Wedding Open Bar vs. Cash Bar
Open bar or Cash Bar? That is the question…
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There is much debate in the wedding etiquette circles about which is appropriate: open bar or cash bar for weddings. In our day and age, I say that your guests will understand if you have a combination of open and cash bar. Yes from an etiquette standpoint an open bar is a wonderful, grateful gesture to your wedding guests. However, in the real world, where young couples have a small budget wedding guests understand that an open bar is simply not an option. Most weddings I’ve attended in the last two years have gone the combination open and cash bar route. For the first hour your guests can have free mixed drinks, beer and wine. After that the bar turns to a cash bar. I have never heard anyone complain about this. Most people have no qualms about paying for a drink at a wedding reception. After all, they’re there to celebrate. You will have already treated your wedding guests to a romantic wedding ceremony with music, fed them a meal and entertained them with live music. Your guests will be feeling merry and festive. They’ll be standing in line for a glass of wine to toast the new couple. Whether that glass of wine is free or not – I don’t think is a major issue.
However, if you’re part of the perfect wedding etiquette circle and you can’t afford an open bar, think about opting for a non-alcoholic reception. For many couples alcohol is not part of their normal socializing. A coffee bar, a tea bar or a blended drink bar would be a fun, unique and affordable “open bar” alternative.
For a coffee bar:
This coffee maker is something you could use after the wedding ceremony. It would be a great item for a small coffee bar. For favors you could give guests a single serve of coffee with a customized wedding label.
For a non alchoholic daiquiri, margarita or blended drink bar try this:
