Pay bar or pay up?

Are you shy about asking guests to bring their own funds to buy their own drinks once they've left the wedding meal?

If you're Richie Rich and cleared funds at the end of a long wedding day won't be a problem to you, you could invite everyone to crash the bar by providing free drinks and pick up the tab at the end of the evening. But your middle name isn't Madonna, and you will most likely not want to see glasses of wasted drinks, because that is what usually happens if guests have no need to count the cost.

Paying for everything is beyond the purse of many and it is an accepted practice for the bride and groom and/or their parents to put a smallish sum of money behind the bar and for guests who want to drink more, to pay for their own, once that sum has been used. You could meet your guests half way, and keep the costs down, by paying for any soft drinks, teas and coffees.

It is still advisable to get a quote, say on bottled beer or glasses of house wine, and ensure that prices are reasonable for your money, and will last a realistic time.