Wedding Extra 1/2 hour of Open Bar

[sap483]

We decided to buy and extra half an hour of time so that we could have a full 4 hour reception with a 30 minute cocktail reception. That messes up our bar package though which is only for 4 hours. We can buy an additional 1/2 hour of open bar for about $5 a person. FI seems to think that we should buy the extra half an hour, but I''m not so sure if it''s worth it. His thought is that people would probably leave early without the bar open. I''m not sure if I agree- I mean people will have been drinking for 4 hours, it may do them some good to sober up a little before leaving. Do you think people would leave the reception early if the bar closed half an hour before the event ends?

 

[laine]

I wouldn''t leave because the bar closed, but I would take the bar closing as a hint that the reception was ending and we were supposed to head out.

You could probably make some announcement about the bar closing so grab one last drink and get back to the dance floor or something, so people know that it doesn''t mean time to go.

Or could you close the bar for 30 minutes during dinner? I''ve seen that done a few times...

 

[Morgie44]

I agree with pp. I take a bar closing as a hint that it is time to head out. Also, as Laine said, we are having a 5 hour reception with a four hour bar. The bar will be closed during dinner. I think most of the weddings I have been to (in the midwest) are like this.

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

Venues in my area won''t allow the bar to close at the end of the reception. Not one I looked at required less than 45 minutes before hand so as to avoid drunk driving. I would think it was strange to have the bar go the whole time, but it must just be my area.

 

[[email protected]]

They had a cute feature in one of the mags about coffee at the end of the reception, they had all sorts of cute desserts with a coffee theme, even hot chocolate.
How about doing gourmet coffee or something the last half hour.

 

[sunnyd]

It''s like a last call at a bar, they let you know the bar is closing so you get your last drink if you want one. People then have at least some time to sober up before leaving.

The places I''ve looked at require that the bar close 1 hour prior to the reception ending to prevent driving drunk. If dancing or whatever is still going on, I don''t see why people would just leave simply because the bar is closing. But that''s just my limited wedding experience!