Providing free drink at your wedding?

Lavendyr

We did free prosecco on arrival, unlimited wine during sit-down meal (which worked out at on average half a bottle per person) and a glass of champagne for the toast. Then cash bar in the evening with buffet - i.e. guests had to pay for their own drinks.

So if you're skipping the sit down meal, I'd say a drink on arrival and possibly fizz for toasts is reasonable. As to what to have as the drink on arrival, I would say it's totally up to you what that is.

Mrs_Soup

Drinks were free at my wedding. Reception was in a local hall with caterers in and my in laws brought the booze back from France (MIL is French). Was a small wedding though with fewer than 50 guests. A couple of people were escorted away early by relatives due to having indulged too freely.
I would find it slightly odd to not have one drink provided at least and I would go for an arrival drink rather than a toast.

catkins

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Why would you need to be told that something isn't provided? Personally I've never been to a wedding or any other occasion where all the drinks were provided free!!

Been to plenty of weddings where all the drinks were free.

Turtle wrote: »

I've been to one wedding where the drinks were free and I thought it was extremely generous.

If I had friends that thought I was tight for not giving out free booze they wouldn't be 'friends' for much longer.

If people are having a cheapish wedding far enough but when they have spent thousands so they can have seat covers, favours and all the other completely unnecessary things then I would think them tight not to include free drinks.


I only had a cheap wedding but ALL drinks were free.

pelirocco wrote: »

If you are having a reception at a hotel , then it would be far too expensive to have a free bar , my husband put £500 over the bar at my sons wedding on the way to going to our room . We hadn't even got to the room before we got the call that all the money had gone , unfortunatly people take the mickey sometimes .

Me and OH went to a wedding at a hotel a couple of weeks ago and all drinks were free all night.


There were 10 people to a table at the meal (300 guests) and 6 bottles of wine on each table (3 red 3 white). We had champagne for the toasts and then a free bar.


We were told that there was a limit on the bar (not sure if that was true or not) but if it was true it was never reached.

LutonGirl

Having worked at plenty of functions, including weddings, with an open bar, I've cleared away many an untouched pint at the end of the night, mostly with fag butts floating in them (pre-smoking ban).

If the drinks are all free, a lot of people do take the proverbial. They forget where they put a drink so they get another.

My ex-MIL would drink halves of shandy unless someone else was paying and it was brandy and Babycham.

At my own wedding, we had wine with the meal, fizzy for toasting and my Dad put some money behind the bar for a first drink for guests.

These days people don't expect freebies. I've even been to a wedding where we paid in advance for our own meals. The B&G were dear friends on a really strict budget and many of their friends said they'd rather share their special day and pay their way than miss it.

Faith177

After working a bar at a hotel that did 2 weddings every weekend as soon as we got engaged the first thing I said was no free bar. People take the mick, get rowdy and cause damage it's too much hassle

We had a glass of champagne after the vows were exchanged, wine on the tables choice of white, red and rose and then prosecco for the toast after that people paid.

It was a good job we didn't pay aswell the groom, ushers and my grandad got through 2 whole bottles of whisky at £3.50 per measure

Sally22_2

We aren't providing welcome drinks but the bar will be open for guests before the ceremony but we are providing wine on the tables and prosecco for the toasts/speeches.

I have already asked for the price list for the bar and its really reasonable.

Anatidaephobia

catkins wrote: »

If people are having a cheapish wedding far enough but when they have spent thousands so they can have seat covers, favours and all the other completely unnecessary things then I would think them tight not to include free drinks.

Regardless of how much the wedding cost, I don't think most people judge their friends for not including enough freebies; most people are too busy enjoying the day and happy to be there celebrating with their friends/family.

PolishBigSpender

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Why would you need to be told that something isn't provided? Personally I've never been to a wedding or any other occasion where all the drinks were provided free!!

Well, I never take money for the wedding reception, or just enough for a taxi home.
We provided vodka, wine and beer, plus of course water, juice, tea and coffee, all free for our guests. Obviously champagne at the arrival. The British guests were pleasantly surprised
There was plenty of bottles left at the end of the night.

Torry_Quine

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Well, I never take money for the wedding reception, or just enough for a taxi home.
We provided vodka, wine and beer, plus of course water, juice, tea and coffee, all free for our guests. The British guests were pleasantly surprised

You must be equally surprised then when at a British wedding and having to pay for your drink which is the norm in my experience.

pleasedelete

I have never been to a wedding where the drink wasn't all free. Most weddings have free flowing wine, beer and champagne but not spirits. I think most people would rather have decent food and drink rather than all the add on favours/sweet cart/cupcake rubbish that you see at some weddings.