Weddings??? Happy hour?

I don't find it very important at all to include happy hour at a wedding reception.

It all kind of depends on the guests you are expecting. If there are some that have an alcohol problem or anger problem -beware!

It would be a shame for a beautiful day to be ruined because of some drunk, stupid idiots.

Also, it should depend on what the bride and groom think. It is their special day and if they want it and can afford it - they should have it.

If they decide to have it I think happy hour should be before dinner.

Happy hour is not required. I think having a champagne fountain at the time of arrival and maybe spend the $$ on

appetizers. Or find one signature drink for you as a couple and offer that drink and possibly wine or beer.

Sometimes your caterer can offer a great deal based on an added per person price to the menu cost. Problem,if you have a number of people under the legal drinking age, you are still paying per head. Also open bars tend to have some people over indulging. I have been at several weddings recently were the first hour was open bar or signature cocktails with appetizers, dinner, then cake/dessert with coffee. Any drinking after that was cash bar. No reason to go broke having to worry about serving drinks. Spend the $$ of the food and specialities.

Enjoy

Personally, I think open bar is a must for a wedding. IMO, it's just common etiquette. When you invited your guests to your wedding, you did so with an open invitation. Regardless of where the event is held, you should provide everything your guests could need.

Would you invite these same people to your house, only to tell them they need to buy their glass of wine or cup of beer from you? I hope not.

I know lots of people say, "Well, why should people drink on my tab. Why do I need to support people getting drunk?"

Well, my answer to that is... Again, you are the host/hostess. Growing up I was taught, feed and give people all the drinks they need. If you don't, you look ill prepared and cheap. It's just not good friendly hosting skills, to invite someone to your affair and expect them to pay.

As for getting drunk. I'd like to know what kind of people you hang out with. By having open bar all night, you are not asking people to get drunk. You are actually giving them the opportunity to enjoy the bar at their leisure throughout the night. Every wedding I've been to had open bar, I've never seen anyone get drunk and ruin someone else's day.

Some people only drink with dinner, after dinner or before dinner. If you limit the bar to a certain time, you are limiting those people's access to it.

Open bar, if done correctly, isn't that costly. Many reception sites have fix amounts for open bar. Meaning, the cost of the meal is $50 and then open bar is an extra $20 a person. But, it's completely unlimited. That's means, you can't be charged more or less. You can plan your guest list and budget according to the fix amount at your venue.

People act like open bar costs millions of dollars.

It should be before dinner, maybe an hour before dinner, You see Happy hour is at 4 technically till 5 or 6, I dont know thats how i was raised anyway, then when you ready to serve the cake then have champagne for everyone or wine, after dinner,

The fluffy dresses you are asking about is a tradition that the more money a family had, the bigger the dress and would be and the material would be expensive. Families without a ton of cash, often copied the dresses of wealthier girls, using a much more affordable material. The bride wears white because it is a symbol of being innocent and pure (virgin) on her wedding day. She walks down the aisle with her father because he is giving her away (so to speak) to her future husband. As far as how much people spend is their choice. It can get a little crazy!