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It's not out of our budget. It's not for any religious reason. And Mr. Seashell and I certainly enjoy a good drink.
So, why did I refuse an open bar?
I believe that open bars don't always bring out the best in people. And let me be clear: I don't think open bars are a bad thing, I've enjoyed many myself! But for me, it felt important to set a certain "tone" for our reception. I've been to weddings where the groom has stripped down to his pants and vest by the end of the night, groomsmen have done shots by the bar, and toasts and speeches are incoherent at best. It makes me cringe. I can take ownership of the fact that this is my own issue. Some people can laugh this off. It's not my thing.
Refusing an open bar does not mean a dry wedding. Bring on the champagne toast! Pour that wine! Crack open those carefully selected beers! And start mixing those signature drinks!
For me, choosing to hand select our drinks felt like the right choice. Like so many other elements of the day that have been considered with thoughtful detail, this is just another piece of making our day feel unique and special.
Now, I also realize I'm operating on some faulty logic here. If someone wants to get drunk, they can get schnockered on wine, beer, or signature drinks. I guess my argument is that I'm working to set a tone of our reception being an "event" and not a "party". I'm fully prepared for many of you to call me downright crazy, and I've seen the points go both ways on the boards. I'm just sharing how I came to the decision, and why it's the right one for us. It's not a judgement call on open bars - I quite enjoy them - it's just not part of my vision for our wedding.
Are you having limited drink choices? What was your reasoning?
