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Couple Make Their Wedding Dry Without Warning The Guests, Get Mad When They Start Leaving
Couple Make Their Wedding Dry Without Warning The Guests, Get Mad When They Start Leaving
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Couple Make Their Wedding Dry Without Warning The Guests, Get Mad When They Start Leaving

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There are various reasons why people look forward to weddings. Some are excited to see all the people they don’t get to meet as often, while others can’t wait for food, drinks, and entertainment. There are also those who simply want to get loose, escape from their daily routines, and relax. 

Redditor Radiant_List_9993 was hoping to do just that. However, she became skeptical when she found out there would be no alcohol at the celebration. Starting to get bored, she, her husband, and some of the bride’s friends left the wedding early, causing quite the drama.

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    A wedding without alcohol is a great option for those who want to preserve their health, save money, and even avoid rude guests

    Image credits: Victoria Priessnitz / Unsplash (not the actual photo)

    However, this woman wasn’t happy when she showed up to a dry wedding without knowing

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    Image credits: Spora Weddings / Pexels (not the actual photo)

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    Image credits: Radiant_List_9993

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    8% of couples choose to have a wedding without alcohol

    According to wedding data, 8% of couples choose to have a celebration without alcohol. This is great news for 24% of adult guests who already opt out of alcohol-free drinks on such occasions. 

    Liz Taylor, CEO of a leading wedding and events management company, the Taylor Lynn Corporation, has been in the industry for over 35 years and has never seen such a need for dry or low-alcohol weddings, with the demand rising nearly a third in the last two to three years. 

    “Alcohol just doesn’t hold the same significance for a growing number of our wedding clients,” Taylor explains. “Even in celebrations that aren’t completely teetotal, we’re being asked to put more emphasis on developing innovative non or low alcohol drinks’ menus for the big day.”

    Such growth in popularity can be attributed to the emphasis on health, mental well-being, and mindful consumption in recent years. Dry weddings allow couples to have a unique and meaningful celebration without all the risks that come with alcohol. Not to mention the amount of money they save by excluding alcohol from their wedding menu. 

    The high-quality non-alcoholic alternatives that the retail and hospitality industries now have to offer also contribute to this trend. “Many of these drinks use sustainably sourced botanicals to create a unique drink that doesn’t need to mimic alcohol. It stands alone as an elegant toast or reception drink,” Taylor says.

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    However, she notes, that taking the spirit out of the drinks doesn’t mean that the party has to be boring. A big part of it is how the beverages are presented. “Reimagining the service of your drink and adding that extra element of theatre by offering cocktails in everything from mini milk bottles and copper mugs to China teacup.” Such a wow factor makes them simply forget about the lack of spirit inside, she adds. 

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    Communicating in advance about having a dry wedding can save a lot of dissatisfaction and misunderstandings

    When it comes to announcing such a wedding preference to guests, it can be helpful to set the expectation ahead of time. The best way to do this is to include the no-alcohol policy in the invitation. “Try phrasing it in an informative and inviting way, such as: ‘We are delighted to share this special day with you and kindly ask that no alcoholic beverages are brought to ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration for all of us,'” says Jacqueline Vizcaino, owner of Tinted Events Design and Planning. 

    “If you want to put a positive spin on it, add a line about how you look forward to celebrating with them more healthily and mindfully.” Adding some information about the selection of drinks and food available at the party might give the guests a little something to look forward to.  

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    Communicating in advance about having a dry wedding can also save a lot of dissatisfaction and misunderstandings during the celebration, like guests leaving the party early. Commenting on the redditor’s situation, therapist Rachel Goldberg said to Fox News that if guests knew there was going to be an event without alcohol, they could’ve chosen whether they wanted to attend the wedding or not. 

    Goldberg concluded that Radiant_List_9993 wasn’t wrong for leaving as she “had certain expectations about the wedding.” So she decided to make the most of her trip when those weren’t met. “On the other hand, the bride understandably felt upset because her special day didn’t go as she had hoped, and she was disappointed her friends didn’t show up for her as she expected,” Goldberg continued. “Better communication beforehand, especially knowing her friends’ preferences, could have helped avoid these misunderstandings,” she said.

