8 Hour Reception - Cash Bar after 6 Hours?

I think that would be fine, just as long as your guests are aware so they can bring some cash with them if they plan on drinking late!

I wouldn't refer to your wedding as "black tie optional" if there will be a cash bar. I think a lot more is anticipated of guests when they state the wedding is black tie/formal. That's just my opinion.

If it were me, I'd probably just not mention the cash bar except in an FAQ on your website and by word of mouth that the venue will stay open later if people want to stay until midnight. I can't imagine people will stay that late if they go to the 2 PM ceremony but you never know!

What kind of venue is this? If I were at a wedding at a garden or mansion that at 10pm the DJ stopped and bar flipped to cash, I’d probably find it pretty awkward and just leave anyways. If this is a hotel or restaurant and we were just moving from the private area to the public area, I wouldn’t find it as awkward but might be bored and head somewhere else anyway. Maybe ask some of your close friends and family for feedback. If the extra two hours are outside of your budget, they seem unnecessary to have, whether hosted properly or not.

Do you really want an 8 hour long reception? Do you really want to stay in one place that long? I feel like an after party is "we're sick of this place, let's find a new setting". And gives people an easy out to leave.


I'm the kind of person that will bounce an hour after dinner... unless dinner is a horrid 2 hour affair.

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Thanks Rachel! We would keep the DJ

We are having a 7 hour cocktail hour & reception total with a 6 hour bar. We are closing the bar during the one hour of dinner service since we will have wine bottles at the table and it's a plated meal. Have you thought about this?

If not, I would say have a cash bar after 10 or go to a second after party location.

Personally, I'd try to avoid switching to a cash bar, if at all possible. (Especially at what you're describing as a Black Tie event....) Daughter's reception was 6 hours -- 4 pm cocktail hour, dinner/reception 5-10 pm with a full premium open bar the entire time. While everyone CLEARLY enjoyed themselves, and the "last dance" did turn into three last dances because people were sorry to see it end, by 10 pm, I think nearly everyone was done -- especially the B&G. If part of your thought process is that the guests will start to thin, and you don't want to pay the full hosted bar price for the last two hours (contract to pay for 200 people, but by 10:15, you're down to 50 close friends, etc.), have you asked the venue about switching to a "consumption bar" at 10 pm, where, for the remainder of the night, you'll pick up the tab for the actual drinks ordered. That way, if you're down to a smaller group of people, whose drinking may have slowed a bit by that time, you're not paying a large set amount for two full hours. Instead you'll just be covering the drinks ordered. It wouldn't be a "cash bar," but hopefully the cost to you would be significantly lower than a full open bar.

If you are determined to go with the cash bar option, like others suggested, I'd just spread the word informally. It definitely should not be on an invitation you are hoping conveys your wish for a formal wedding. Good luck!

I wouldn't do that. Black tie optional suggests fully hosted. After parties are also a time to wind down and get more relaxed. Have some pizza, take off your formal clothes, etc. I think it would feel kind of awkward.

Thank you to everyone for sharing your thoughts!

I think that’s fine!

I would just end the wedding at 6 hours.

Our wedding is a 2pm. Guest start arriving at the venue at 4. We will have open bar 4-8pm. Reception ends at 10. Not expecting everyone to stay till 10 but I dont want people to be drinking up till 10. I hope no one gets drunk unless they have a DD and even then dont want to deal with a drunk person on my wedding. I thought about a cash bar but it is bad etiquette. But I will be hoping my guest tip the bartender that would be a proper thing to do, at least my oppion. Our venue shuts down at 11pm. 10pm DJ must stop playing.

Avoid charging guests as much as you can. No one brings cash to a wedding. Cut back the reception to what you can afford.