For many people,
weddings are synonymous with two words: open bar. For receptions, it's a common expectation that liquor will be free-flowing, and not only champagne, but fancy mixed drinks and top-shelf alcohol. When planning our own
wedding, my husband-to-be and I chose to take the road less traveled and have a non-alcoholic reception. I'd grown up watching crowds of people drinking at
weddings, people who'd then promptly get into their cars to drive back to their homes, often quite a distance away. It had always occurred to me, too, how easily one of those guests, potentially a beloved family member, could get into an accident. Late at night, with too much alcohol in their system, it seemed a recipe for disaster. With my own
wedding approaching, it made our decision very easy. We, ourselves, weren't really drinkers. So we chose to have a non-alcoholic
wedding. I told this to one of my coworkers, who remarked, "Well then why would anyone come?" Instead of making me rethink my decision, it made me angry. Why would anyone come? How about to celebrate my marriage, to share a special occasion with family? How about because I meant something to them? If the only reason people were coming to my
wedding was liquor, I told her, then they could go ahead and stay home then. Of course, it does raise the question: is it really possible to choose to have a non-alcoholic
wedding reception and not alienate all your guests? For some people, recovering alcoholics, for example, a non-alcoholic reception is a must. There are those, too, whose religion forbids liquor. For others, it may be a matter of budgetary concerns. Alcohol is expensive, and the per-head cost for a reception goes up significantly with the addition of an open bar. Many young couples these day are paying for their own
weddings, and the need for frugality is essential. There are others, still, for whom it's more a question of personal preference, or a strict moral code. For us, it was primarily a matter of responsibility. Neither my husband-to-be nor I was comfortable with supplying an endless flow of liquor and then having the imbibers driving home. It was a feeling that, should anything happen, we would be ultimately responsible. Our
wedding turned out wonderful. I'm quite sure there were many people who weren't happy with our choice to go non-alcoholic, but nobody voiced such a thing. And for the most part, everybody respected our wishes. So yes, I believe it is possible to have a non-alcoholic reception and not alienate your guests. These days, there are many options that make the absence of alcohol at a
wedding less of an issue. Many reception halls are happy to set up virgin tropical drink stations that will mix up an array of fancy, non-alcoholic concoctions. Plus, very often, reception halls have bars outside of the actual reception room, so those who simply must have their drinks can go and purchase one on their own. It's also not just a black and white issue. Those planning a
wedding can choose to serve liquor only at a cocktail hour prior to dinner, so there will be plenty of time for the alcohol to work its way out of the system of those drinking before they get into cars to drive home. There's also the possibility of keeping the champagne toast so that people will still get a little taste of something stronger. Ultimately, a
wedding belongs to the bride and groom. Whatever makes you the most comfortable and will make your
wedding the best it can be, that's the choice you should make. Those who love you and want to celebrate your special day will respect and honor your wishes. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com which is a site for
Wedding Invitations.
