---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An alcohol-free wedding reception is like…"
description: "\"“An alcohol-free wedding reception is like masturbating for an hour without reaching orgasm. It’s fun at the beginning, but after a while it’s just exh..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfb/johnny-shaw-25388_marriage_an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-lik_2066152.jpg"
---

#  An alcohol-free wedding reception is like masturbating for…

![“An alcohol-free wedding reception is like masturbating for an hour without reaching orgasm. It’s fun at the beginning, but after a while it’s just exhausting and depressing and you want it to be over. Like that, but with dancing.” quote by Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfb/johnny-shaw-25388_marriage_an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-lik_2066152.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfb/johnny-shaw-25388_marriage_an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-lik_2066152.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfb/johnny-shaw-25388_marriage_an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-lik_2066152.jpg)

> ““An alcohol-free wedding reception is like masturbating for an hour without reaching orgasm. It’s fun at the beginning, but after a while it’s just exhausting and depressing and you want it to be over. Like that, but with dancing.””

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A wedding without alcohol feels initially enjoyable but quickly becomes draining and unsatisfying, similar to a prolonged, unrewarding activity.

**In simple terms:** Alcohol-free receptions become exhausting and dull.

Key Takeaway

Consider the role of alcohol in social enjoyment.

Themes

social gatherings expectations substance use

Mood

irry reflective

Type

observational humorous

When to use this quote

- wedding planning
- party hosting
- personal expectations
- event enjoyment

Key Concepts

hedonism social dynamics event planning

Questions to Reflect On

- How does alcohol influence your enjoyment of social events?
- What alternatives could make a sober reception engaging?

A Different Perspective

Not everyone finds alcohol essential for fun; some may prefer sober events.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alcohol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/) [Alcohol Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol-free-2373734/) [Free Wedding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-wedding-3965969/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Wedding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wedding/) [Wedding reception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wedding-reception/)

## Related quotes

> [I'm glad we'll have a night to rehearse getting blind drunk for the actual wedding reception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-glad-we-ll-have-a-night-to-rehearse-getting-blind-drunk-for-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My poor wife, we stopped on the way back to the suite after our wedding reception so I could pick up a jar of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howie-long/my-poor-wife-we-stopped-on-the-way-back-to-the-suite-after-our/)

[Howie Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howie-long/)

> [The end of a wedding reception is always so depressing. And only the bride and groom are spared, jetting off into the sunset while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/the-end-of-a-wedding-reception-is-always-so-depressing-and-only-the/)

[Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/)

> [When I'm alcohol-free now and even to see the world around me, I appreciate it, but I never truly enjoy too much of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/when-i-m-alcohol-free-now-and-even-to-see-the-world-around-me-i/)

[Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/)

> [I am STILL better than you. Because I AM drug free, I AM alcohol free, and I’m straightedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/i-am-still-better-than-you-because-i-am-drug-free-i-am-alcohol-free/)

[CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/)

> [I use Ecoco EcoStyler gel, but the alcohol-free protein one. That's the key.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sza/i-use-ecoco-ecostyler-gel-but-the-alcohol-free-protein-one-that-s-the/)

[SZA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sza/)

> [Yea we can all party hard with some alcohol free beer and censored porn…mmm my stomach is getting all jittery just thinking about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/yea-we-can-all-party-hard-with-some-alcohol-free-beer-and-censored/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. People were absolutely everywhere: scurrying and mingling and sipping champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-we-arrived-at-the-wedding-at-marlboro-man-s-grandparents-house-i/)

[Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/)

> [My favorite time to dance is at, like, wedding receptions, when it's all ages and everyone seems to be having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/my-favorite-time-to-dance-is-at-like-wedding-receptions-when-it-s-all/)

[Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/)

> [“Elizabeth,” he said, trying not to laugh. “At a wedding reception, the guests cannot leave until the bride and groom retire. If you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-mcnaught/elizabeth-he-said-trying-not-to-laugh-at-a-wedding-reception-the/)

