Cash bar? Open bar?

Pencils Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:12 PM

Cash bar? Open bar?

If you go to a wedding on Long Island, do you expect an open bar?

I'm participating in a discussion over on Weddingbee about different expectations at weddings regarding alcohol. I know that in other areas of the country and in Canada, cash bars are common and no one blinks an eye. But here on Long Island (and in the greater NY area) they're uncommon, right? I've never been to a wedding with a cash bar that I can remember. What about you guys?

As of now, we're not having hard liquor at our Sunday afternoon wedding. Open bar is part of our package, but we found that bottled beer is extra, and the draft beer on offer at Timber Point is pretty dismal. I know that most of our guests are going to drink beer and wine. So we arranged to get in Sam Adams and Becks in bottles instead of the hard liquor. And if anyone really desperately wants a scotch or something, there's the golf pub on the other side of the buildng. It's a Sunday afternoon, though, who needs it? (However, we're wondering now if we're going to meet our minimum, and if we don't, we're going to get some extras thrown in, first of which will be to have the hard liquor back. Since we have to pay that set fee anyway)

jenn122397 Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:15 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

i expect an open bar at a wedding, i dont think i have ever been to one without it
i know that in alot of other states they dont do this though

portjeffbride Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:15 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

months ago, I recall a HUGE thread about this.... In the end, the general consesus was that NY metro wedding guests expect an open bar, while OOT'ers are more likely to expect / accept a cash bar ....

stealthgroom Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:15 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

I think to each their own... all the weddings I've been to in the metro ny area have had open bars. but i've certainly been to a few that didn't have liquor or had cash bars.

qtdimps23 Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:16 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

OPEN BAR!!

HamptonsBride Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:16 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

we are having unlimited beer & wine...and one signature drink...there is a bar in our location that people can purchase mixed drinks at if they desire..it is not for reasons of saving money...but because of Alcoholism...we don't want people falling down drunk at our wedding..hopefully people will understand and not think we are cheap...we are spending $$$ on getting great food instead.

Marchbride07 Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:18 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

I mean its your wedding, your call but I think regardless of the time of day, an open bar should include everything. And no one wants to walk to the othjer side of a building to buy a scotch! I know if I am at a wedding, even during the day, I am gonna order a vodka club soda.

But that might just the the Irish in me.

I personally do expect an open bar if I am at a wedding, especially around this area.

RGV07 Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:20 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

open bar for my wedding!!!!

abslout Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:26 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

i would expect an open bar and i have never been to a wedding that never had an open bar

Pencils Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:26 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

Posted by Marchbride07

I mean its your wedding, your call but I think regardless of the time of day, an open bar should include everything. And no one wants to walk to the othjer side of a building to buy a scotch! I know if I am at a wedding, even during the day, I am gonna order a vodka club soda. But that might just the the Irish in me.

Good thing you're not coming to my wedding, then, as you wouldn't get one! (And you can just walk through a door at the side of the dance floor to get to the pub.) My family is Irish too--not my FH's, he's Jewish--and we don't drink vodka, we drink beer or whiskey.

As someone else mentioned, we also have some alcoholics in the family, both sides, so when I told a few family members that we weren't having open bar, they said 'GOOD!' We don't need any embarrassments. If we were having a Saturday night wedding, it wouldn't be an issue, it being Sunday afternoon it seemed different, though. At the Three Village Inn, where we looked first, they don't even offer open bar with their Sunday weddings, only beer, wine and mimosas, which is where I got the idea.

MJDoc12 Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:31 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

Posted by portjeffbride

months ago, I recall a HUGE thread about this.... In the end, the general consesus was that NY metro wedding guests expect an open bar, while OOT'ers are more likely to expect / accept a cash bar ....

ditto.

i have to admit i expect an open bar at a wedding in long island. not just beer, wine, soda,...but everything...but that's cause i just have NEVER been to a wedding here without a full open bar...but it's your wedding, and you have to make the choice that you and FH decide.

aprilv Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:32 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

Open Bar!!!! If I am invited to an affair I expect to not have to pay for anything except a gift!!!

NY031978 Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:33 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

When ppl think wedding they think...good food,good music and Open Bar!

rkl1130 Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:35 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

Open bar. For a Sunday afternoon affair though, I can see why you made your decision because it does seem more appropriate.

My cousin, however, had a cash bar so the only drinks included were soda and water. It caused such an uproar and not because people drink that much or are looking to get sloppy, but because it was a Friday night wedding and in NY you expect alcohol to be served at weddings at some capacity or another.

nifheim Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:38 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

Open - i would be angry going to a wedding and having to pay for a drink. IF i go out of state i kinda expect to having to shell out.

lilangel Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:44 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

I expect open bar and at the very least pay for premium drinks.

thelastresort Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:46 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

On Long Island or NY metro area, I definitely expect an open bar.

ntunison Posted: Apr 13, 2007 12:55 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

open bar always!

PattyK Posted: Apr 13, 2007 01:08 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

I think that most people expect an open bar. I have been to a wedding on LI that they only served soda & wine and everyone complained about it.

GwynethBride Posted: Apr 13, 2007 01:18 PM

Re: Cash bar? Open bar?

cash bars are the norm outside of NY, but I've been to a couple weddings in the city and 1 on the island where the situation was similar to what you are having - beer and wine but no hard liquor (except I think at the cocktail hour) and it was totally fine. Whatevs dude its your wedding, you set the rules - like you say, it's a sunday afternoon, its not like there won't be any alcohol provided...if somebody really has a problem with not being able to get a scotch I'd say they have a bigger problem on their hands...