comments. If this EW is causing so much of a issue flag her comments and complain to whoever is in charge of site

@Vicki - As @Sass pointed out, this is a public forum. You will get all sorts of replies and even ones you aren't fond of. Deal with it. Comments aren't supposed to be flagged unless they violate the community guidelines and although repeated shitty and irresponsible advice sure as heck should be against the rules, it's not. Don't like your email blown up? Turn off your notifications. Easy peasy.

You can turn off the email notifications. Why don't you change your avatar so we can recognize you and get to know you better?

OP I was often hired as a bartender for weddings because I was licensed and worked events when the venue didn't offer bartenders. Talk to your caterer or venue, they may know someone who is for hire for the day.

EW, I just can't. I don't allow my guests to self-pour because I don't want to pay the $10,000 fine if something happens to them going from my house.

Also Erin typically when people host a dinner party and serve alcohol without a bartender, they have renters/homeowners insurance to cover any liability issues that happen on their property. When you go to a venue with no liability insurance and no bartender to pick up the liability, it falls on who supplied the alcohol (aka the couple).

I am not trying to give bad advice. I am pointing out that I have been to a wedding where there was a self serve bar and it worked out great. She already said she is going to hire a bartender. Sorry OP. I am just a lot more laid back than the other people on here. No I do not serve every singe person at my parties. Yes I have large parties with 50-100 people sometimes. No I am not paying for everyone's hotel rooms but they are all getting one and taking uber because we all like to drink and have a good time and know how to be responsible and plan ahead. Good luck.

I've been to one, and it was also the only wedding in which I've seen guests puking in the bushes at the reception. Granted, the guests were mostly 24 year old single guys. But, it's easy for adults to over pour themselves even if their goal isn't to get hammered. Assuming you had beer-sized cups for the beer, it's easy to accidentally make a 3-shot cocktail or a ridiculous wine pour in that. From that experience and from a legal perspective, I'd hire a licenced bartender for sure.

If you don't want answers then don't ask questions.

I"m not a lawyer, but I believe, at least in NJ, whoever supplies the liquor, the bartenders, anyone possible can be sued. It's just smart to control things. And being 'laid back' is not going to cut it in hindsight.

@Vicki I'm glad you posted this! we are doing 2 wines, 2 kegs, and a few liquor choices and some pre mixed things and we aren't using a bartender. My FMIL is pushing for it but our venue does not require it so we're going the same route. glad to know I'm not alone lol.

YOU STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF LIABILITY

How are you an adult?!

Haley- you may not be alone, but I am not sure that's where I'd want to be. Did you just ignore everyone else's responses?

@O&S

EW - Not everyone has weddings in places with close proximity to hotels and not everywhere has Uber. Hell, taxis are scarce in some areas. This is where responsibility of the host comes into play. You describe yourself as "laid back", I would go a step further and say you are either lackadaisical or ignorant.

@Haley - Vicki decided to look into a bartender because it's the SAFE AND SMART thing to do. Try reading some other replies before posting.

@Haley, 90 seconds of research of Alabama's dram shop laws makes me think a few hundred bucks on a licenced bartender would be the most worthwhile wedding purchase ever...

I'm getting the oil changed in my car, totally eating popcorn to this shit right now. if nothing else, EW offers some wonderful entertainment.

ridiculous advice should totally be flaggable. "if you sound like a troll, you may be flagged."

Depends on the venue, campground shelter or chalet? Also how many ppl if its under 20 basically you are camping and drinking, second question is everyone staying there to camp. If its a venue at a campground you'll probably need a bartender. If its more than a few ppl. Your gonna go through more than u want to quicker. I am a for hire professional bartender. Depends on the audience. I bartended weddings with no issue or ones where I had to cut someone off. This one wedding a woman wanted doubles. After the third round i told the family i was no longer serving her.

Your wedding your choice. Thing of the pros vs cons.

I thought about this option myself & then I was informed about liability & etc & immediately changed my mind. I personally wouldn't be able to live with someone leaving and crashing or even worse dying & it being my fault!! It would hang over my head for the rest of my life!

FYI for those of you talking about liability- California law significantly limits dram shop liability. A vendor who provides alcohol to a person 21 years of age or older cannot be held liable for damages if the person then injures someone else, even if the person was obviously intoxicated at the time.

I guess in CA people need to take responsibility for their own actions.