This is a thread that was started in our old BlissWeddings.com forums by SkyeCPHT on 05/20/2004.
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posted by SkyeCPHT
Hello ya'll, I'm back. Okay we're having our reception at a restaurant, it's a dinner-only reception. We've had to opt for a dry reception because we can't afford to pick up everyone's drink tabs (that's how it would work at this place). So. I was thinking. Has anyone been to a reception where the only alcohol they had was a champagne toast? Is that weird? I'm thinking we might be able to afford like a glass of champagne for everyone for toasting, but I don't know if that's ever been done before or what. I was thinking about not doing it at all, but then I thought it would be weird to toast without champagne. So both seem kind of weird to me. Any thoughts?
cristin
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posted by HeatherR
I'll be honest, I've never been to any type of reception where alcohol wasn't served. I've been to open bars, cash bars- you name it, but never one where zero alcohol was served. I think if I went to one where the "champagne toast" wasn't even champagne, I would be like- what the hell is going on? lol...
Heather
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posted by Amanda
I think it would be ok, but like heather i've only be to weddings where the bar is open and i'm a drinkin. but serrisoully if that's all you can aford than i think it's ok. and real campagne is expensive, you can pull of a sparkling white wine. alot of wineries in california and ontario have great sparkling white wines and sometimes the real stuff tastes funny.
hope this helps!
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posted by SkyeCPHT
Thanks ladies! I, too, have only been to weddings where there has been alcohol served -- but also djs, dancing, garter toss, all that stuff. I'm not doing all that stuff. We have too small of a guest list and got this great deal on a restaurant (they wanted $30 less a head for a BIGGER cut of filet mignon -- and NO site rental fee). They will do an alcohol reception for me, but it's like the servers take the guests' orders, it's not like I buy a certain amount of alochol. I have several guests that I don't trust to be "modest" so to speak with their drinking. So I dunno, I guess I just thought a glass of champagne for everyone would be okay ... thanks!
cristin
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posted by 04bride
We just did a champagne toast for our wedding, partly for budget reasons and partly b/c my parents didn't want an open bar. I would have preferred to at least have beer and wine, but it wasn't a big deal. We did all the traditional reception events, but no one seemd to mind that there wasn't alcohol.
I think it would be nice for you to do the champagne toast for everyone. (You might want to make sure that the restaurant also has sparkling cider, for people who are unable to drink alcohol.)
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posted by wynelle
I've been to several wedding receptions where it was dry- either due to the time of day, cost factors or moral issues. But in each of those, when the toasting started, out came the bottles of champagne (and sparkling cidar), so no, it isn't unusual.
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posted by SkyeCPHT
Okay great! I'm glad to be reassured. And thanks for the tip about the sparkling cider too -- I will make sure to ask the restaurant about that. I didn't even think of that! Thanks!
cristin
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posted by wynelle
I just remembered... many churches will not allow liquor to be served in the Fellowship Hall areas!
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posted by gymrat
My hubby and I toasted with water at our wedding. He does not drink at all and I only like a few alcohol beverages which would not have been appropriate to toast with in my opinion.
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posted by syringa
I am a wedding coordinator. Receptions with only a champagne toast or a sparkling cider toast and no alcohol are quite common. Depending on the location of the reception, if the facility doesn't have its own in-house alcohol service, we have to pay a bar catering service to come in and set up and we have to get a special permit from the city to serve alcohol (these are city and county requirements). If many of the guests don't drink, it isn't worth the cost involved to have even a champagne toast.
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posted by SkyeCPHT
Thanks for your input! I'm glad to hear from a wedding coordinator that it isn't uncommon. Thanks again ladies!
cristin
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posted by feb-bride
I've been to a few "dry" receptions, and it is fine to serve champagne for the toasting only. I wouldn't think it was odd or weird.
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posted by TheaterDiva1
I went to a wedding at a botanical garden, and alcohol wasn't allowed. We did have champagne for the toast though. Not weird at all, and a great money saver on alcohol.
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posted by SkyeCPHT
Thanks everyone for boosting my confidence on this one. I have been excessively worried about "what other people will think"... my fiance is great at letting things roll off his back but I tend to dwell too long on things. Our premarital counselor keeps telling me "Don't worry what other people think -- this is YOUR day" and I've been trying to abide by that... sometimes I just can't help it though. Thanks again!
cristin
Champagne Toast at a Dry Reception
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