Hello everyone! We're getting married in 2019, and we're thinking about...

Hi I think it is a great idea we wanted to have an ice cream van but our venue has no access for one :)

I'd say that's fine as you're having a free bar, we're having a bar but people will have to pay for their drinks x

i got talked out of having a free bar by a few people who had it at their weddings, as people get silly & just leave drinks laying around & get new ones as they are not paying.. my dad is buying the first round of drinks & we are providing the table wines but the bar isn't free.. we are paying for everything else for the guests though & everyone seems happy about that.. personally i would rather pay for my drinks than pay for my food at a wedding xx

My venue talked me out of a free bar as they said they saw weddings ruined through people ripping it! I went for a more expensive drinks package and they flowed it through the day. My guest said that they never had to put their hands in their pocket and the drink flowed all day. The sounds odd but I wouldn't mind paying for a drink as I would expect to at a wedding but not sure how I would feel about buying food from a van x

I'd do it it the opposite way round. Have people buy thier drinks and provide food for free. Personally I'd prefer to pay for drinks (and to be honest would expect to pay for my drinks) than food at a wedding x but if you do go with the free bar and guests paying for light snacks of an evening I'd just put a little note on the invites so guests are aware. Have a lovely day xx

we done a wedding with my mums burger van a few weeks ago now charged 4£ ahead and that was for a meal of burger and chips or hot dog and chips we also put on salad so people could help there selfs. we had a alot of good feed back from the groom

My package includes drinks up to the ceremony, wine on each table and then guests have to pay from the bar :)

I agree I it would be better to have people pay for their drinks instead as that's expected but I have never heard of a wedding where you have to pay for your food. My friend had an ixe cream van and that was our favour. She gave us all a ticket for a free ice cream xx

I'd charge for drinks rather than food - I used to work in a bar at functions and even the most sensible people go crazy with a free bar. Maybe do the first round free.
People will also eat less if they have to pay so will get even more drunk. Sounds like a recipe for disaster tbh.

I would agree with some of the other comments and have your guests pay for the bar and not the food. Free bars are a great idea in principle but fraught with risk! absolute guarantee is that at least someone will abuse it. There's also more risk of running out of certain drinks and then making people unhappy. The last thing you want is to risk having your special day ruined. Very few 'normal' Weddings expect a free bar these days. (Unless you've recently had all 6 numbers come up!). Best of luck though ⭐️

We had a pizza van! It was the best!!! It was expensive so we asked if we could pay a hire fee and then let guests buy the pizza but the guy said he wouldn't be willing to do that, he's tried it in the past and it didn't work so in the end we just paid the whole price. Good job too because on the night I said to some guests "oh have you had some pizza?" And they say "no I've got no cash to go and buy it" and I was like "no it's paid for!!" So they all went and had some!!! They guy was right all along. It was definitely worth splashing out for though. We had to sacrifice canapés and candy cart to pay for it but it was well worth it and nobody missed the stuff we sacrificed

I'd put a bit of money behind the bar, maybe give out set amount of drinks vouchers?? And use money saved on food? I think 99.9% of people will expect to pay for drinks xxx

I'd do it the opposite way round, people are used to buying their drinks at a wedding nowadays and if you offer a free bar you run the risk of people getting silly. We're having burger van for our main meal and a pizza van for evening food, both are really reasonably priced xx

Swap over would be my advice.
When you say providing own alcohol - are you having a proper bar or just bringing lots of booze in?
Free food is better and also a pizza van may not come along without minimum take guarantees

I definitely agree with the others. Get everyone to pay for there drinks rather the food. I think the guests will expect to pay for there drinks but not food. X

If I went to a wedding I'd expect to pay for my own drinks but not my food. If it was me I'd provide the food and let everyone buy their drinks. I've heard plenty of horror stories about free bars. X

We had a woodfired pizza company £1000 for over 200 pizzas we had 250 guests 50 of those kids so this was perfect he did gluten free for some guests and even did chocolate pizzas for the kids went above and beyond. I would get someone to do your bar and pay for the food for he evening guests are quite happy to pay for drinks but maybe a bit funny to ask them to pay for the food.... you know your guests but j would not like to have asked people to pay for food. My mil paid for all the drinks until the food was finished then everyone was expected to pay for their own after that. They got a Mason jar cocktail on arrival and then two bottles of wine per table of 6 which was more than enough and then a toast drink. More than enough def stay clear from free bar as people end up getting wasted xx

Maybe do a couple of drinks tokens for your guests and pay for the food? I agree with a lot of the other comments on here x

I'd expect to pay for my drinks,not my food

Why don't you go for an honesty box with the drinks?

Personally I don't see it as a problem. Most evening guests will eat before they come as well so just something to bare in mind. Congrats and Good luck xx