drinking and teenagers at reception

[snow88]

I'm having a problem deciding what to do about our reception because there are a lot of children there including my teenage boys that I have had problems with concerning drinking.

 

One is old enough by Jamaica standards but I don't feel comfortable drinking around my children.

 

We are thinking of having the reception in the conference room at the hotel that we are staying at. I thought of just giving two tickets to each person for drinks at the hotel bar. Most of the people in the wedding party doesn't drink anyway. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

 

We will have champagne at the reception but my FI is insisting on getting beer for his family.

[mykidsmomtx]

If you do not feel comfortable drinking around your children, then you shouldn't. However, I don't think there is a problem with allowing other adults to drink responsibly if they choose. If your FI wants to provide beer for the adults, I don't see the issue.

 

In the end, follow your heart and gut. It makes it hard when B&G aren't on the same page on the big issues! Good luck.

[ChicagoPT]

We sort of have the same issue..my FI's little sister will be 16. We will be having an open bar so she will definatley have access to it. We are just letting his parents deal with her and decide how they want to watch her.

[SusieQ]

I do agree it becomes the parents responsibility to watch their kids... We had teens with us and they had wrist bands that prevented them from being served alcohol. I also know my stepdaugther and she was begging my son and her cousin to get her drinks... Not at the wedding but at other times and they answer was no... With that said she did get some of the resort staff to get her drinks... When I found out I freaked at her and the two staff and that was the end of her alcohol pipeline.... Use your judgement... I wouldn't say not to drinks because of the teens...

[snow88]

I didn't explain the part about the drinking around the children well. I don't feel comfortable with drinking around the children at all. Some of the other parents would have problems with it as well. That's why I wanted an adult only wedding but FI wanted the children and as I thought about that I got excited because I could have my teenagers give me away.

 

We decided to have just champagne for the toasts and then afterwards whichever adults wanted to drink, we could go somewhere and have drinks. Would this be okay? Not sure what the rules are regarding drinking.

 

If it was up to me, there would be no alcohol. I just don't want to be stressed out on my wedding day worrying about my guests getting drunk and doing something stupid in front of my children/guest's children or my children/guest's children getting alcohol from some well-meaning guest or server.

 

There are other teenagers as well as young children 1-6 yrs old in the wedding.

[mykidsmomtx]

There are no rules regarding drinking! I remember my ex-SIL was totally against drinking but let my brother have a keg at their reception. Even though she consented, she resented him for it til the day they divorced. If this is something you feel that strongly about, don't serve the alcohol during the reception. It is clear your mind is made up. Now you just need to be sure FI is onboard.

[mnh1983]

If you don't feel comfortable drinking around your kids, have an alcohol free reception and then maybe plan "cocktail time" on another day with adults.