2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception

amanda1611t · February 2012

I know this has been posted before.

I asked the venue and they suggested we do a 2 hr open bar and the last hour would be a cash bar.

I don't think this is right. My FI thinks it is.

We CAN do all open bar if we decide that. I just was trying to save a couple hundred

What else could we do?

I don't think it's right to do all cash bar. Is it? People expect to have an open bar at a wedding i think.

There is no BYOB at our venue

Rosie109 · February 2012

I think if you can afford to do a full open bar for the whole reception you should. Don't cheap out on your guests.

kwilliams111012 · February 2012

Amanda, we're going through the same thing but in the end decided to have a 3 hour bar. Besides being rude to our guests, what definitely changed our minds is the fact that you, your FI and the wedding party will probably be late to the reception due to picture taking. That leaves your wedding party not a lot of time to enjoy drinks. I don't plan on drinking much at all, but I think our wedding party deserves to enjoy themselves! My venue has said that they secretly switch drinks to non-alcoholic if guests get way out of control from drinking. You could ask yours to do the same, if you're worried about guests getting too drunk.

MyUserName1 · February 2012

What if you closed the bar for half an hour during dinner and then closed it a half an hour early? That would be preferable to having cash bar at any point.

Rosie109 · February 2012

Ahhhh the ole switch and bait. I sure am glad God will be the bartender.

rroelofsen · February 2012

Just do whatever you gut tells you. If it is better fiancially for you to have two hours, do it that way. I have been to many weddings with a cash bar. If the people want to drink that much, they will pony up the cash. If you can afford it, go for it. If not, don't feel bad.

lilja032 · February 2012

Cash bars are always rude. To me it's just as rude as asking someone to pay for the entree part of their meal. If you can afford to do a full open bar do it.

goobersinlove · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_2-hr-open-bar-3-hr-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:03545e15-47b3-4c6d-8972-ae54f714b347Post:1d776e2d-631c-4dce-8412-9a48b377a1d6">2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I know this has been posted before. I asked the venue and they suggested we do a 2 hr open bar and the last hour would be a cash bar. I don't think this is right. My FI thinks it is. We CAN do all open bar if we decide that. I just was trying to save a couple hundred What else could we do? I don't think it's right to do all cash ba r. Is it? People expect to have an open bar at a wedding i think. There is no BYOB at our venue
Posted by amanda1611t[/QUOTE]

You are correct that cash bars are a faux pas... whether full time or part time.

I think you should do a full open bar for the whole thing (since you said you can). Guests shouldn't get free drinks one minute, and then come back to the bar for another and get a, "Oh you have to pay now - it's after 8:00."

Find another area to save a couple hundred. Cut out favors or something.

Rosie109 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_2-hr-open-bar-3-hr-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:03545e15-47b3-4c6d-8972-ae54f714b347Post:1af35fa6-4123-4819-9ed3-b7565818f011">Re: 2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Amanda, we're going through the same thing but in the end decided to have a 3 hour bar. Besides being rude to our guests, what definitely changed our minds is the fact that you, your FI and the wedding party will probably be late to the reception due to picture taking. That leaves your wedding party not a lot of time to enjoy drinks. I don't plan on drinking much at all, but I think our wedding party deserves to enjoy themselves! <strong> My venue has said that they secretly switch drinks to non-alcoholic if guests get way out of control from drinking.</strong> You could ask yours to do the same, if you're worried about guests getting too drunk.
Posted by kwilliams111012[/QUOTE]

<div>That is terrible. </div>

Rosie109 · February 2012

What is their game plan if I ask for a glass of wine?

kwilliams111012 · February 2012

Rosie, it's the venue's policy - not mine. I don't think it will be an issue since our reception starts at 3pm. I just thought it was a clever trick. I'm sure it hasn't happened many times, but if someone is stumbling off their bar stool, they probably don't need another shot of tequila.

Rosie109 · February 2012

Thats pretty sweet your wedding will have bar stools at it.

kwilliams111012 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_2-hr-open-bar-3-hr-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:03545e15-47b3-4c6d-8972-ae54f714b347Post:6f9c8a53-249b-4979-8ab3-0adaa87d3228">Re: 2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Thats pretty sweet your wedding will have bar stools at it.
Posted by Rosie109[/QUOTE]

I think you got my point.

Rosie109 · February 2012

I think I am too drunk to get your point.

kwilliams111012 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_2-hr-open-bar-3-hr-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:03545e15-47b3-4c6d-8972-ae54f714b347Post:6a8c5085-f234-46a4-bc5c-78d957749c13">Re: 2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I am too drunk to get your point.
Posted by Rosie109[/QUOTE]

I'll call my venue's bartender to cut you off before you fall off your bar stool then =P

MyNameIsNot · February 2012

Outside of the fact that it's rude, this is a logistical problem.

We went to a wedding like this a few years ago. After getting drinks at the bar all night, I walked up to the bar to get three glasses of wine for myself and two others at our table. Of course, I didn't take my purse. I was absolutely mortified when I couldn't pay for the drinks. Thank god a friend happened to be standing next to me who could spot me. I also hadn't planned on buying drinks for the two strangers at our table, but when they didn't volunteer, there wasn't a graceful way to ask to be reimbursed.

Hilraythebride · February 2012

We have a 5 hour reception and 4 hour open bar. We are not doing any sort of cash bar becuase the bar is closed during dinner.

You could do tht instead of having the cash bar at the end. My venue includes the alcohol in the PP price and you can upgrade if you like but it is their standerd to close at one hour for some point in the reception so we figured dinner would be the best.

WildMagelet · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_2-hr-open-bar-3-hr-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:03545e15-47b3-4c6d-8972-ae54f714b347Post:88c48c98-f294-45e1-9ee1-945560c84b6d">Re: 2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]What if you closed the bar for half an hour during dinner and then closed it a half an hour early? That would be preferable to having cash bar at any point.
Posted by MyUserName1[/QUOTE]

+1

The Mel and Todd Show · February 2012

Rosie, you are killing it over there tonight.

amanda1611t · February 2012

Thanks guys,

I guess we can close the bar during the food but it is a brunch.

I don't think people will bring cash if they expect a open bar so good point there. I would be embaressed if I went to a wedding and had to pay and had no money!

However, I think we will be closing the bar during our entrances, and dances. That will be a half hour there, and then we will close a half hour before the reception is over.

Viczaesar · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_2-hr-open-bar-3-hr-reception?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:03545e15-47b3-4c6d-8972-ae54f714b347Post:a083e67d-ac47-4ede-bf49-b0cf7b66a3fc">Re: 2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception</a>:
[QUOTE]Just do whatever you gut tells you. If it is better fiancially for you to have two hours, do it that way. I have been to many weddings with a cash bar. If the people want to drink that much, they will pony up the cash. If you can afford it, go for it. If not, don't feel bad.
Posted by rroelofsen[/QUOTE]
No.

likeadeadstar · February 2012

If you can't afford the 3 hours, close for half during dinner, half at end. I've never seen a wedding where they served to the very end, so nbd. We have four hours+wine with dinner to work with in six hours and we're handling it similarly.

2 HR Open Bar, 3 HR Reception

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