no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

10102009Bride Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:45 PM

no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Ladies honest opinions please…

I’m getting married in NJ. NJ has very strange liquor license rules. My RH can only serve wine… I have to bring my own champagne and beer.
As of right now I did not consider to get a bartender. Since I only drink wine and champagne and FH only drinks beer I was really not concerned.
What do you ladies think… should I get hard liquor?

KerriJohnS Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:48 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Do what you can do.

Honestly I went to a wedding where there was only wine once... and I was disapointed! I wanted liquor.

I think it depends on your guests. If you will have a lot of drinkers or people that you know drink liquor then I'd do it.

If it's funding that aspect that is a problem for you... I understand.... and you can only do what you can do.

I voted to have a bartender. I voted for a combination of the way the wine wedding I went to was (I hate wine so I wasn't happy) and the fact that for my wedding not having an open bar was NOT AN OPTION!!! There was no way we could do that. My guests are big drinkers... and I want them to be able to drink. For my lush peeps... it's all about the alcohol.

RitasEngaged Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:49 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

IMHO a wedding isn't a wedding without liquor but if no one drinks you might get away with it

FallBride2010 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:49 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Honestly, I think I would be really turned off if I went to a wedding that didnt serve alcohol. Many people dont drink wine or beer, so I would have a full bar

JamDancer Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:50 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

I'll just share an experience... a few weeks ago we went to a wedding upstate NY..... it was only beer and wine and cash bar for any other drinks. There were 2 choices of beer (Yuengling and Bud Light or something I think) and Merlot and Chardonnay... that were served WARM from a box. We had never been to a wedding that wasn't open bar so we didn't bring much cash, so we stuck to beer and wine all night... the warm boxed chardonnay was not very enjoyable.

I voted to get liquor bc also some people might not like beer or wine.... but if it is a money issue I guess I would check with the RH what kind of wine that they serve and at least if they'll serve the white wine cold

Soon2bMrsH Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:50 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

i dont drink hard liquor so to me it wouldnt matter. Poll some of your family and friends and see what they think, becuase they will be attending.

something you may want to consider - as we did for our engagement party, because it is at my parents house. Liquor can be expensive, so we are doing a signature drink- stoli strasberry and pink lemonade. this way- there is hard liquor and we are getting kegs for beer drinkers and no wine.

HIReiser Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:53 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

I used to live in Secaucus by the way.

Im not sure I understand the question 100% but I will give my opinion and hope it helps.

I think that if you are serving wine, champagne and beer you should get a bartender no matter what. Its nice for the guests to be served and not worry about spilling, accidents etc. This way you also can 'control' how much liquor is going out. It prevents cousin john from getting a 6 pack and leaving it at his table not drinking it.

If you WANT hard liquor get it. If the law allows it, and you WANT it, get it. But then you would need a bartender.

I would say look at your budget and see if this is one place you can save on money. If YOU don't really care about the hard stuff, and it will save you money its a GREAT way to compromise on a budget.

I drink liquor and I would be dissapointed if it was not at a wedding. But you have to do whats right for you and your fiance.

Hope this helps!

stinenandy2010 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 02:53 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Personally, I hate wine and beer, so I drink hard liquor, so I would be disappointed. But do what you can afford and want at the wedding.

mrsjpc3 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:01 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

i think the majority of guests would be disappointed that only beer or wine was served. I know that when I go to weddings, or a night out, I like to drink liquor. I think you should give your guests the option.

10102009Bride Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:01 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Posted by HIReiser

I used to live in Secaucus by the way.

Im not sure I understand the question 100% but I will give my opinion and hope it helps.

I think that if you are serving wine, champagne and beer you should get a bartender no matter what. Its nice for the guests to be served and not worry about spilling, accidents etc. This way you also can 'control' how much liquor is going out. It prevents cousin john from getting a 6 pack and leaving it at his table not drinking it.

If you WANT hard liquor get it. If the law allows it, and you WANT it, get it. But then you would need a bartender.

I would say look at your budget and see if this is one place you can save on money. If YOU don't really care about the hard stuff, and it will save you money its a GREAT way to compromise on a budget.

I drink liquor and I would be dissapointed if it was not at a wedding. But you have to do whats right for you and your fiance.

Hope this helps!

RH is BYOB place... so they can open wine bottles and beer bottles and poor it into a glass
When it comes to hard liquor… I need to get a NJ licensed bartender. My best friend is a bartender and we were thinking we can get away with having shots. Just have her poor liquor in shot glasses. That was a very silly thought. She is not allowed to do it.

Lsorrent Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:04 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Personally, I'd be kind of surprised if I went to a wedding and there was only wine and beer. I would also be pretty disappointed. JMO.

MrsDR2010 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:08 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

I don't see anything wrong with it. I am on a budget and decided not to serve alcohol so I can keep the cost down at my wedding. I am not a drinker though so maybe thats why.

MNM91710 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:09 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

You def should hire a Bartender, just to serve whatever you decide.. JMO.... i have never been to a wedding with no liquor

M_and_J Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:21 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

I've been to two weddings where there was liquor...but it was a cash bar. I know its not the exact same situation but I'd be lying if I said that guests were not complaining.
If you can afford to get a bartender and include the liquor, I'd say to go for it.

SummerBride10 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:29 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

If you can afford to hire a bartender and buy hard liquor- DO IT!! Your guests will really appreciate it. There are many people out there who would be dissapointed if you didn't have hard liquor

LadyDuda81509 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:31 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

some people get very annoyed if there is no liquor!

me personally would be fine with beer wine and champagne!

what does the rest of your family say??
I come from a big family of boozers soo liquor is a necessity at my wedding

las1 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 03:44 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Ok I understand your question. At first I was confused because I am getting married in NJ and my hall is not BYOB. Some people drink liquor so they may be disappointed.

Also, to the person who posted above I saw you lived in Secausus - thats were I live

anneandchris Posted: Jul 06, 2009 05:53 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

Honestly it sounds to me like your place does not have full liquor license -- not that NJ has strange laws.

What it really comes down to is your guests. Are they from the lower tri-state area? If so then the majority of your guests are going to expect more then beer and wine. And they will expect to have it poured for them.

So yes I think you should have a bartender no matter what (even if it was dry reception).

As for the liquior if your guests drink then I would have it.

mrsdraskin2009 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 06:15 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

I think it you should definitely have alcohol at the wedding, even if it is only open bar for the CH and then wine and beer for dinner, but I am not a fan of hard alcohol anyways.

Jna2010 Posted: Jul 06, 2009 06:22 PM

Re: no liquor at wedding - opinions needed

i wouldnt break the bank on this one, but if you can I honestly would get a bartender for the whole night, i pretty much ALWAYS drink cocktails when im at weddings, bars, vacation, etc.