Will our guests miss the alcohol at a brunch reception

Question

We're having an 11:30am brunch reception following our morning ceremony, and we're considering skipping the liquor and serving hot cocoa, apple cider and sparkling juices at our Christmastime wedding. Personally, I wouldn't be up for having champagne at that hour, but do you think anyone will miss the alcohol? I know there are some guests attending who assume weddings and alcohol go hand in hand, which I don't think has to necessarily be the case.

What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

Thats perfectly fine.I think alot of people wouldn't want to drank around that time,anyway.Dont have to have liqour to have a good time.

Answer 2

When I think brunch, I think of mimosas and bloody mary's...but if you want a dry wedding..then have a dry wedding. people will get over it.  

Answer 3

If you don't want to serve hard alcohol, you can serve a nice spiked punch, along with your other beverages.

Answer 4

I wouldn't expect a morning wedding to have alcohol. It seems a bit disturbing to serve liquor before noon anyways. I agree with you on the juice and cider.

Answer 5

I don't think it will matter too much. It is your day, not theirs.

If you do want to serve something you could serve mimosas and bloody marys. both are acceptable early drinks.

hope i helped!

Answer 6

i think guests will miss alcohol. i've been to brunch receptions before and they always had 'memosa'  which is orange juice mixed with champagne.  

Answer 7

I really think it would be fine to just serve what you are planning (I'm having a Christmas wedding too and we were going to serve hot apple cider and hot chocolate instead of alcohol at our cocktail hour).

If you are that concerned you could have some alcohol available on a consumption bar basis, because I really don't think it would cost you much money at all, since few people will drink that early.  Or you could do punches with some alcohol in them if people chose to drink them (like champagne and orange juice).  You could also limit the alcohol to certain morning drinks like bloody mary's and champagne/vodka and orange juice, etc.

I think you can skip the alcohol all together, but if you are worried you do have relatively inexpensive options for those that *must* have a drink at a wedding. (I know there are some people that think it's just mandatory to always have it available to mark the occasion, thus we were ARE having alcohol at our cocktail hour on top of the open bar after dinner, but I think it's silly).

Good Luck!

Answer 8

Honestly, I don't know anyone who drinks alcohol with breakfast foods unless they are alcoholic. I wouldn't worry about it. I wouldn't drink alcohol that early either.

And lots of people drink hot cider or cocoa in the morning as an alternative to coffee or tea so I would definitely keep those. You could serve sodas and juice as well.

Answer 9

Good question, I am having a brunch too on a Sunday in June.

We are having a true champagne brunch with mimosas and raspberry kir royals and champagne.

We were back and forth on this too, we have currently added unlimited wine to our catering package, but it is really expensive and I am not sure how many will actually drink it on a Sunday. The mimosas and kir royals and champagne are included as part of our package.

Our ceremony is a noon and we have a hors'doeuvers hour scheduled and then a sit down brunch with 2 options"

Crepes Maison if you want breakfast-type food

Chicken Flora if you want a more lunch type meal.

We will conclude around 4pm. ( no dancing or anything- just a string quartet with a flutist)

I will be interested to see the answers you get. My guests are avid wine drinkers... so I kinda hate not not have that option . And our theme is vintage French and France and wine are synonomous.

But if it is going to be a waste of money I would rather nix it.

Answer 10

Personally, I would not drink any liqour that early in the morning. However, maybe you can offer just wine or champagne? You could honestly go either way, its entirely how you want the atmopshere to feel like at your wedding. Good luck.

Answer 11

Most guest would probably think its cute the change of drinks. For the ones that dont, they can shut up and complain. Besides any alcohol before noon, well kinda gets you considered as alcoholic last I check. I'm sure you as the bride would be up for it though. lol

Answer 12

Brunch, and during Yuletide to boot? Do yourselves a favour and make it a champagne breakfast. Hot cocoa suggests you're about to gather around the tree and sing carols next.

