To drink or not to drink

Many newly engage couples and their wedding guests couldn’t imagine a celebration without adult beverages, but for those with religious or financial restrictions to serving alcohol, a “dry” wedding may seem like the best option. But, is it even socially accepted to not offer alcoholic beverages at a wedding? If your goal is to save money, is there a way for you to serve alcohol without breaking the bank?

Christa McLaughlin of Scratch Kitchen, which is headquartered in Maryland, told Events by MDM Associates that she’s catered a number of dry weddings due to couples’ religious beliefs, though she wouldn’t recommend it otherwise. “If the couple is not serving alcohol for reasons other than religious and cultural preferences, the common belief it is in poor taste to not serve alcohol,” she says. That’s not all: a recent CNN poll of 37,000 people found that just eight percent of participants said that dry weddings are just fine with them. Three percent agreed that “A dry wedding is a pain, but I’ll deal,” and the rest agreed that an open bar or even cash bar (one of the BIGGEST MISTAKES a couple can commit!) is preferable. Five percent said they wouldn’t even attend a dry wedding.