Listen...no one wants to be that guest at a wedding. You know: the one who hovers near the open bar, demands Jager shots when everyone else is drinking Perrier, ends up snoring underneath a table. Or worse! (I guarantee you guys know at least one someone-drunk-at-a-wedding story.)
So here's how to appreciate the open bar without abusing it.
Make friends with the bartender. Well, you don't have to be besties by night's end, but remember that the bartender is slammed. Give simple orders, nothing too unusual; when she's not busy, then you can feel free to ask what cocktails she might recommend. And remember to tip—hey, you're getting lots of free liquor! Tipping is essential.
But also order appropriate cocktails. Depending on the tone of the wedding, now is probably not be the time to be doing Jell-O shots. If everyone else is sipping wine at the start of the reception, that's probably a smart thing to do too. Walking around with an, ahem, BJ shot might not give off the impression that you'd like it to—and you might feel a buzz you're not really wanting to have just yet.
Order something on the rocks.As the ice melts, your drink is diluted, and you end up sipping more slowly. That can be a good thing, because the faster you drink, the more time the toxins in alcohol spend floating around your body...which means you may feel worse in the A.M.
Drink water. Yes, you know this, but really do it. Drink at least one eight-ounce glass of plain water for every cocktail you drink. Make that your rule (along with not drinking and driving, of course!). It will help you stay hydrated and more clear-headed and also keep tomorrow's morning awful hangover at bay.
OK, let's hear the stories...what have you seen go awry at an open bar? And how do you, yourself, handle what you order?