No Alcohol at a Wedding?

[chicagodisneyfan]

I have never attended a wedding that HAD alcohol. Most of them were in the church hall and alcohol wasn't allowed. One was at the local Shriners Hall and the Bride's family didn't believe in drinking, so no alcohol.

There was no alcohol at my wedding and I have no regrets about that, my regret is not being able to have my reception somewhere I could dance with my Dh. We had our reception in the church hall after a 6pm wedding.

Suzanne

Why couldn't you dance?

Anyway - have a "wet" or dry wedding - either is proper and great. The cash bar is tacky - you NEVER invite a guest and then make them pay for a beverage. Not serving alcohol is better than charging.

 

[Teacher03]

I'm Italian and raised Catholic - what's dry?
Living in the south, I have been to several daytime church receptions that were obviously alcohol-free. They are usually pleasant, and the food is decent, but they aren't very exciting. It's a social situation where you say hi to everyone and then go about your day.

The weddings I prefer are evening affairs and have an open bar. Hell, I can think of two times I brought in my own alcohol. Those are nearly always a really good time.

I have never been to a wedding that was at night and dry. But if I was invited to one, I doubt I would stay long. I just can't have a good time unless I'm drunk.

LOL! I know what you mean! My husband comes from a huge Italian family and our weddings are huge affairs with lots of drinking. However, my two nieces decided to have dry weddings for personal reasons, and the weddings were different than what we were used to, but both beautiful, fun, and exactly what THEY (the bride and groom) wanted, so I respected that. We have fun whenever we get together, alcohol or not.

 

[MushyMushy]

Not picking on you, but what happened at your wedding that people are still talking about how great it was two deacades later?



I have a cousin that got married 21 years ago and she still wants to talk about her wedding We have had dozens of family weddings/ happy family events in the past 21 years, but she still thinks we all want to talk about her wedding

People are still talking about our wedding too!

(this from the in-laws)

"Your dad's wife was staring at me all night"

"Tell your mother to go to hell! Her family keeps glaring at us."

"I can't believe he had to bring her."

And we even had MY family separating them.

 

[ZachnElli]

Ours was dry. We didn't have a cash bar, but there was a bar in the next room if anyone wanted to get an alcoholic drink. It's not tacky, we did provide drinks, just not anything with alcohol.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Why couldn't you dance?

Anyway - have a "wet" or dry wedding - either is proper and great. The cash bar is tacky - you NEVER invite a guest and then make them pay for a beverage. Not serving alcohol is better than charging.

They frown upon dancing in a Baptist Church. But, I don't think dancing in general is opposed, just not in the church or church hall

Suzanne

 

[Cyndibear]

We had a dry wedding. We also had dancing and almost everyone danced!! We didn't feel we needed alcohol at our reception. The reception was at a fire hall and we had Birch Beer on tap!!

Cyndi

 

[Feralpeg]

I was in my 30s before I attended my first wedding where they served alcohol. It didn't use to be the thing to do. I have no problem either way. I must say that I have seen people make complete fools of themselves at weddings thanks to too much alcohol. It wouldn't bother me if I never attended another event that had alcohol.

 

[Piecey]

My wedding reception was held a few months after my wedding. DH and I got married in May in Vegas, my parents held our reception in October back home.
By then, I was pregnant.

Reception was in a dry city. There are no alcohol sales allowed within the city and it's not custom here to have an open bar. There were coolers full of beer and that was it.
Originally, I'd wanted a girly drink of some sort.. but I found out about baby about three weeks before the reception so my parents just did beer!

Only 1 person complained (DH's side of the family) but most people were OK with it.

 

[aprilgail2]

No but i have been to cash bar weddings and that was kind of disappointing

I went to one of those- sucks because I normally don't carry any money with me when I go to a wedding so its either take it out of my gift envelope or don't have anything to drink (they even charged for soda!!!!!!!)

