Open bar... the norm?!

I live in the Chicago suburbs and I'd say yes open bar is normal. Or at least unlimited wine and beer with maybe a signature drink if there's no hard liquor. It sucks going to weddings that are cash bar, so I get it, but I feel Ya! It's expensive!!

I think open bars are a big thing on the east coast. I'm from the south and unless you're in a big city, cash bars are expected. My fiance is from the east coast and when I mentioned having a cash bar to him, he was surprised. So it really is about where you're located. In my area of the south, cash bars are generally the norm and not considered rude as many posters in this forum will say.

This is very common here too. For two years I worked at the country club where 75% of receptions in our hometown take place. There was only one wedding with a completely open bar all night. Most weddings were open bar for X amount of dollars and then cash bar after that point. Generally the dollar amount was high enough it lasted 3-4..so basically until 10 or 11. I'm not saying it proper or improper ettiquette..I'm just saying that what I saw!

I'm from southwest Missouri and have only ever been to dry weddings. They do not phase me in the slightest.

South Texas here, and open bars are expected. Spent 20 years in Seattle and they’re standard there too.

Where I grew up an open bar is expected. Mine will only be beer and wine because it will be outside and we have to follow town ordinances, but my family is from the Midwest, and I remember my cousin’s wedding had a few kegs they served from, and when they kicked it was a cash bar. I’m not even sure they had wine, but it was a number of years ago, and a really small town.

NJ/PA/NY wedding that I have been to have always been open bar.

I'm in CA but fiance is from the Midwest, so I've been to plenty of weddings in both areas. I've been to probably 15-20 weddings. At least half were open bar. Been to a few where wine and beer was free and you had to pay for liquor. And I've been to one dry wedding and a few cash bars. Personally, if you can do open bar that's preferred, but I think at least beer and wine should be included. Can't stand cash bars.

Southern California- every wedding I've been too or worked (~100) have been an open bar. About half are wine/beer only, but still hosted the entire event. The exception were 2 different Pentecostal weddings I did that were dry for religious reasons.

View Quoted Comment Same for me. I never heard of a dry wedding or cash bar until WW

I live in Montana and while I'll be providing an open bar, it isn't the norm here. Most weddings I've attended host beer and wine with a cash bar.

Michigan here and bars are 90% open and in my area it’s 100% expected since we have a huge Polish population and we love to drink!

Were most of the weddings you went to for younger couples? Maybe they couldn’t afford an open bar (since they are just starting out in their careers or maybe have other financial commitments like student loans or trying to buy a house)? I live in San Diego and have been to over a dozen weddings (mainly in San Diego and Los Angeles), between my mid-20’s to my early 30’s, and the weddings were mostly for friends who were around my age at the time I went to the wedding. The open bar status seemed to vary based upon the age of the couple getting married, now that I think of it. I think literally all of the weddings I’ve gone to in my 30’s had an open bar, but some of the ones I went to in my 20’s only had an open bar for a limited amount of time and then it became a cash bar (which isn’t terrible but it needs to be communicated to guests so they aren’t confused, like have the DJ announce a last call for open bar or something like that). I have only been to one dry wedding (and heard some snide comments about it) and I don’t think I’ve ever been to one that just had a cash bar.

I'm from Canada. I've only ever been to one "toonie" bar. It was a hot etiquette mess of a wedding with a "wishing well", honey fund and self-catering. I really should have guessed.

Oh and btw I think having just beer and wine is fine. I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a wedding that did that, but’s that’s actually what I’m going to do for my wedding to save costs.

I’m in CA and every wedding I’ve ever been to has been open bar.

NJ/MA... all of the weddings I’ve been to have been open bar. Never heard of anything but.

It’s definitely a norm in the New York metropolitan area. We were invited to one cash bar wedding when I was a kid and my father still talks about how horribly tacky it was. But that’s the thing to keep in mind with weddings. It’s all relative. Try not to get all caught up in what you “should” do because it’s so subjective. Do what works for you.

I've been to both....but personally all a free bar does is guarantee a bunch of drunk people at the reception. Personally, why can't people have fun if they aren't drinking????? If they want alcohol that bad then they can pay for it at a cash bar!!! Wedding receptions are expensive enough without having to pay for everyone's alcohol!!! Have a great wedding day!!

On Long Island there's usually an open bar but I'm having a small wedding so I will probably just have wine, beer and a signature cocktail.