My DH and I paid for our own smallish wedding (50 people). We had a very fancy cocktail hour with open bar and a 4 course sit down dinner with wine service and open bar. After the dinner was over, we had dancing for a few hours and had cash bar (credit card) for that portion to stay within our budget. No one seemed to mind and understood up front to do most of their drinking for the first 3-4 hours of the event.

It’s kind of tacky but I understand. The cost of a big wedding is extremely expensive and sacrifices have to be made for some people.

I have, and it's not ideal, but it should be announced beforehand so you can bring cash.

The worst was a wedding on a boat that gave every guest two drink tickets for a 3-4 hour reception. The bridal party had unlimited tickets. I had paid for a flight there and a hotel room so having two drinks in four hours while watching the bridal party get drunk was deeply irritating. It wasn't even good booze. They could have spent a couple hundred more on beer and called it a day.

Rock the cash bar! 😄

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ9r8LMU9bQ&list=RDbJ9r8LMU9bQ&start_radio=1&pp=ygUPcm9jayB0aGUgY2FzYmFooAcB

Anonymous wrote:Cash bar is better than a dry wedding. I'm happy to pay my own way if the new couple (or their parents) are tight on money.

I disagree. I can enjoy an evening without alcohol but being asked to pay for beverages at a wedding I’ve been invited to is tacky.

I’d much rather go to a wedding reception in a church basement with sandwiches and punch than a fancier wedding with a cash bar. I agree with the poster who says when you are invited as a guest to a party- including a wedding- you should never be asked to pay for anything while you’re there. It’s incredibly tacky and I’d even say it’s rude. That’s not inviting someone to a party that’s just asking if they want to meet up at a bar and they’ll cover the cost of your meal if you send them a 100 dollar gift in the mail.

Anonymous wrote:Dry weddings are the worst, but you have to appreciate and respect the couple and you know in advance what kind of couple/wedding it is! Otherwise you aren't close enough to be invited.

I think as a PP said as long as CC or venmo is accepted it's fine, as nobody has cash.

I had a nearly dry wedding. Champagne punch and champagne toast.

The only people who were disappointed were the awful old alcoholic uncles who we didn't want to be drunk at our wedding.

The best man went down the hall to the bar for a beer at some point.

All the young people had a pretty good time and the dancing and most guests lasted until the DJ's booked end time.

I'm not sorry I avoided spending the equivalent of $5K for open bar. I drink fewer than 5 drinks a year. Same with my spouse.

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there some Boston people on this board? I have been to a number of cash bar weddings there.

I'm from a very working class town in the Boston area, and yep, when DH and I got married there 35 years ago, we had a cash bar. Very common at that time and place.

I’ve been to all sorts of weddings with various bar arrangements. DH and I are both from the Midwest and grew up working class to middle class.

Most commonly at weddings “back home”, some drinks are provided (a selection of beer wine soda etc) and anything other than that is a cash bar. I’ve been to a wedding or two that had a certain number of “drink tickets” per person but that was a very long time ago. I’ve been to a church basement wedding with no alcohol provided (common when I was a kid, not so common anymore). I’ve only seen a few weddings with a full cash bar. Even the most modest weddings (I’ve been to plenty of backyard weddings) have had keg beer & a few cheap wine choices available.

Weddings are expensive so I don’t judge. If it is going to be a full cash bar, however, I’d prefer a warning on the invitation.

Cash bar is better than a dry wedding. I'm happy to pay my own way if the new couple (or their parents) are tight on money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s pretty common where I’m from. Only wealthy people had open bars. And there weren’t many wealthy people. However usually it’s noted on the invitation.

It’s also common to have receptions in fire halls with a sandwich bar. So there’s that. We all loved them and they were the norm.

I don't care how poor you are, you can always afford a keg and a dozen magnums of Gallo.

Then you guys will be complaining that they served cheap drinks.

this thread is one more proof that weddings truly bring out the best in people.
yes, it is chintzy that there is a cash bar, but on the other hand, it is equally chintzy when guests abuse the open bar by taking one sip and then putting the drink down to run out on the dance floor, then go back to the bar for a fresh one.
for classy people, there are a lot of things to focus on at a wedding besides money or alcohol.

LOL !

I misread the title and thought this was about a wedding for a stripper ("cash bra"). LOl !

I mean, of course one side of my brain would judge it. But the other side would just pay and move on, especially if I love the couple and even more if they didn’t have a lot of money.

If I really loved them, I might buy a round lol.

Anonymous wrote:Tacky, the bride and groom should get a keg or cheap wine.

My venue needed a licensed bartender and proof of where liquor was purchased. (I added one specialty drink that they didn't have the liquor for and I had to turn over receipts)