Cash Bar or NO bar?

AmandaG225

I have a dilemma...we are having an open bar during our cocktail hour but after that I don't know what to do? We are debating on whether to turn it into a cash bar for the rest of the night or just close the bar down. Do to budget issues, we can't afford to pay to have the bar open all night. I need some words of wisdom.....what are your thoughts?

sweetie1184

Definitely cash bar. If you're going to start out with a cocktail hour and close down afterward, I think people are going to be confused. Cash bars are perfectly acceptable, open bars are really expensive and I think people understand that.

sarahcallie

Does your budget allow for having the bar be open all night if you provided beer and wine? Or beer and a specialty cocktail?

TTnoles

Ditto above posts, cash bar!

mbathey

Yeah, keep the bar....do cash if you have to!

M1ssJ

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_florida-west-coast_cash-bar-bar?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:62Discussion:fa425ad6-3a48-4330-af9e-bcb336d9841fPost:ec5433bf-9797-42f0-8a23-e70b012f992e">Re: Cash Bar or NO bar?</a>:
[QUOTE]Does your budget allow for having the bar be open all night if you provided beer and wine? Or beer and a specialty cocktail?
Posted by sarahcallie[/QUOTE]

This is the best idea. I just hate cash bars , I  just dont like the idea of a wedding reception being like a club or restaraunt where guest have to shell out for drinks, if you have to just cut it down to wine during dinner and close it after.

Jennifer.Matthew.wedding

I would keep the bar, but like people said can you only have a specialty drink or wine and beer to make your budget?

Ciaira

We are having a cocktail hour and then only champagne for the reception. Mostly because my family consists of NON drinkers, and some that are VERY conservative. My fiance and I compromised to make it a miz of what we wanted. Also, there is a beach bar right outside of our ballroom, so if our guests can't handle not having a drink they can go get one. It may not be the BEST solution, but it is going to work for us!

ChrislovesBarry

I am doing a beer & wine with a signature cocktail for the entire wedding.  It's amazing how much it cutes down on the budget instead of open bar.

MrsChelseaP09

Cash bar.

missy1954

Cash bars are tacky. Why not ask your guests to pay for their food too. Go with the beer and wine bar and let a guest be an INVITED guest.

*Mrs.CPH*

I would MUCH rather have the option to drink at a wedding even if that meant I had to pay for it myself, so my vote is cash bar.

angruz

A cash bar is really tacky.  You are asking people to come in from out of town, get dressed up, maybe pay for transportation to the wedding, buy you a shower gift and a wedding gift AND you can't even provide drinks? 

Cut costs somewhere else, keep it an open bar.