is alcohol necessary

I, too, think open bar is a must or at the very minimum, you have to order beer and wine. I would skip the punches if I had to cut back b/c most people would go for beer and wine.

Don't kid yourself about people not drinking at a day wedding. My FH and I had to call his uncle to come pick us up from a day wedding b/c we didn't plan ahead for a designated driver b/c we kind of thought the same thing. How embarassing! But who knew there would be a martini luge!

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Posted by Nina_m74

FH and I rarely drink, so we just really weren't sure if people would drink so early in the day.

$ of course is part of the consideration, we are paying for this ourselves, we bought a house last year, so our savings are down and just found out we have to replace the roof sooner thatn expected, so in the back of my head I keep thinking spend a few thousand extra on an open bar or pay for the new roof?

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Perhaps a limited open bar & then use the balance for the roof?

An open bar is DEFINITELY NOT a necessity..the only necessity at a wedding is a bride and groom, people shouldn't come just for the open bar.
We're not having an open bar just because thats not really done in Austria... but we are having unlimited beer and wine along with captain morgans, kaluha, vodka, whiskey and gin to make long drinks or whatever with. We did what others suggested, like if you know certain 'special' guests only drink, or like to drink, a certain kind of alcohol, then offer that... like my sister loooooves captain morgans and my mom pretty much only drinks kaluha... and I'm pretty sure with the other drinks we're offering there should be something for everyone.