Never been to a host bar wedding

DawnMarie11

I've only been to open bars because to do it any other way is considered extremely cheap and tacky in my hometown. I'm in a wedding with drink tickets on Saturday - two each and then you pay - and can't wait for the bride's whole extended family to give her parents the side-eye.

Quesera

I've only been to two weddings that were twonie (Canadian two dollar coin) bars and one I was a bridesmaid for so my liquor was free. 

I've been to one dry wedding. It was dry be the people were Muslim. The saving grace there was that it was short and the food was amazing. We knew it would be dry and had provisions.  

EastCoastBride

papie:

I've said it before and sounded like an alcoholic, but I can't imagine a dry wedding.  I'd rather pay for my booze but at least have the option of drinking, lol.   

I'm an alcoholic then too.  If there was a choice between dry or cash, I'd MUCH rather cash.  WHile the "norm" in my circles is a host bar and yes, I would probably side eye a cash bar, at the same time, if it were that or dry, I'll gladly pay for my drinks.

Cleo29

I think I've been to one cash bar wedding, the rest have been open bar including mine.  

Squishy'sGal

It's a regional thing I guess. I'm from the NY/NJ area and nobody has a cash bar. I've been to dozens of weddings and only one had a cash bar and that was out in California (the bride and groom didn't drink so I don't know if it was just them or if it's common out there). 

Nerdicornss

Squishy'sGal:

It's a regional thing I guess. I'm from the NY/NJ area and nobody has a cash bar. I've been to dozens of weddings and only one had a cash bar and that was out in California (the bride and groom didn't drink so I don't know if it was just them or if it's common out there). 

I was just thinking this. Most weddings I've been to have been in MA or CT and it'd be a cold day in hell that it wasn't open bar. Probably also the same reason I don't really "get" stuff like dollar dances, since in this area it's cusotmary for most people to stuff 100-200 dollars in a card as their wedding present. I've only ever seen one or two physical presents at a wedding, the rest was cash in cards. 

I have been to try a dry wedding but it was a southern baptist affair in Inland Empire and everyone was pre-gaming it in the parking lot, lol. 

+Elle+

Cash bars are sideyed in CA too. But honestly, I think this is more an economic issue than regional.  My cousin is getting married in a few months. He is 23, an orphan,  joined the military after high school, marrying a girl who is still in college. He and his FI are paying for the wedding themselves. If they serve punch and cookies I am going to think that is fine.  I don't *want* them to have an open bar; there is no way they can afford it without going into debt. OTOH, DH's 35 y/old college roommate (who grew up in Beverly Hills and is a professional)  is marrying his FI (who grew up down the street and is now a professional) at a vineyard next weekend. The wedding is 3 hours from the closest airport, rooms at the closest hotel are $400/night, they aren't having a full open bar - just beer and wine- and I am peeved. 

JalapenoMel

I've never been to an open bar wedding either. If my options were cash bar or no bar (for financial reasons or whatever), I'd pick the cash bar 100% of the time.

 

We had wine, beer and champagne, everything else was cash. Flame away! 

 

SpookieCat

The only open bar wedding I've ever attended was my own

Otherwise it's the norm in my area to have a loonie or a toonie bar and more often than not, grossly high prices if the weddings in a hotel.

My whole family is in a tizzy because how will anyone ever have a more fun wedding than mine? Well...  they can start paying for the alcohol that's what.

It was funny though since my whole family is used to cash bars everyone brings their own alcohol and there are usually some decent tailgating parties going on outside the hotel.  We had our wedding in my aunt & uncle's backyard and a pile of my uncles were all huddled around someone's truck when we first got to the reception.  They didn't realize there was anything for free inside the tent.

TheyCalledHerKate

I don't think I've ever been to a wedding without an open bar, or at least beer and wine

+Elle+

SpookieCat:

The only open bar wedding I've ever attended was my own

Otherwise it's the norm in my area to have a loonie or a toonie bar and more often than not, grossly high prices if the weddings in a hotel.

My whole family is in a tizzy because how will anyone ever have a more fun wedding than mine? Well...  they can start paying for the alcohol that's what.

It was funny though since my whole family is used to cash bars everyone brings their own alcohol and there are usually some decent tailgating parties going on outside the hotel.  We had our wedding in my aunt & uncle's backyard and a pile of my uncles were all huddled around someone's truck when we first got to the reception.  They didn't realize there was anything for free inside the tent.

Wait. People have cash bars in your family even when the wedding is held at someone's house? That's taking it to a whole new level.  

EB777888

I've been to both, it's about half and half. I'd much rather pay for it than have it not offered at all. I hate dry weddings.

We had open bar. 

IamAli

papie:

Sara, look what I found for you!

 

That MUST be the hand of a corpse.  It has to be. O.o 

huber22

the only completely open bar ive ever been to was ours. ive been to a couple free beer and wine weddings and one wedding where there was a couple of free hours at that bar. otherwise everyone does a cash bar. 

 

one of my friends chose my wedding venue and wanted to know how much she could charge her guests to drink the beer she bought. yuck.