<p>I have to say that each mention of a chocolate fountain is like a knife in my heart. 
That is NOT good chocolate, people. It’s about half a step above Hershey’s syrup.</p>
<p>Back to our regularly scheduled programming.</p>
<p>PG–I’m not hosting any events with cash bars, nor do I plan to. But I think the scale difference between a 100+ event, or dinner at your home, is precisely the reason why someone might resort to the cash bar option for the former.</p>
<p>Consolation–chocolate fountains look unsanitary to me. yuck!</p>
<p>It is a celebration of marraige!!! CELEBRATION!</p>
<p>BUT… I really don’t have any friends who would have a wedding (or any party) that didn’t have alcohol so I am only rarely faced with this when people I don’t really know invite me to things - hasn’t really happened in a long long time - since first job out of college when we were all young and someone was always getting married and looking for guests in all places!!</p>
<p>a celebration that you say you won’t attend unless they give you booze… :rolleyes:</p>
<p>PG, I do not plan on hosting a cash-type anything when I get married. However, as a guest, I’d much rather have the option to buy the coffee than no coffee at all. (Actually, I hate coffee but that’s besides the point.) The host, to me, is saying “Please, enjoy the party for a while longer, and coffee is available here rather than down the street at Starbucks.”</p>
<p>Consolation - that’s pretty much what I am saying - for there not to be booze at a party, they would not be close friends or relatives so I would opt out.</p>
<p>It would be kind of strange to me - it is what it is! To each his own.</p>
<p>To that, I would like to add that I have been digging deep into my memory bank for any case where I have ever been to a party that consisted of the guests drinking coffee, water or other assorted sodas ONLY - never happened to me.</p>
<p>Garland - I was actually thinking “after-dinner coffee at a 100-person event” - not after-dinner coffee in your home. </p>
<p>Consolation - this wasn’t the melted-Wilton-chocolate-disc stuff that you could buy at a craft store. This was decent quality chocolate. You’ll have to trust me on this :-)</p>
<p>I have been to weddings that handle this in every way mentioned (except a dry wedding, interestingly). The last one we went to had hosted wine, beer, non-alcoholic all night but cash for hard liquor. H found it odd, but I think the B&G did it for budgetary reasons. Another had open bar for cocktail hour and then generous wine pouring at the tables. Another had two wine bottles on the table only (budget control). Finally, one had open bar all night that switched to cash bar one hour before the end. This was intentionally done by the hosts to limit drinking before driving. We had not been informed of what to expect in any case. The bartenders communicated what was necessary.<br>
I admit that I expect some form of alcohol at a wedding; it’s just part of the social culture among my peers. That being said, I would be surprised, but not annoyed at all, if the next wedding was dry. I think people should do what they can afford and that no one should judge the B&G’s choices. Jack and Jill parties for a fee, however, I would be annoyed/judgey!</p>
<p>Just different culture. I’ve been to probably 7-8 weddings in the last 8 years, and no alcohol at any of them.</p>
<p>PG. Ah, okay. Well, I guess I’d think that strange, but up to them–Coffee in any case being such a tiny percentage of cost, compared to alcohol which can be almost as much as the dinner. so it would seem an odd place to cut cost.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yeah, because Wilton candy melts are several steps BELOW Hershey’s chocolate syrup. “Decent” is in the eye of the beholder. :)</p>
<p>If I am invited to something–a dinner party, a wedding, whatever–I am a guest. I don’t expect things to be the way I would want them–it is the host’s prerogative to serve me whatever he or she wants. To criticize someone for not serving coffee or having a fountain of Hershey’s syrup instead of Callebaut reminds me of people expecting supersized portions or ice in their water glasses when they travel around Europe. To use a Pizzagirl word, it comes across as provincial.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is practiced in some of the weddings and parties weve attended and I like it because
the only way you can make me do the YMCA and Chicken Dance is if had a drink! 
</p>
<p>Ive attended Jack and Jill parties since my late 20s but no one charged for admission tickets or donations. However, my kids have attended sweet 16 parties where there are admission tickets.</p>
<p>I don’t see a need to dis Hershey’s chocolate syrup here, Consolation. It’s ok to slum it with the old brown and white bottle every now and then :-)</p>
<p>Consolation - This is tangential but a friend once told me that you cannot put “real” chocolate in a chocolate fountain because it will not melt and stay melted properly. Said friend had been an employee of a relatively well-known chocolate shop in NYC. Is this true?</p>
<p>Am I alone in associating " Jack & Jill" with a network of African american families who hosted events for young people to increase their social skills & networking opportunities?</p>
<p>[Jack</a> and Jill of America, Inc. (Informational Paper)](<a href=“http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper182.html]Jack”>http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper182.html)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t think much of Callebaut, either. :)</p>
<p>Sally, as PG and others know, I am a chocolatier. I am really joking about chocolate fountains and Hershey’s syrup. That’s why I used emoticons like this one: :D</p>
<p>For the record, a) I would keep my opinion strictly to myself if I were to attend an event with a chocolate fountain. I do not go to weddings to critique the food and drink, but to celebrate with the happy couple. I’ve been to a wedding where the food was stuff like chicken nuggets. I ate them and had a good time; and b) Hershey’s syrup makes great chocolate milk, which I would drink if I could. Alas, too carby for me.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, Julie, it is true. The only way to keep it flowing is to add a lot of fat that is highly unlikely to be cocoa butter, partially because it is very expensive (more expensive than chocolate itself): usually some kind of vegetable oil. Most likely, the basic substance is made with cocoa and such fats, just like candy melts (although in that case it is hydrogenated oil). There are brands of candy melts that are better than others. Merckens is much better than Wilton, for example. But believe me, if you have it side by side with real chocolate, you will notice the difference.</p>
<p>sally, I’m sorry if you thought I was being pedantic with the reference to etiquette history. That wasn’t my intention. I discussed it in direct response to your question, and to give context to the fact that there is never an obligation to buy off of someone’s registry. </p>
<p>PS My post #65 referred to people who would not attend a wedding if they couldn’t have alcohol. I would waste not a minute caring. </p>
<p>garland, One should no more charge Uncle Bill for the glass of expensive wine in your cellar and let him drink it in front of everyone else than consider a cash bar at a <em>private</em> event. In terms of etiquette, a private event is considered an extension of the host’s home and hospitality. The fact that the host rents a room to accomodate the reception makes no difference at all.</p>