    Some readers found such women’s behavior rude

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    Meanwhile, others justified her actions

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    Austeja Zokaitė

    Austeja Zokaitė

    Writer, Community member

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    Hi, glad you swung by! My name is Austėja, and in the past, I was a writer at Bored Panda. In my time here, I’ve covered some fun topics such as scrungy cats and pareidolia, as well as more serious ones about mental health and relationship hiccups. You can check them out below! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them:)

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    Austeja Zokaitė

    Austeja Zokaitė

    Writer, Community member

    Hi, glad you swung by! My name is Austėja, and in the past, I was a writer at Bored Panda. In my time here, I’ve covered some fun topics such as scrungy cats and pareidolia, as well as more serious ones about mental health and relationship hiccups. You can check them out below! I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them:)

    What do you think ?
    The_Nicest_Misanthrope
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll never understand why it's so hard for people to go ONE NIGHT without drinking - it's sad AF. YTA.

    Zedrapazia
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Seriously, it's a wedding, not a party. It sounds so fücking sad that these people genuinely can't have fun without alcohol, or if they are that desperate at least suck it up for a single day to make the newlyweds happy. What an arrogance!

    Load More Replies...
    Super Beast
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dear pandas, remember, if you're getting married, you should get the invitees drunk because they will choose alcohol over you /s

    Ace
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like so many of the replies to the reddit thread and on here, this one seems to be unable to distinguish between having a couple of drinks in a social setting and getting shïtfaced drunk.

    Load More Replies...
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    Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It wasnt a dry wedding to spite the guests, the groom is an alcoholic. The OP is an a*****e for not going to the reception, for drawing attention to it, and for trying to find drinking buddies at a wedding.

    Royal Stray
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP framing it like an after party, and not the part of the wedding where you'd typically eat/ have cake or whatever makes me a bit confused as to what went on at the reception. Was the plan for the guests to just stand around and chat? Did they have a band or a DJ? Were there food or cake? I do think OP had every right to just stay for a little bit, then say her good byes and go out and have some drinks. But I don't think it was very gracious of her to invite half of the guests out with her during the wedding

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    EmAdoresHerKats🇮🇪🇩🇿🇵🇸
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Firstly need to say this what kind of a wedding ends at 11pm? The weddings in Ireland start around mid morning for the ceremony, then we go to dinner then the dancing starts, a disco or whatever, a buffet half way through and then we are off dancing again. We leave around 2 or 3am. Secondly, she should have said it was dry, you can't just spring that on people. I've been to a few dry weddings that were great craic. I think maybe the couple were a bit dry themselves and that's why it was boring. If the wedding was over at 11 I don't think leaving at 9.30 was a bad thing. So NTA

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The "optics" are not the problem. The bride finding out her friends would prefer bar hopping to her wedding is the problem. That's devastating. OP even says they are in town for a few days, why not drink on the other days? Bride is better off without them, but it's a hard truth to face.

    Alexandra
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh sorry, thought you went to a wedding because you were friends with the bride. Turns out you're just there for the free booze. Of course it's absolutely impossible to do without alchohol for a few hours and of course if a wedding is boring, even if it's the wedding of a friend, you can't be expected to stay put for this friend. The bride obviously mistook you for a friend. Shame on you!

    Moosy Girl
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely TA, not for leaving, but for the way she went about it. Besides: “We got a Vrbo with another couple I went to college with for a few days.” Sounds like they could’ve gone boozing another night.

    Marianne
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ESH. You can absolutely have a dry wedding, but you should mention it beforehand, so people can manage their expectations. On the other hand, OP WAS the ringleader of a group who left the wedding together, because they thought the wedding was boring and wanted to get drunk. If all of my friends did that to me on my wedding, I would be devastated.

    Justin Smith
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bo you shouldnt. People should jot assume that someone will have booze at a wedding.

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    Deborah B
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    YTA. Not for leaving at 9.30 - it's fine to slip out before the end. The a*****e part is making it known to your friend group that you're leaving to go party - it created a competing "event" in people's minds, and resulted in a large group leaving all at once. You don't steal the attention from the couple - not to make your own announcement, not to propose, and not to tell all the bride's mates "Hey, we're going to hit a bar and party for the rest of the night, wanna join?"

    Sarah Matsoukis
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I find it disgusting how alcohol became the norm for everything.