I see things the same way - I live in NY Metro and honetly didn't know that people served punch and cake at weddings until i came onto these boards.

I didn't either- I though punch was like a 60's or 70's thing- boy was I surprised when I went to a wedding south of here and they had punch and cake. Actually all of us from this area that went down for the wedding were looking around like "ok, so when are we getting dinner, where are the drinks and where is the DJ/Band"... .....it was a mad rush to get out of there so we could all go someplace and eat! Certainly was eye opening- and it clearly is remembered at all family gatherings here LOL.

 

[ms.yt]

I have never been to a wedding that served any type of alcohol. I haven't been to a lot of weddings, but I don't think that is the norm here.

You're absolutely right. The drink of choice at most Arkansas weddings that I've been to in my 30+ years is punch made with Sprite and sherbet! I actually look forward to it when I go to a wedding!

 

[disbridemimi]

Thats it! Im moving! You guys are luring me away from the Northeast with your tales of fun, affordable weddings with punch. Im sold! Count me in. Seriously they sound lovely! We are currenlty in wedding planing he&$ . At least once a day we decide to elope.

PS I want some of this punch you describe, but the Boston in me is thinking, wouldnt it be better with a little vodka?

 

[eeyoremum]

We had a dry wedding. We only served coffee, tea, punch and sweets. We were married at seven at night and over and done with by nine. Short and sweet. I didn't want a wedding at all I wanted to elope but DMIL did her passive-agressive routine so we had a small weeding which I regret to this day because you guessed it SHE was so embarrassed.

 

[Alesia]

I went to one of those- sucks because I normally don't carry any money with me when I go to a wedding so its either take it out of my gift envelope or don't have anything to drink (they even charged for soda!!!!!!!)

You have got to be kidding.

I would have spent all of the money in the gift envelope and then left a note in it telling them where it went.

 

[HunnyPots]

You're absolutely right. The drink of choice at most Arkansas weddings that I've been to in my 30+ years is punch made with Sprite and sherbet! I actually look forward to it when I go to a wedding!

Thank you! I knew I couldn't be the only one! We served sherbet punch at our wedding 25 years ago. It was made with raspberry sherbet to match the burgundy and mauve color scheme of the wedding. Oh so 80's!

 

[Piecey]

Thank you! I knew I couldn't be the only one! We served sherbet punch at our wedding 25 years ago. It was made with raspberry sherbet to match the burgundy and mauve color scheme of the wedding. Oh so 80's!

I forgot about punch!

Mine was pineapple, though!

 

[disykat]

My wedding wasn't a party, it was a church service followed by a brief reception. The only alcohol that would have been appropriate was communion wine.

I've only been to a few weddings that had a big party-type reception and I honestly can't remember what was served at any of them.

 

[alexandria674]

I have been to a wedding that did not serve alcohol and I didn't think anything of it. Everyone had the same amount of fun, I didn't look down at the bride and groom, I was just happy to be there. I don't really like cash bars but I can understand why a bridal couple would have them.

 

[Lisa_M]

I've never been to a wedding that didn't serve alcohol. I went to one that had kegs and punch and appetizers, but no meal. That was strange. It was out of the area where I grew up so maybe it was the norm there, but I just remember being so hungry and the bride and her family being so drunk.

I don't care if there is a cash bar or not, as long as they serve free pop or let me know ahead of time. Nothing is worse than going to a wedding and only having a dollar or two on you in cash.

 

[blana]

No alcohol at a wedding is the standard where I grew up. There was no alcohol at my OWN wedding. In all honesty, I enjoy weddings without alcohol MUCh more than those that include it. I've been to far too many where people got drunk off their rumps and worried me. At a non-alcoholic reception, things move faster & everyone stays in their right minds.

 

[ckoncurat]

We are mormons, so no alcohol at our wedding- and yes, I'm sure my non-mormon family was dissapointed and probably crtitical. Didn't really matter to me.