Weddingbee Blog

I think it’s kind of a cool idea, and especially if traditions make it more acceptable where you are I say by all means rock it! I don’t think I’d be offended with the honor bar system, and it’s also helpful that those who drink a lot know they should contribute more (at least I would feel that way) and those who do not will not feel so obligated to so much. Other options to consider, a semi-hosted bar (beer and wine only) or choose a place / caterer that allow you to bring in your own alcohol.

We’re doing beer + wine until 10 (reception starts at 7), and soda, water, coffee, punch, and milk all night long. It’ll help cut down the cost substantially

Also, when I was a kid my parents and I would always summer in northern Ontario, and I couldn’t get enough of the Loonies and Twoonies! I love ‘em

I’d say, whatever the standard is in your area should be perfectly adequate, and anything extra is nice. My only question about the honor bar would be that I as a guest might mistake it for the ‘wishing well’ blatant money grab some couples use–I feel like an outright loonie or twoonie donation would be clearer, y’know?

i’ve never been to a full open bar at any wedding i’ve attended. (midwest) it’s always been a cash bar. it may also be that there are several [recovering] alcoholics in my family, so a bar at the wedding isn’t typically found.

at our wedding, the bar is up for debate at this point. it will probably come down to who fronts the money for the bar. if his family wants to front the money, it will be an open bar. if my family fronts the money, there won’t even be alcohol.

It all depends on the local culture, I guess. Whatever people are used to is fine. On Long Island, people would be scandalized if you had a cash bar, and I personally can’t imagine inviting people and asking them to pay for their drinks. That said, we’re only serving wine, beer, and I think frozen margaritas at our Sunday afternoon wedding. Our package comes with open bar, but the draft beer selection was dismal, and palatable bottled beer was another $3-$4 a person. Knowing our family and friends, we arranged to swap the hard liquor for decent bottled beer. I know that very few hard drinks would be served anyway. And if someone *desperately* needs a scotch or whatever, there’s a golf pub attached to one end of the building.

BTW, I don’t drink at all. I’m going to be toasting with Diet Coke.

I think I am having a moment of clarity here! I think what I am hearing is that where it is common to have an open bar you only serve certain drinks and only for a couple of hours. Is that right? That would definitely help! See where I live, it would be more frowned upon to have a limited bar than it is to charge for drinks and people come to weddings at 5:00pm and stay and drink until 2:00am or later. So, this makes sense to me now!

We are definitely going to have signs by the jars explaining the honour bar concept and our MC will also explain it in the announcements before we make our entrance so hopefully it won’t be mistaken for a “wishing well” type thing.

Sounds “looney” to the yanks.

J’s right, Miss Pumpkin- open bars in the States are typically open all night, not just for a window of time.
Are you allowed to buy your own alcohol at your reception site? Because I hear it’s a lot cheaper to supply your own alcohol than if you were to pay a reception site for it (unless it’s already included in your package). And you can return any unopened alcohol you have for a refund!
And you can definitely save more by offering just wine and beer, and even a signature cocktail. I remember reading Mrs. Bee’s old posts on her open bar and signature cocktail success- both w/ her guests AND financially.

I’m a little confused though- for the loonie/twoonie bars, guests are expected to bring their own alcohol AND pay $1-2 for it? If Why not just buy the alcohol yourself and tell your guests not to bring their own but that “donations” of $1-2 are greatly appreciated? You may not recoup all the costs of your open bar but it’ll be a nice gesture to your guests by not asking them to pay full price for their drinks.

We are not doing any alcohol at our reception save for the champagne toast, which we are bringing in ourselves. We are going to bring a certain number of bottles, pour and offer glasses to those who want it, offer alternatives for people who don’t want champagne, and let those who want to drink do so until all the champagne we brought in is gone. Then that’s it!

There were too many complications with liquor. The first is that there’s an added fee at our venue for having it. The second is that it could only be beer and wine anyway, and since I don’t drink either of those (I’m a vodka girl) I couldn’t see the value in it (especially since FH and I are paying for everything ourselves). Not to mention we have lots of college friends coming who would easily drink their share and more, and we didn’t want to head off to our hotel afterwards wondering if certain friends made it home OK. We could have hired transportation for those who had too much to drink, but again it was an added expense. Instead, those who want to drink will be welcome to do so - on their own time with their own money after the reception is over (10pm - still plenty of time to go out)

I’ve heard options where you have an open bar (all liquors all free) for the cocktail hour, and then offer a nice wine with dinner and champagne for a toast. This way people can still drink, but it doesn’t cost nearly as much. Plus, people get the hard liquor in them before dinner, and the food helps soak up the liquor so no one does stupid drunk things at your reception.

If you’re debating between a completely open bar all night and a $2 bar all night, my first question would be do you really feel like you would receive $2 per drink that was served (averaged at the end of the night)? We can all say we would donate our fair share, but can you really hold all 100/150/200 of your guests accountable for this the entire night? Especially if you gave no warning - I don’t carry cash unless I’m going to a bar, and if I was invited to a wedding I would not think to stop by the ATM just in case beforehand)

I would say beer, wine and a signature drink would be plenty. You could even give it a cute name like a “pumpkintini” or a “mr pumpkin and soda”

I won’t have a bar/cocktail hour at all, seeing as how no one in either of our families (openly) drinks. Ah, the benifits of having 10+ pastors in the family. And no, that’s not a joke. Four on my side and eight on his, if we’re just counting grandparents, uncles, and parents.

I like the honor bar system. I’ve been to open bar weddings, and I guess I’ve just always seen that as an extra expense that has little gain for the bride and groom. If the guests are used to having to pay full price for their drinks, they will appreciate the option.

i’ve never heard of a honour bar, but i think it’s a super cute idea!! loonie and twoonie. heehee. esp if it’s not expected to have an open bar (bc i think even in the US depending on where you live, expectations are diff) then go for it!! yayy for learning something new.