Food & Drinks Etiquette
- Question:
- My fiancé and I freaked when the caterer gave us the liquor estimate. Is it OK to have a cash bar instead?
- Answer:
Guests shouldn't have to shell out for anything at a wedding reception. But there are ways to serve liquor without getting soaked. Lisa Harris, director of catering at the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort, suggests limiting the time the bar is open—you could close it during dinner or an hour before the reception ends, offering just house wines, beer, and soft drinks. Other cost-savers: Pass up expensive premium liquors (you'll save about 15 percent), and have a sparkling-cider toast instead of passing champagne. If your caterer will allow it, buy your own liquor—that way, you can stockpile during sales and return unopened bottles for credit.
- Is it acceptable to have a cash bar?
- Is a cocktail hour essential?
- Can we do a dessert-only night reception?
- Must we accommodate guests with diets?
- Must we serve dinner at an 8 p.m. reception?
- Is an 11 a.m. reception too early for drinks?
- Can we mix ethnic cuisines at cocktail hour?
- Should we feed the planner, photographer and videographer?
- Is it tacky to have a keg at the reception?
- How do I organize a potluck reception?
- Should we offer desserts besides cake?
- Can I nix booze?
Submit Your Own Etiquette Question
Have an etiquette question you'd like our editors to answer?
- Is champagne mandatory?
- Should I have a kids' menu?
- How can I stop a guest from drinking too much?
- How should I handle vegetarians?
- Is a meat course mandatory?
- Who pays for the post-wedding brunch?
- Do I have to accommodate a vegan guest?
- Can we ask our families to serve food and tend bar during the reception?
- Do we have to serve a full meal at a 5 p.m. reception?
- Should I ask someone to help serve our keg of beer?
- Is it okay to ask guests to choose their dinner selection on the reply card?
- Is it more traditional to have a plated dinner than a buffet?
- How do I handle guests' food allergies?
- Am I supposed to supply vendors with a meal?