Answer 13

With my family they would expect Bloody Mary's or Screwdrivers or Bellini's so I wouldn't think twice about serving alcohol for a brunch. The sparkling juices will be a nice touch, especially if you serve them in wine glasses or champagne flutes with a strawberry in the glass to make it a bit festive.  Rather than hot coccoa have some flavored hot teas (less mess and staining if spilled) and coffee with a nice assortment of flavored creamers.

Answer 14

If there was champagne at that hour, I would drink it. But I wouldnt drink any other type of alcohol.

That said, I definitely would not miss it or question why it wasnt there at 11:30am! So your plan is completely acceptable.

I probably wouldnt have hot cocoa or cider though, those are night time drinks for me. I would choose the sparkling juice.  

Answer 15

You should have champagne, at the very least.

And PLENTY of people drink before noon!

Yep, the guests are gonna be peeved if there's no alcohol served, or at least available.

If you do decide to have a dry reception, let the guests know ahead of time so they can sneak their own flasks in.  And they will.

Your guests will be out the door as soon as it's remotely polite to do so.  Please believe me.

Answer 16

I agree with you! I'm doing something very similar, not just because of the time of day, but also because I hate being around drunk people. I love the beverages you're serving! I think it'll be awesome.

Our reception will start at 11:30am too, and we're serving non-alcoholic punch & sparkling grape juice instead of alcohol. It is perfectly acceptable to not serve alcohol at your wedding no matter what time of day it is. It's your party, and if you don't want to spend hundreds of dollars just to have everyone get obnoxious, loud, & mentally-impaired, then don't. Your guests should appreciate that they were invited to share the happiest day of your life with you and that they get a free meal.

Have fun, and congratulations!

Answer 17

With brunch, a mimosa would be nice.  Or maybe a Bloody Mary?

I certainly don't believe a full bar is necessary.  But a mimosa at brunch would be nice.

That said . . .

If it is not in the budget, alcohol is not necessary.

If you have religious reasons to be against alcohol, then serving alcohol is not necessary.

If you don't want to tempt any alcoholics in the family, then alcohol is not necessary.

But yes, a mimosa at a brunch reception would be nice.  And yes, I would miss it.  

Note to some who responded:  It doesn't make a person an alcoholic to have one mimosa at a wedding reception.

Answer 18

no that sounds ok, specialy if there are kids present

i'd say the rule is if there is kids present there is no alcohol, except for if there is a sit down dinner, then you serve a glass or two for dinner

drunk + kids =/= ok

Answer 19

Hi.  NO, you do not need to serve alcohol at that time.

Since you are having brunch, have you thought about serving Mamosas?  These are served in a champange flute with 1/2 champagne and 1/2 orange juice.  These are my FAVORITE drinks for a brunch.  We have them all the time at Christmas.  Mmmmmmmmm.

But, if you want to totally skip any kind of alcohol, that is perfectly fine.

Answer 20

That is a good idea u have. There maybe some that will think of alcohol at that time but not all of them. the ones that will think about it will be a very very small portion of the group. If they want to drink alcohol they can bring there own. But alot of ppl doesn't need alcohol to have a good time. U have a good idea on having hot cocoa, apple cider and sparkling Juice. The all sound good. I would definately have the hot coca. I so craving that now. But enjoy ur day. If anyone says anything about why isn't there any alcohol say it was ur choice and u feel like u made the right decision. Which u did make the right choice. Me I am a drinker but if I go to a reception and there is no alcohol I respect that and I always have a better time when there is no booze.  

Answer 21

I think what you are doing is neat and something new and refreshing from the regular.

If you choose that you want to serve alcahol I have a perfect idea!!

I'm pry going to say it wrong but "Memosas" It's just one part orange juice and one part champaign.

It's really, really tasty... not overdone and quite refreshing. I've also heard of 1 part apple cider 1 part apple juice and 1 part champaign.

Either way it's your day and do what you like!