No free bar

[DollyLlama]

I’m planning my wedding reception for June and have found a lovely venue in a football ground. Really nice, plenty of room and it’s 1 month after the wedding as were eloping to Gretna Green.

Here lies the problem. They won’t let us provide any alcohol for the tables and I’m really reluctant to have a free bar (or put money behind it) because we’re trying to keep costs really low (plus I work for their drinks supplier so I know their eye watering mark up on the drinks).

Would it be frowned upon to have a pay bar? I’ve only ever been to one wedding that had a free bar and people just went mad getting drink after drink and barely finishing it before they got the next and we just can’t afford that.

I haven’t RTFT.

All the weddings I’ve been to in the UK have had a welcome glass of champagne or prosecco upon arrival, red and white wine provided with the meal (usually about half a bottle per person), a glass of prosecco or champagne for the toasts and then a cash bar.

Most wedding venues require you to use their own cash bar after the meal. Some let you bring your own but charge such high corkage fees it’s just not worth it.

In summary, a cash bar for after dinner is normal but you should be providing wine for the meal and toasts.

My other half is French and no guest would ever be expected to pay for their own drinks at a wedding. It would be a total scandal. That’s why we decided to get married in France - we wanted to get married in England but we couldn’t find a way round the UK wedding industry’s ridiculous approach to alcohol.