This Just In -- Dry Weddings Make People Angry - Lemondrop.com
A chocolate fountain, a vintage photo booth, a congo band, a master cigar roller and an open bar ... Sounds like the most incredible wedding reception ever, right?
As a lucky guest at this, the unforgettable shindig of a friend, I can confirm that it was. But after the festivities were over and the headache subsided, I wondered if it would have been as much fun (or just plain dorky) without booze.
According to a recent CNN poll, 38 percent of wedding guests don't mind if the bar isn't fully stocked, but they do expect there at least be gratis beer and wine. Most are pissed by the prospect of a cash bar (5 percent won't even show up if they have to pay for their own libations). Brides and grooms trying to trim your guest list -- take note!
Yeah, it seems like a jerky thing to ask people to bring gifts and pay to toast you -- especially since a lot of us are also paying for a dress or transportation to and from the event. As a friend who is planning a wedding told me, "A cash bar is tempting because the alcohol is such a major line item in the wedding budget. But etiquette-wise, it's my party, so I should foot the bill."
"I always advise couples against cash bars," says wedding planner Aisha Gayle, owner of Con Gusto Events in New York City. "I'd rather see a limited bar -- a signature cocktail, plus wine and beer -- over a fully stocked cash bar. That said, rule number one remains 'Be true to thy budget.'"
Well, if things continue on as they are -- the U.S. treasury secretary recently warned that jobless rates may soar again -- the cash bar could become a real trend that guest may have to get used to.
No worries if you're inviting us to your wedding; we'll settle for one free glass of champagne. That's all we need to get our Electric Slide on and poppin' without feeling self-conscious. Besides, isn't a wedding supposed to be about celebrating the happy couple, not the happy hour?
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