Cash Bar Invitation Wording For Your Wedding Reception

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If you’re going to be horrified by a cash bar, stop reading now! Cause I’ll be honest - I’m a fan. When I go to a wedding, it’s to celebrate a marriage and show support for people I love. If they can’t afford to pour free drinks all night, I’m ok with that. The only time it’s a problem is when I don’t know ahead of time. If there’s a cash bar I want to bring enough money to buy a drink or two.

Common etiquette has a lot to say about including cash bar information on the invitation. But common sense says that if it’s on the invitation - I’ll know to bring some money.

Is Having a Cash Bar Tacky?

No. When you’re planning a wedding, don’t pay any attention to people who call things tacky. We all have different taste, and that’s ok. But making judgements and proclaiming things “tacky” is just a way of trying to shame you, police you and make you feel bad. Don’t fall for it. If someone doesn’t like what you’re doing, the easiest thing to do is simply agree with them. Say “yes, we do have different taste.”

Then go ahead and do what you want anyway.

Open Bar, Host Bar or Cash Bar?

If you don’t have the budget for a full open bar, you can offer a limited bar or a subsidized bar instead. If you’re still undecided or if you’re not sure how a cash bar works, read this next: Best Bar Service For Your Wedding: Open Bar vs Host Bar vs Cash Bar.

How to Say Cash Bar Tactfully

You just say it! I know, I know. Mentioning a cash bar online can trigger a lot of drama. But it doesn’t have to. Cash bars are common in a lot of communities. If you’re having one, don’t stress about it. It’s that easy - just write it in, at the bottom of your invitation.

Will there be drama? Maybe. But people who care more about free drinks than celebrating your marriage shouldn’t bother coming to your wedding anyway.

What to Write on Your Wedding Invitations

Follow the traditional format for your wedding invitations and add your reception details at the bottom. Here’s a quick rundown of what to include on your wedding invites. Choose the wording that best suits your wedding style: formal, semi formal or casual.

Name of the hosts:

This could be one set of parents, two sets of parents, step parents or anyone in between. If the couple is hosting, you can skip this line altogether.

The couples’ names:

Including your middle names makes the invitation more formal. If you’re having a very traditional wedding, include your middle names. If your wedding is semi-formal or casual, you might want to use only your first and last names.

For example: “Ronald Bilious Weasley” is much more formal than “Ron Weasley”.

Decide which form suits your wedding best and use that on your invitations.

A request to come to your wedding:

“Invite you to a celebration of their marriage”
“Request the pleasure of your company at their wedding”

Date and time:

If your wedding’s more formal, write the time in words instead of numbers.

Formal wording: “at five o’clock in the afternoon”.
If your wedding’s going to be casual, use the numbers “at 5:00 pm”.

Location:

Include the name of the venue and the complete address

With some invitation suites, you’ll have a separate reception card. This type of suite is usually used when the ceremony and reception are at different locations.
Other invitations have the reception information at the bottom of a single invitation card. These are best when the ceremony and reception are both at the same venue.

Tell your guests when and where the reception is:

You can say “Reception immediately following”.

Or if the reception is at a different location, you can say “Reception to follow at (time) and (location)”.

If your reception has a non-traditional style, venue or menu, try to help your guests be prepared by adding a line to let them know:

“Cake and punch reception to follow”
“Wedding brunch to follow”
“Celebration breakfast to immediately follow”
“Cocktail party to follow at (location)”
“Dinner & dancing under the stars, at the residence of (name & address)”

Wedding website:

If you want to include your wedding website, add it to the bottom of the card:

“Please RSVP at yourweddingwebsite.com”
“For more information visit yourweddingwebsite.com”

Wedding Invitation Wording Samples

If you need to include information about your cash bar, limited bar or subsidized bar, go ahead and add it at the bottom, with the rest of the reception information. If your invitation suite has a separate reception card, include the information there.

Invitation Wording if You’re Having a Cash Bar at Your Reception

If it’s a straight up cash bar, where your guests buy all their own drinks, add the line “cash bar”.

Another Way to Say “Cash Bar” Without Saying It

“Cash bar” may not suit every couple’s wedding invitation. Luckily, there are a few other ways you can let your guests know to bring cash without necessarily using the term “cash bar”.

No-host bar
Cash drinks
Drinks on the guests
Dinner is on us. The drinks are on you.
Dinner included. Alcohol extra.
All drinks free except alcoholic drinks.
Bring cash for spirits and alcohol.
For bar drinks, please bring cash.
Bar service available for cash.
We’ve provided a bar service. Drinks will be provided with cash.

Invitation Wording if You’re Having a Limited Bar at Your Reception

If you’re offering a limited selection of free or subsidized drinks, let your guests know ahead of time. Keep it as simple as possible. Don’t write too many words or your guests will end up confused. Basically, they just need to know how much money to bring.

If you’re providing wine, beer or signature drinks, with no opportunity to purchase more:

you don’t need to mention it on the invitation.

If you’re providing wine and beer with cocktails available for purchase:

“Hosted wine & beer. Cocktails available at cash bar.”
“Hosted wine & beer. Cash bar available.”

If you’re providing wine, beer and signature drinks, with additional cocktails at a cash bar:

“Hosted wine, beer & cocktails. Cash bar also available.”

If you’re hosting an open bar at cocktail hour, but switching to a cash bar during the dancing:

“Hosted bar during cocktail hour. Cash bar available after dinner.”
“Open bar during cocktail hour. Cash bar available after dinner.”

Invitation Wording if You’re Having a Subsidized Bar

If you’re offering a subsidized bar with $2 drinks, your reception is probably on the casual side. It’s ok if your wording on the invitations is more casual, too:

“$2 drinks all night.”
“Cash bar - every drink $2”

If You’re Offering an Open bar to a Certain Time

“Hosted bar till 10:00pm. Cash bar till 12:00.”
“Open bar till 10:00pm. Cash bar till 12:00.”

If You’re Offering 2 Free Drinks Per Guest:

“2 free drink tickets. Cash bar available.”

In a perfect world we’d all have unlimited budgets. We’d buy the designer dress and we’d serve prime rib and lobster. And we’d offer unlimited, top shelf alcohol.

Except, nobody does. We’ve all got budgets to stick to. If you’re having a cash bar, don’t listen to anyone talk trash. Your wedding is to celebrate you and your partner and your guests are coming to share your happiness.

Choose the bar service that suits you and your budget. Concentrate on celebrating your marriage with the people you love and everything else will fall into place.