"Goomba38" > wrote in message
>
> The open bar was in another room. The bar tender (owner of a liquor store
> that does this service for hire) had a HUGE tip bowl out.
> Terribly out of place, and if I were the parents of the bride I would have
> been very embarrassed and upset by this tacky bit of extortion.

It is done all the time, and, IMO, very tacky. If the bartender is being
paid he should etiher be paird a fair wage or tipped by the host, not the
guests.

As for hte bottom shelf choices, I guess that depends on the pockets of the
wedding party as the bar bill can be huge. Over the years, we've all seen
people that would only have one drink if they paid for it suddenly have six
at an open bar.


> All in all though, it was still a lovely wedding.

That is the most important part, often lost in the quest for a fancy
impressive reception. I know a couple that recently divorced and the
wedding is not paid for yet.