XP- Open Bar Timing

smith5jm · April 2013

I have a question about how we should time our open bar. We have 5 hours of open bar with our package. Cocktail hour is scheduled to start at 6, with the reception following until 12. Assuming water and soda would still be available when the bar is closed, would you close the bar during dinner (its a buffet dinner if it matters) from lets say 7-8 and then keep it open until 12, or would you just keep it open during dinner and close the bar at 11. We are leaning towards just keeping it open through dinner and closing it at 11, but I wanted to get some other thoughts. Thanks!

GoodLuckBear14 · April 2013

Open it at cocktail hour. Close it at 11:00. I've been to a wedding where the B&G closed the bar during dinner and it did not go over well at all. One of our law firm's partners at one table bribed the waiter a few hundred to get bottles of wine for his table. A neighbor of the groom's parents offered to pay himself for the dinner hour to keep service going. DH still complains about the stoppage when asked what not to do at a wedding. The attorney got a lot of "Man, what were you guys thinking"s when he came back from his honeymoon. It was what everyone remembered about an otherwise beautiful reception.

Maggie0829 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_xp-open-bar-timing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:78f8e18d-7f0b-47f1-b77e-8a5d4e08934dPost:cfac7721-8383-457b-a6d0-a4967701e96c">Re: XP- Open Bar Timing</a>:
[QUOTE]Open it at cocktail hour. Close it at 11:00. I've been to a wedding where the B&G closed the bar during dinner and it did not go over well at all. One of our law firm's partners at one table bribed the waiter a few hundred to get bottles of wine for his table. A neighbor of the groom's parents offered to pay himself for the dinner hour to keep service going. DH still complains about the stoppage when asked what not to do at a wedding. The attorney got a lot of "Man, what were you guys thinking"s when he came back from his honeymoon. It was what everyone remembered about an otherwise beautiful reception.
Posted by GoodLuckBear14[/QUOTE]

I had a different experience. We closed our bar at dinner, but we made it well known to our guests that it was going to close for an hour. There were signs and the bartenders mentioned it to the guests as they were getting their drinks during cocktail hour. Water, tea, sodas, etc were still availabe, just no alcohol, and tables were provided with a red and white wine during dinner (we had stations so people were up and moving to get their food).

Since we made our intentions widely known, people were able to get an extra drink before sitting down. By the time everyone had gotten their food and ate the bar was up and running again.

ETA: but with your experience, if they didn't make it known I would have been a bit irritated myself. OP, if you do decide to close your bar during dinner then make sure your guests are aware of it.

SlothGoals · April 2013

I agree with Maggie. I've been to weddings where they have closed the bar but haven't told anyone, and that was super annoying. If you're going to close it then make it well-known beforehand so guests can get a couple of drinks before dinner.

JoanE2012 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_xp-open-bar-timing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:78f8e18d-7f0b-47f1-b77e-8a5d4e08934dPost:6e258964-abdb-49b6-9af8-235a2a374063">XP- Open Bar Timing</a>:
[QUOTE]I have a question about how we should time our open bar. We have 5 hours of open bar with our package. Cocktail hour is scheduled to start at 6, with the reception following until 12. Assuming water and soda would still be available when the bar is closed, would you close the bar during dinner (its a buffet dinner if it matters) from lets say 7-8 and then keep it open until 12, or would you just keep it open during dinner and close the bar at 11. We are leaning towards just keeping it open through dinner and closing it at 11, but I wanted to get some other thoughts. Thanks!
Posted by smith5jm[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Keep it open during dinner, close it at 11. At 11pm, you will probably already notice many people leaving or having left already. But no one will be gone during dinner. :D

</div>

MrsGandthebeag · April 2013

I would keep it open until 11. First of all you'll have people leave prior to this time and second, usually restaurants/bars close down drink service 15 min or so before the real closing anyway.

gailpete · April 2013

My first inclination would be to close at 11. But, you may also want to consider closing the bar for 30 minutes at dinner (make sure guests know beforehand) and then close at 11:30. I know a few weddings I went to when they closed for an hour at dinner, no one minded until they were done eating, which for those that were served first was closer to 30 minutes. By the end of the hour there was quite a line at the bar waiting for it to open.

OwningAHome1981 · April 2013

Keep it open til 12. People love their booze.

mom2thebride · April 2013

How much would it be to just pay for any drinks ordered after 11? Maybe you could get an add-on to your package.

kkanouff7 · April 2013

We are closing ours during dinner but paying $2 per person to have bottles of wine on the table. My mom complained about the cost (she is helping majorly with the venue) but as I pointed out to her - she is one of the major complainers of the bar being closed during dinner... Can you do something like that? if not, let people know so they can stock up like some others have said. It all depends on your families and if the majority likes to drink - mine does - so thankful ours is in a hotel. lol.

dalm0m · April 2013

By close at 11 do you mean they will break it down or that guests will be charged if they want another drink? There's a difference.

If the dancing can go on for another hour I would be very annoyed to see the bar being disassembled while my guests were still there.

I'd find out how much to keep it open another hour; it probably won't be much.

Ella and Pedro · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_xp-open-bar-timing?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:5Discussion:78f8e18d-7f0b-47f1-b77e-8a5d4e08934dPost:cabaabd4-5d51-486f-86bf-71b9b549abdd">Re:XP Open Bar Timing</a>:
[QUOTE]Keep it open til 12. People love their booze.
Posted by OwningAHome1981[/QUOTE]

It is against the law in most states to offer open bar past the hour BEFORE people depart an event. So if the wedding is done at 12, it would be illegal to have it open past 11 pm. If you think about it, this makes sense on so many levels -

Fewer drunk drivers

Less liability for the venue/catering company/wedded couple

Fewer awkward moments at the end of the reception, i.e. people hitting on people or just generally behaving like assholes

Because....some people love their booze TOO much.

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