[Judith McNaught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-mcnaught/)

> [“We danced to John Michael Montgomery’s “I Swear.” We cut the seven-tiered cake, electing not to take the smear-it-on-our-faces route. We visited and laughed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/we-danced-to-john-michael-montgomery-s-i-swear-we-cut-the-seven/)

[Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/)

> [“Caroline has laid out a beautiful spread, which is a combination of some of my favorite things that she has cooked, and traditional Sikh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-ballis/caroline-has-laid-out-a-beautiful-spread-which-is-a-combination-of/)

[Stacey Ballis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-ballis/)

> [“Undoubtedly, Baron Arald thought with a deep sense of pride and satisfaction, this would go down as the weddiong of the year. Perhaps of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/undoubtedly-baron-arald-thought-with-a-deep-sense-of-pride-and/)

[John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/)

> [“ Come on, Ree, get a grip , I told myself. Something was going on…this was more than simply a reaction to the August…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/come-on-ree-get-a-grip-i-told-myself-something-was-going-on-this-was/)

[Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/)

> [“Sometimes those we forgive continue being the jackasses that they always were and we accept them while keeping them approximately three thousand miles away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-strayed/sometimes-those-we-forgive-continue-being-the-jackasses-that-they/)

[Cheryl Strayed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-strayed/)

## More by Johnny Shaw

> [“can’t digest food unless it has some E. coli in it for flavor. All this nutrition nonsense is horseshit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/can-t-digest-food-unless-it-has-some-e-coli-in-it-for-flavor-all-this/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Anything can be a curse if it ain't a choice. If it's all you know. If you do it because your father did it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/anything-can-be-a-curse-if-it-ain-t-a-choice-if-it-s-all-you-know-if/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“i ain't got the energy to argue. i'm an old man and i got to take a shit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/i-ain-t-got-the-energy-to-argue-i-m-an-old-man-and-i-got-to-take-a/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Real life doesn’t come beautifully wrapped with a bow on top. Most events usually look more like a three-year-old’s attempt to wrap Mommy’s gift.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/real-life-doesn-t-come-beautifully-wrapped-with-a-bow-on-top-most/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Even a desert hare will take a finger off the dumbass that tries to pet it. If the desert can make a bunny that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/even-a-desert-hare-will-take-a-finger-off-the-dumbass-that-tries-to/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Back at the Date Palm, Bobby and I drank like we had received federal funding to study the impact of beer and Tennessee whiskey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/back-at-the-date-palm-bobby-and-i-drank-like-we-had-received-federal/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Apparently, nothing focuses a drunk like a quest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/apparently-nothing-focuses-a-drunk-like-a-quest/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“They wore the uniform of the desert bro. Think frat boy who never went to college. Jersey Shore without the water. Farmer’s tans made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/they-wore-the-uniform-of-the-desert-bro-think-frat-boy-who-never-went/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Sometimes you don’t win the war. You don’t even win any of the battles. All you have left to celebrate is the victory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/sometimes-you-don-t-win-the-war-you-don-t-even-win-any-of-the-battles/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“In the city people bitched when you asked them to help you move. Out here a neighbor would help you shovel shit for eight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/in-the-city-people-bitched-when-you-asked-them-to-help-you-move-out/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“it doesn’t matter what we want, it’s what we do with what we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/it-doesn-t-matter-what-we-want-it-s-what-we-do-with-what-we-have/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Should've known when I met her mama. The big, fat acorn didn't fall too far from the big, fat tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/should-ve-known-when-i-met-her-mama-the-big-fat-acorn-didn-t-fall-too/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“In film theory, it’s called the Kuleshov Effect. A blank expression taking on whatever emotion the context implies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/in-film-theory-it-s-called-the-kuleshov-effect-a-blank-expression/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Anything can be a curse if it ain’t a choice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/anything-can-be-a-curse-if-it-ain-t-a-choice/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

