Welcome drinks

spurs_gal

Hello everyone
I'm just looking for a bit of advise and a few ideas. We are getting married at 3.30pm, having a follow on reception from 4.40 for day guests & 6.30 for evening guests. We're not having a sit down meal, just nibbles and an evening buffet.
The problem is I want to supply drinks for my day guests until around 6pm as I feel they've given up their day for us and don't want them to be skint by 8! My H2b doesn't want to and says they should get their own drinks and we shouldn't supply any. I understand he doesn't want to spend a fortune, but I feel a bit rotten as we're not supplying a 'proper' meal & some people will have travelled long distances & paid for accommodation I thought about bucks fizz for welcome drinks and jugs of cocktails, mocktails, juices & Pimms on the tables. Then if anyone wants anything else they can buy it. We only have 45 day guests so I cant see it will cost us a fortune. Does this sound reasonable? Or do you have any ideas of what else I could do?
Thank you x

joho

Oh what a can of worms you are opening with this thread! I asked a similar question recently and it turned into a hell of a row.

I think it is very generous of you to want to provide drinks for your guests and limiting it a bit, the way you have described, is the best way of it not spiralling out of control. They are all quite girly drinks though - perhaps you could think of something else for the menfolk - can't think what though!

We put a set amount of money behind the bar for people to order their own drinks and when that was gone, they had to pay. As it happens, the money lasted right till the end of the night and we were very glad that we did it.

So, if you want to do it, can convince OH2B and you CAN AFFORD IT then you do it!
Congratulations. x

themadvix

Another factor you may want to take into consideration is that with only nibbles until the evening buffet, providing lots of booze may result in lots of rather drunk people! You don't mention what sort of nibbles or what time the buffet will be served (but I'm guessing not at 6pm), so these factors might affect it, but if the nibbles are just crisps and nuts I would be wary. Perhaps you could limit it to a drink or two and then spend a bit more on nibbles (of the same variety or canapes) as a way to mop up the booze?

Hth
Vicky

zcrat41

We had a free bar at ours as we saw it that we are hosting a party. You don't ask someone to pay at a dinner party do you.

However, we were lucky enough to have OH dad pay for the bar - and to be fair, had the reception at home! So, I'd do as close to free bar as funds allow. 1 glass of bubbly on arrival - great and generous if that's all you can affor. Do what you can - pimms reception? Set amount behind bar? What does your venue allow? If you can brink in your own drink that makes a hell of a difference. But at the end of the day, if funds don't allow you don't do.

ampafc

As the above poster said, do what you want, and what you can afford!

We have 130 people coming during the day - each person is getting a beer/wince/champagne when they come in, plus a vodka/whisky/gin for the toast. The extra 100 coming at night get a drink of their choice.