To think this is unbelievably tight for a wedding?

[StingyWedding]

Recently attending a wedding of a friend. Amongst various other issues on the day I just felt it was a very poor and stingy wedding, at the reception they had a "hot chocolate bar" - they were charging for this (and tea, and coffee....)

Photo attached which they have proudly displayed on their Facebook.

Am I wrong to think of you invite people to a wedding you actually host and therefore provide for your guests? Not expecting a free bar but some table wine and soft drinks surely?

They probably had better things to spend money on than you!

If you can't afford it don't do it? Really? If you don't have thousands of pounds to cater for your friends and family, don't get married to the person you love and want to spend your life with?
When did marriage become about feeding and watering everyone you know?

It's unusual to pay for hot drinks like tea and coffee but considering weddings are about witnessing a marriage and not just a party I wouldn't be miffed to be asked to pay for this if I was a guest.

I think it's a nice touch for anyone not drinking to have that choice readily available. I know plenty of designated drivers would have loved that over the past few at weddings I have been to. But then most weddings I go to are full of people who just want to celebrate and see the happy couple enjoy their day!

I think free bars are more common down south maybE, even for soft drinks.

They mentioned a lot on MN but tbh I've been to dozens of weddings over the years and only ever had a totally free bar once, and a limited one another time.

The rest - It's always a pay bar but maybe some wine on the table (maybe approx half a bottle per person) and a glass of something on arrival. Sometimes a toast as well.

You do normally get a hot drink at the end of the meal though. Thought I'd expect to pay for more than that.

If you can't afford it you don't charge people more than something costs! £2.50 for a coffee!

I go to weddings to watch people I love gst married, not to judge them or get free stuff.
This thread is awful.

More and more want weddings they can't actually afford so just make the guests pay.

Either cut back, save longer or simply take your vows with family with no added extras.

Leslie - but that might be what it costs at the venue rather than what the bride and groom have chosen

If you can't afford a wedding reception don't invite people to one. Or hire a church hall, have some tea and coffee and squash and a few trays of sandwiches and crisps and feed your guests for a small amount. Don't charge Starbucks prices for a bloody cuppa.

£2.50 for a cup of tea is outrageous and I live in London.

TBH, if you're charging people £2.50 for a cup of tea at a wedding, you should probably expect the guests to be slating the event (on social media/in person).

Then you'd pick a different venue wouldn't you?

And last I checked there isn't a sign that says 'you MUST drink this coffee'. You can always just not have it. I've never expected to be provided with drinks of any kind at a wedding.

Most people I know go to weddings to celebrate the marriage of their two friends or family. Rather than to party and drink on their host's money.

I don't see an issue....most people pay for at least some drinks at a wedding ime.

Marriage may not be about feeding and watering everyone you know but weddings (where you've invited loads of people) generally are. You can get married without inviting loads of people.

If you're skint you plan your wedding accordingly. You don't make a fancy sign making a feature out of selling them overpriced tea, whatever 'toppings' you're offering (milk and/or sugar presumably).

At all the weddings I've been to there has been a free drink on arrival, meal, drink with meal and one for the toast. Everything else was extra, I think I've only been to one where everything was completely free (and no it wasn't my own ).

£2.50 for a cuppa is a bit steep but I guess you're a captive audience.

Was the money going to the bride and groom or was the 'tea/ hot chocolate bar provided by an outside caterer ?

If they can't afford to provide drinks for their guests that is the situation. Go or don't go, but a drink or don't buy a drink.

This thread is mean.

what a mean spirited thread.

Eurgh.

It's a bit grim to be making £2.47 profit on every cup of tea your guests drink at your wedding.

The last few I've been to have been marquees in camping fields with bring your own booze. Much better.

Oh fgs lots of threads on here are mean.
It's particularly weird to make a fancy sign advertising the £5 hot choc at your wedding. It just is.

Thing is, IME, the not being able to afford X at a wedding often only applies to things the guests will benefit from.

For example, the bride wears an expensive wedding dress but none if the guests get so much as a cup of tea (without buying it for themselves).

Awful thread. Ive never been to a wedding with a free bar. The prices are probably the venues. I hope the couple dont see this it's just nasty. On one thread we are talking about how bad it is for the working poor having little cash now we are slating folk who can't throw a celebrity bash for their friends and family.