> [“Before anyone brands me cruel, remember that Ceja knocked out my tooth for corrupting a nonexistent sister. And while this wasn’t a conscious revenge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/before-anyone-brands-me-cruel-remember-that-ceja-knocked-out-my-tooth/)

[Johnny Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

[Explore all 23 Johnny Shaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/)

## More Alcohol quotes

> [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/)

[Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/)

> [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [And, when night Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-when-night-darkens-the-streets-then-wander-forth-the-sons-of/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [ \[As in the case of\] alcohol prohibition, illegality has driven organized crime, sent countless people to jail, and killed many thousands. Repression does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-branson/as-in-the-case-of-alcohol-prohibition-illegality-has-driven-organized/)

[Sam Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-branson/)

> [You can get a new phone or new trainers (sneakers) but you've only got one body so you have to look after it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyson-beckford/you-can-get-a-new-phone-or-new-trainers-sneakers-but-you-ve-only-got/)

[Tyson Beckford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyson-beckford/)

> [Alcohol doesn't console, it doesn't fill up anyone's psychological gaps, all it replaces is the lack of God. It doesn't comfort man. On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marguerite-duras/alcohol-doesn-t-console-it-doesn-t-fill-up-anyone-s-psychological/)

[Marguerite Duras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marguerite-duras/)

> [In 1969, I gave up women and alcohol - it was the worst 20 minutes of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-best/in-1969-i-gave-up-women-and-alcohol-it-was-the-worst-20-minutes-of-my/)

[George Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-best/)

> [Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house unless they have a well-stocked bar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-c-fields/thou-shalt-not-covet-thy-neighbor-s-house-unless-they-have-a-well/)

[W. C. Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-c-fields/)

> [Alcohol is like Photoshop for real life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/alcohol-is-like-photoshop-for-real-life/)

[Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/)

> [“Alcoholism is a choice... not a life sentence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-norman/alcoholism-is-a-choice-not-a-life-sentence/)

[David Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-norman/)

> [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/)

[Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/)

> [I go to parties sometimes until four, it's hard to leave when you can't find the door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-go-to-parties-sometimes-until-four-it-s-hard-to-leave-when-you-can/)

[Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/)

> [I can't fill the hole with money. I can't fill it with alcohol, or drugs, or sex, so what do I need to fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-victor-hansen/i-can-t-fill-the-hole-with-money-i-can-t-fill-it-with-alcohol-or/)

[Mark Victor Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-victor-hansen/)

> [Cocaine decisions that you make today, will mean nothing later on when you get nose decay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/cocaine-decisions-that-you-make-today-will-mean-nothing-later-on-when/)

[Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/)

> [I take really good care of myself. I promised myself long ago that I would never miss a hunting season, never poison my sacred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/i-take-really-good-care-of-myself-i-promised-myself-long-ago-that-i/)

[Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/)

[Browse all 1,953 Alcohol quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alcohol/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“An alcohol-free wedding reception is like masturbating for an hour without reaching orgasm. It’s fun at the beginning, but after a while it’s just exhausting and depressing and you want it to be over. Like that, but with dancing.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Johnny Shaw"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-like-masturbating-for-an-hour/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alcohol"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-like-masturbating-for-an-hour/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfb/johnny-shaw-25388_marriage_an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-lik_2066152.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfb/johnny-shaw-25388_marriage_an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-lik_2066152.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfb/johnny-shaw-25388_marriage_an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-lik_2066152.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“An alcohol-free wedding reception is like masturbating for an hour without reaching orgasm. It’s fun at the…” — Johnny Shaw",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Johnny Shaw",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-shaw/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“An alcohol-free wedding reception is like...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-like-masturbating-for-an-hour/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-shaw/an-alcohol-free-wedding-reception-is-like-masturbating-for-an-hour/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
