Open Bar vs 2 Hour Bar

miss2mrscj

Hey ladies!!

I need your help FI and I are having a hard time making a decison on our bar. Of course he wants a full 4 hour bar, however our budget does not allow us to do so. I say we have a 2 hour open bar then change to a cash bar. My mom says this is tacky. Please help.

MIABRIDENTAMPA

I say the 2 hour open bar, preferrably starting after dinner once the party starts. Maybe you can do Beer & Wine during dinner. I say NO to cash bar, Im with mama on this one.

monretta

I think that the cash bar part is the problem,  you could just do a two hour bar and leave it at that, and not have a cash bar at all

YasJas2011

I am going to agree with MIA! I would say no to the cash bar.

miss2mrscj

Thanks ladies. I feel kinda bad about no having a full open bar all night. However I still have to pay tuition...LOL

shaq123

I would do a beer& wine bar only this way your guest will have drink and they will not get to wasted plus you can save a lot of money.  no to the cash bar  , or if you have to have a full bar have on hour before dinner and one hour after .people do not drink much while eating..

Good Luck..

2010Bride2be

Do an open beer and wine bar for the full reception. Just say NO to cash bars!

ufsweetiebear

I agree... no cash bar. 

However, we're closing the bar for an hour (I think) while we do the toasts, dances, etc. That may help it feel like more time. Also, will your vendor allow beer, wine, and/or a signature drink?

miss2mrscj

ufsweetiebear....yes I think they charge more for a signature drink. I have my coordinator on this assignment now. I'm tired of racking my brain over it.

KSTURGIS

I agree with Kaila. And that should really help with the budget.

I completely understand tuition. I used to tell my mom that I was going to a small stint in jail. So that I could get my education for free in there. lol 

prncsz

Have you thought about only offering certain drinks? Like beer, wine, etc but also drinks that you all love or your friends love? Like ameretto sours, crown & coke, vodka &cranberry or orange juice? I went to a wedding where they had things like this. They paid for certain drinks and you couldn't order anything outside of that only what they paid for. We didn't mind we had all the drinks we wanted for free.

star135

I asked the same question on another board. Most people didn't say it was tacky, but they pointed out the fact that the average person does not expect to have to pay for anything when they attend a wedding, so they don't come with much cash if any at all. Some venues we looked at didn't even allow a cash bar for that very reason. They said they do not maky any money on them.

mahoganieyes

My bar is 3hrs. Open for 1 hr during cocktails, closed during dinner, then open for the next 2hrs.

MissesKB

Do what your budget allows and don't over extend yourself. If you have guest that don't have the cash for the bar, surely it will not be the end of the world if they have to drink water, tea, or soda.

cincy2011

I have to disagree w/ the majority, I would rather have a cash bar than go into debt for the wedding.  I'm trying to be practical about this whole thing, and with an open bar adding up to over $5K for the entire night, I don't think FI and I are going to do it.  We have a new venue events manager and he said something about new beer/wine/champagne packages that are better than their previous ones, so we'll look at those.  But honestly if they are too expensive we will end up with a cash bar.  One of my friends had a cash bar at her wedding a couple of years ago and it was fine.  People bought their own drinks if they wanted them, and no one was complaining.  Just my .02!!!!  

red_980

I agree with Cincy. I looked into the beer/wine idea, and it is way out of budget for me. I'd have to pay bartending fees regardless of what type of bar I choose. If I go with a limited open bar, I'd go way over my budget b/c the price per bottle/keg is too expensive. I want my guests to be able to drink, but I don't have the money to pay for an hour bar.

drjewell

I would not do a cash bar, I think it is tacky as well but getting past tacky or not if your budget does not allow it don't do it.  My budget for the wedding and reception is on the large side and I was blessed with a free caterer as a gift, I just have to pay for the food. But even with that once I started adding up the cost of what I wanted I took the wine completely out and just left beer and soft drinks except for the champagne toast that we are doing for all the guest.