Bar Closed during dinner..options?

I would see if the bar could be closed for the introductions, first dance (s), that should take almost 30 minutes, and maybe close the bar 30mins early.

Is there any way to upgrade the package to 5 hours of service? Having the bar closed during dinner would be confusing and I think it would be odd for a dj to announce that. Could you switch to beer and wine (if you're doing full open bar) if price is an issue?

Maybe do 30 min and 30 min if they will let you? I think the served wine is excessive, if you can't really afford it easily.

This is standard for most weddings I have been to. Bar closes during dinner and there is a red and white bottle of wine on each table.

The DJ can announce something.

I don't understand why venues do this? None of the places I looked at did it and I've never been to a wedding that this happened at, but I read about it alot here so I'm assuming it's common. I just honestly don't understand the point. Seems confusing as a guest and unnecessary. I don't know, maybe it's just me If it's your only option though and you can't somehow upgrade to a bar that doesn't close for a short period of time in the middle of your event, I think I'd try my best to add the wine service.

I think part of the reason some bars close during dinner is that when they are trying to serve tables it limits the people that are up and moving around and in their way. This has been common practice to most weddings I've been at.

It's standard for weddings I have been to. One is reason is that guests getting up and down from their tables constantly can get in the way of wait staff. But, there has always been wine service during dinner and if someone wants a soft drink or something else, they just ask their server. I would try to include wine service if you can.

ETA- it's not confusing.

Personally I despise the whole bar closing during dinner thing and it was a venue deal breaker for me, but I'm a fairly heavy drinker. Whenever I have seen this happen, there is no announcement, the bartenders just cut people off.

I don't really know why they do it either but it was fairly common at quite a few venues we looked at. It's quite annoying. If it were a minor cost I would add the wine in a heartbeat, but figuring roughly 2 bottles per table at $20 per bottle x 17 tables is $680. That's a pretty big chunk of change.

ETA: Spelling

It's not highly unusual to see a bar, even of the open, any liquor you want, variety to be closed during dinner service. Sure, it would be nice for your DJ to send out an announcement telling the guests that dinner will be served in 30 minutes, and if they want a cocktail before dinner, they've got 30 minutes to procure their cocktail of choice. You're graciously hosting your guests with cocktails, and once dinner is over, your bar will be back to business as usual.

As far as last call is concerned, there's nothing wrong with closing the bar 15 minutes before the end of the reception. A public last call is great -- I'd do it, if for no other reason than I've paid for an open bar package and I'd like to get every drop of alcohol served that's possible.

Do you need to pass wine during dinner? Honestly, if I'm having vodka or whiskey based cocktails at a multi-hour reception (which I do), I'm not interesting in mixing those cocktails with wine. I'd let it go. I'm fine with enjoying my food with a glass of water. After dinner, I'm back to partying. You're doing more than enough with the open bar (and more than lots of couples do). No etiquette failures here.

Thanks @Centerpiece. Always nice to hear encouraging words from one such as yourself!

I take it your ceremony is not at the venue? Our package was also 4 hours open bar for a 5 hour rental but included the ceremony. So the bar opened after the ceremony (about 20 minutes) and then was supposed to close at 10 (reception ended at 1030) but I think they kept it open because people weren't too obliterated. They were not strict about the 4 hours exactly, but the bar stayed open during dinner.

Are you having a champagne toast? If not make an announcement before it closes so that people have something to toast with

We are having a toast @Staci