Self serve bar

I think having a bartender just adds not only responsibility to the mix, but a little bit of class... I find it kind of crazy to have a self serve bar.... Last time I attended self serve anything... I was 21.... and I was holding a red solo cup at the keg in a fraternity house.... :/

I'm sorry High and Mighty EW, I'm from a socialist country where everyone is responsible for everyone else. We have very strict liquor laws up here (although our drinking age isn't as ludicrous as yours) and the responsibility falls on the party serving. That includes at a restaurant, bar, or house. That's why I suggested to OP to check the liquor laws.

Keep in mind, in most states if somebody leaves your event... be it a dinner at your house or a party at a camp ground or a bar... the last establishment who allowed that person to drive is responsible for their consumption. So, if a person is at your campground wedding drunk and its been open consumption, you personally are responsible. If they hit somebody while driving drunk, you can be sued.

IF you hire a professional bar tender, part of the responsibility and liability they are responsible for is drunk driving.

ETA... sorry, I guess I should have read some of those other posts before adding my own. I was a licensed bar tender in Washington State, and basically, if you are drunk, walk into any 'establishment' to go to the bathroom, and then leave... that establishment is the last place that is responsible to you. Even though you didn't drink.

So.....if someone at your self serve party gets hammered and runs over a car full of people, it's not your fault.

But it is your conscience.

And the odds of people getting out of control with an actual bartender are far less than if you just let them pour their own drinks.

Holy unauthorized practice of law, Batman...I hope no one on WW takes legal advice from someone who lives in another state and I don't think is an attorney. Bartenders are a better choice all around, but if it really boils down to liability, get actual legal advice from your actual state. Which of course will cost more than a bartender, so just hire one.

California does a lot of things differently than the rest of the country, just as other states don't have the same exact laws and regulations as every other. But as Celia said, would you want that on your conscience? I don't care how "laid back" you are, you should give a damn about guests getting hurt or hurting others. It's called human decency.

Thank you again for all the wonderful responses but we have hired a bartender so our guest can fully enjoy themselves and we don't have to worry about it. I just thought since our venue doesn't provide the alcohol or bartender that we could get away with a self serve. People could enjoy themselves in a nice relaxed atmosphere.

Vicki - With a good bartender, your guests can still have a nice relaxed atmosphere. You just have less to worry about on your wedding day. Trust me, this was a good decision.

@Vicki, that's awesome! I think a good discussion developed so I'd encourage you not to hide this. (You can turn off email notifications as Mac stated). It might help another planner not go the self-serve route.

@O&S that was my first thought....

Of course I care about my guests! I don't want anyone getting hurt or hurting others. In my area that would never happen because we have uber, taxis, hotels, etc. I don't know anyone who drinks and drives. I think you made a good choice Vicki. As others pointed out it just makes things easier and you won't have to worry about anything.

I'm still stuck on "no children or hard liqour"

because no adult over 18 has ever gotten drunk on beer or wine straight up before.

right.okay.

^ Just because you don't know anyone who drinks and drives, doesn't mean they wont.... You can't determine what alcohol will do to someone... My bestfriend... Never thought she would be one to do that... And she did.. And I was very happy when she was pulled over. She was better off with her ass in jail than behind the wheel any longer... You can trust your guest, you can't trust what they drink, how much they drink and how their mind reacts to it..

Thank you very much Erin and your opinion. That is what this forum is for right? And I didn't officially hire a bartender sorry for not be exact on my wording. But there is a website out there called gigmaster.com and they move pretty quickly when they have someone that is interested in them.

@EW - Just because you have all those things doesn't mean that an inebriated person won't make a decision to use them. You are grossly overestimating your drunken guests. Unless you have DDs and people who are calling taxis and Ubers for the lushes leaving your soiree, you cannot be 100% certain that no one will not drive intoxicated. If you are, no wonder you have money to brag about!

My bartender was like $300 dollars or so. I'm sure it varies based on location, but seriously..a few hundred bucks to not have to worry, not make your guests work, and not be liable is ultimately worth it. Get a bartender.

I don't know anyone who snorts cocaine off of hookers, but I'm pretty sure that they're out there.

I don't know anyone who wears white after Labour Day, but I'm pretty sure that someone does.

I don't know anyone who smokes crack, but I'm pretty sure that if I go far enough downtown I can find someone.

I agree with others above. The liability would be a big concern for me.

Holy shit @O&S, it's like you're inside my head today! haha

O&S is on fire. And reading my mind. What am I thinking about now?!