From our experience and with our budget having to be reduced after me being off sick since New Years Day, we have decided not to pay for arrival drinks, but are providing canapés for our guests, as last year when we went to OH cousin wedding where she was offering bucks fizz, we noticed that most of his family didn't touch them and went straight to bar to order their own drinks, with various taste, but specific taste. We are providing wine, and soft drinks during meal, and more than enough sparkling wine for toasting, but it would be rather difficult to provide drinks for every taste when guests arrive, and my venue will not do something like a voucher per guest.
Soon to be Mrs Gary Doublé
Everything is now booked
Getting really stressed and excited now
CommentAuthorFuture mrs mac
I'm not giving any drink at the moment as its just not in my budget :( and I don't think you sound tight at all xx
CommentAuthorkirstyless
I dont think thats being tight at all. I'm not having arrival drinks. People are going to arrive at different times and some of them may not even have time to drink it, or they don't like it etc. The bar at our venue is open before the ceremony, so if they really want a drink, they can go and get one there. At the end of the day, you're paying for them to spend your special day with you...they aren't going to worry over 1 drink x
CommentAuthorStevie_Dee
I went to a wedding last October where they didn't have arrival drinks and tbh no one noticed! I think you can drive yourself mad thinking you need to provide as much as possible for your guests but at the end of the day every wedding is different and I as a guest would not expect to have an arrival drink....like you say most people will choose what they want to drink at the bar. xx
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CommentAuthoricklejaney
Im only having drinks at arrival and drinks reception as they are included in the drinks package that venue offers. We're just going for the cheaper option of sparkling wine as nobody i know would notice whether it was champagne or not! But i dont think anyone would consider you cheap. And if they do, are they really the sort of people who's opinions matter to you? I know that anyone coming to my wedding who's opinion i value would never say anything even if they did consider me cheap or about any decisions i made for my day!
Looking forward to becoming Mrs MacKay on 30th May 2013!! :)
I'd say don't bother. I think I'll be having them at mine but only because it's offered in with this really good package, other wise I wouldn't be bothering.
CommentAuthorXbox widow
CommentAuthorOfficially Mrs M
i dont think it makes that much difference hun everyone likes some things and other don't so they will sort themselves out anyway
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CommentAuthorFuture Mrs Doublé
Thanks ladies, I just wanted to make sure that nobody will judge me for this, like you say everybody has different taste and if I pick one thing I will get it wrong for a lot of them.
Soon to be Mrs Gary Doublé
Everything is now booked
Getting really stressed and excited now
CommentAuthorAntonia9
we arent having arrival drinks, the bar is open and like others have said people with be arriving at different times - directly after the ceremony there will be drinks and canapes though x
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CommentAuthorMrs van der Lee
we're giving a selection of wines and fizz for the meal but will probably tell guests to BYOB unless we manage to get a bar in budget. most would prefer BYOB I think as itll be cheaper and theyll get what they want
Sam & Adele
Mr and Mrs van der Lee
10-08-2013
CommentAuthormillz090
no your not being tight - we have been to a few weddings and no drinks provided at all and never bothered me as everyone has what they want and can afford.
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CommentAuthorJoanna
I don't think that's tight at all. At the moment we aren't providing any drinks but we will add it on if we can afford it, but right now we just cant afford it. Hopefully nobody will mind lol xx
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CommentAuthorHa_x3
You dont sound tight atall, your being realistic xx
Mrs Lunn
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CommentAuthorx~Hails~x
We are having a cash bar throughout the day instead of providing any drinks at all, as like you ive never been to a wedding where there wasnt loads left over and I find this a huge waste of money. This way they can get what they like right of the bat!
We are providing one drink.....i forgot.............hot chocolate while the photos are being done :-) And we don't have any canapeas either!
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CommentAuthorCupCake
people do the welcome drink as a tradition, I don't think you have to do it and if you're providing wine and other soft drinks with the meal you're not being tight hun x
Became Mrs Lyons 30th July 2011 x
CommentAuthorLittle Kettle
We didn't do welcome drinks. We did do a glass of prosecco for the toasts, but that was it. It was a buffet so didn't do wine with meal or anything like that. No one complained and everyone seemed perfectly happy.
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CommentAuthorLaura
hey we aren't having arrival drinks simply because we can't afford it, tho the bar will be open if people want to buy their own.. i don't think it's cheap at all. Plus we aren't having canapes as i don't like them xx
CommentAuthorprincesspixie
I think its more than reasonable to not offer a drink on arrival. Like you say everybody has different tastes and I don't know that many people who do like bucks fizz xx
Officially married my best friend 2/5/2015 (secretly)
Big wedding 18/06/2016
CommentAuthoremmaaa
Not tight at all, and anyone who thinks so does't deserve to be there!
CommentAuthorbecky -mrs firth
not tight hun i wud even cut out the canapes!!!! if ure havin 3 cours emeal sum will be left cos of canapes they have eaten
Engaged 27th November 2010
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Marrying the man of my dreams 11th August 2012!
Honeymoon To Jamaica 14th October 2012
CommentAuthorj70see
No, I dont think you are being tight at all! And I agree with the above, that if you are having a meal, cut out the canopes! I actually went to a wedding recently, where they asked us to pay for our meals at £39 per head, and that I thought was a tad tight as they asked us to do this instead of buying a present so for the two of us we were looking at 80 and i ould never have spent that on a gift! xx
CommentAuthorFuture Mrs Doublé
Got I'd never dare asking guest to pay for their meal at a wedding, its fine for birthdays, and family do as price are usually not that high, but £39 is a lot, even our meal doesn't reach £30 so. Canapes are kinda OK, as ceremony is at 12.30 then guests will arrive at reception around 2pm, and meal is served around 4pm, so I can't expect guest to wait 4pm to eat after a breakfast around 9/10am
Soon to be Mrs Gary Doublé
Everything is now booked
Getting really stressed and excited now
CommentAuthor
lysblanc you're definitely not being tight!
we've scheduled the day so that people get food and drink at sensible times. no canapés, just a quick cup of tea or coffee before the meal while photos are being done.
We're accounting for half a bottle per person at the meal (elle's family are northern, mine are scottish...!). Then, after the meal, when the evening guests arrive, there will be coffee and cake (our wedding cake). yet to decide how to work it in the evening. We'll probably provide a finite amount of wine and fruit juice but then it's up to people to buy their own from the bar.
CommentAuthorLinzi-jo
I don't think you are being tight at all! Weddings are expensive and there is no point in wasting your money on drinks that only a few people may have. I wont be having any arrival drinks at my wedding. If they want a drink then they can get one that they actually want to drink from the bar :) xx
Got together 14.02.2008
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CommentAuthorvicandsimon
i agree with becky-mrs firth to be, nearly every wedding ive been to i have noticed arrival drinks and canapes ardly get touched. im only having arrival drinks because they are included in package! x
CommentAuthorElle23
Same here, Arrival drinks (which are inc in our package and served after ceremony) but we are not offering canapes Getting married at 1pm, sit down for 3 course meal at 3.30pm Peopl can have big or late breakfast! ha
To be wed on our 10 year anniversary! 23.08.2013
CommentAuthormrs_houghton_2012
Thats not "tight" at all. We get arrival champagne as part of the package but if it wasnt for that I dont think we would part with our cash to buy everyone an arrival drink.. it should be them buying you a drink hee hee xx
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