    Malfar
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was deeply surprised by one episode of a superhero show The Flash, where side characters said that the protagonist's accelerated metabolism that doesn't allow him to get drunk is a serious problem and devised a "super alcohol" so that even the protagonist could "have fun". It's almost like saying "You MUST drink or you are a no-lifer". Disgusting.

    Load More Replies...
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    The_Nicest_Misanthrope
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'll never understand why it's so hard for people to go ONE NIGHT without drinking - it's sad AF. YTA.

    Zedrapazia
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Seriously, it's a wedding, not a party. It sounds so fücking sad that these people genuinely can't have fun without alcohol, or if they are that desperate at least suck it up for a single day to make the newlyweds happy. What an arrogance!

    Load More Replies...
    Super Beast
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Dear pandas, remember, if you're getting married, you should get the invitees drunk because they will choose alcohol over you /s

    Ace
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like so many of the replies to the reddit thread and on here, this one seems to be unable to distinguish between having a couple of drinks in a social setting and getting shïtfaced drunk.

    Load More Replies...
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    Joey Jo Jo Shabadoo
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It wasnt a dry wedding to spite the guests, the groom is an alcoholic. The OP is an a*****e for not going to the reception, for drawing attention to it, and for trying to find drinking buddies at a wedding.

    Royal Stray
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OP framing it like an after party, and not the part of the wedding where you'd typically eat/ have cake or whatever makes me a bit confused as to what went on at the reception. Was the plan for the guests to just stand around and chat? Did they have a band or a DJ? Were there food or cake? I do think OP had every right to just stay for a little bit, then say her good byes and go out and have some drinks. But I don't think it was very gracious of her to invite half of the guests out with her during the wedding

    Load More Replies...
    EmAdoresHerKats🇮🇪🇩🇿🇵🇸
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Firstly need to say this what kind of a wedding ends at 11pm? The weddings in Ireland start around mid morning for the ceremony, then we go to dinner then the dancing starts, a disco or whatever, a buffet half way through and then we are off dancing again. We leave around 2 or 3am. Secondly, she should have said it was dry, you can't just spring that on people. I've been to a few dry weddings that were great craic. I think maybe the couple were a bit dry themselves and that's why it was boring. If the wedding was over at 11 I don't think leaving at 9.30 was a bad thing. So NTA

    FreeTheUnicorn
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The "optics" are not the problem. The bride finding out her friends would prefer bar hopping to her wedding is the problem. That's devastating. OP even says they are in town for a few days, why not drink on the other days? Bride is better off without them, but it's a hard truth to face.

    Alexandra
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh sorry, thought you went to a wedding because you were friends with the bride. Turns out you're just there for the free booze. Of course it's absolutely impossible to do without alchohol for a few hours and of course if a wedding is boring, even if it's the wedding of a friend, you can't be expected to stay put for this friend. The bride obviously mistook you for a friend. Shame on you!

    Moosy Girl
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Definitely TA, not for leaving, but for the way she went about it. Besides: “We got a Vrbo with another couple I went to college with for a few days.” Sounds like they could’ve gone boozing another night.

    Marianne
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    ESH. You can absolutely have a dry wedding, but you should mention it beforehand, so people can manage their expectations. On the other hand, OP WAS the ringleader of a group who left the wedding together, because they thought the wedding was boring and wanted to get drunk. If all of my friends did that to me on my wedding, I would be devastated.

    Justin Smith
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bo you shouldnt. People should jot assume that someone will have booze at a wedding.

    Load More Replies...
    Deborah B
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    YTA. Not for leaving at 9.30 - it's fine to slip out before the end. The a*****e part is making it known to your friend group that you're leaving to go party - it created a competing "event" in people's minds, and resulted in a large group leaving all at once. You don't steal the attention from the couple - not to make your own announcement, not to propose, and not to tell all the bride's mates "Hey, we're going to hit a bar and party for the rest of the night, wanna join?"

    Sarah Matsoukis
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I find it disgusting how alcohol became the norm for everything.

    Malfar
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was deeply surprised by one episode of a superhero show The Flash, where side characters said that the protagonist's accelerated metabolism that doesn't allow him to get drunk is a serious problem and devised a "super alcohol" so that even the protagonist could "have fun". It's almost like saying "You MUST drink or you are a no-lifer". Disgusting.

    Load More Replies...
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