We are very excited to kick off a new guest blogger series. Experts will share thoughts and insight to help you in planning your celebration. The latest comes from Kristine Stone at Simply Bridal
Pros & Cons Of Open Bar At Your Wedding
Photo Credit: Sherry Heck Photography
sherryheck.com
Deciding whether or not to have an open bar at your wedding can always be a difficult choice. Of course your guests would love an open bar with unlimited alcohol, but at the same time this could cause various problems. To help you decide which option works best for you and your big day, we’ve put together a list of pros and cons of having an open bar at your wedding.
Pros
Meet Expectations
When attending a wedding, whether you like it or not, the majority of your guests will probably be expecting an open bar. With this being said, it is important to live up to these expectations so your guests don’t feel as if they’ve been let down. The more things that are already taken care of, the less your guests have to worry about, and they can just focus on having a great time on your special day.
Give Back
When it comes to your wedding, many of the guests have made a lot of arrangements so they can attend. Whether it’s travel arrangements such as flying, accommodation costs, spending money on a wedding gift or using vacation time, they have definitely done their part to make sure they can attend your big day. A great way to give back to your party guests is to help cut out the cost of having a cash bar at your reception.
Photo Credit:
Kelly Photography erickelleyphotography.com
When having an open bar, meaning all of the alcohol has been pre-paid for by the bride and groom, you show your guests that you truly want them to have a great time without the worries of a cash bar standing in the way. This will show your guests you want them to stop worrying about paying for their own drinks and to just have a great time and dance the night away!
Cons
Drunk Guests
With open bars, many people worry about guests having one too many drinks at their wedding reception and possibly stealing the show. This is definitely something to consider when hosting a wedding with an open bar. You don’t want your guests becoming belligerent and causing any problems on your wedding day, and oftentimes only serving beer and wine (without the option of hard liquor) is a good way to make sure people don’t over imbibe. Also, make sure to have plenty of yummy food available throughout the night so your guests can line their stomachs.
Remembering the Night
The last thing you want is for your guests to forget the night of your wedding, especially since you’ve put so much time and effort making sure everything is perfect. If this is a fear, yet you still want to provide alcohol for everyone, only having alcohol available between certain hours may suit your wedding reception. For instance, you can serve drinks when your guests arrive and then have a short break until the food is served. This is a great way to provide to your guests yet tone down the worries of something possibly going wrong!
Alcohol-free Venue
Depending on where your wedding is, there may be an alcohol restriction, such as local parks and places of worship. If this is the case, let your wedding guests know beforehand so they don’t give you a hard time. If you still want to host an open bar, or even just provide champagne for the all-important wedding toast, consider having your reception in a nearby location that allows alcohol after the ceremony is complete!
There are a few different options you can consider when trying to decide which alcohol option will work for you, and you and your fiancé should have the final say. While your close friends and family will most likely have differing opinions, it’s important you’re happy with every aspect of your wedding day.
Photo Credit: Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography
adambarnesphoto.com
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