Bar Extension vs. Videography...

Ohhhh I hope this doesn’t come off selfish but videography was so high on my wishlist (but can’t afford list). You get so much more out of videos than pictures and to me it’d be worth it.

I have to ask though, will the bar turn to a cash bar for the last hour if they stay?

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As of right now, the bar would just end at 11PM (so the reception would basically end then). There is a resort bar right down the hall from our reception that's open until 2 AM, so there will be other options for guests... Also, many of our guests are planning on renting homes within the resort instead of doing a hotel room, so I think there will be some after parties at these rental homes for guests to attend if they'd like to stay up and drink more!

I think 5 hours of bar service and the reception ending at 11 is fine. Go with the videographer!

Videography. Your bar sounds seriously plentiful already.

Videography. Be selfish. You will absolutely regret not getting the videography. Nobody will remember the extra hour of the bar lol.

Agree with MrsBdeG, we wanted a videographer but didn't have the budget for it. We opted to extend out the bar for our reception, but the cost wasn't even close to what a videographer would have cost lol. The cheapest videographer we found that I would have been ok with hiring was $1,200 and the cost to extend our open bar an extra hour was $236 ($2 pp that attended).

What time is your reception scheduled to end? My cocktail hour was from 5:45 - 6:45, reception was 6:45 - 11, but we were heading out around 10:45. We're in the Midwest though, and this seems to be pretty common. I haven't been to any weddings that lasted past 11.

Is it possible to do both? Hire a videographer for ceremony only and do the bar? We are really only sad that we don't have a ceremony video or videos of the speeches.

I was totally expecting to vote for the bar, but after reading everything I might choose videographer myself. It's something we're not doing and I'm not super interested in, but it sounds like you have pretty solid bar coverage, and if it were my wedding, I'd expect most people to be done for the night or want to move the party elsewhere by 11 or so. Just make sure you do a last call early enough so that everyone can grab (at least) another round if they want to.

It sounds like you have the bar more than covered. I would go for the videographer!

Personally, I would go for videography. You have a long enough time of open bar, and just have it announced that the bar would be closed at such and such hour so the guests could get their drinks. I know I would regret not having a video of the wedding.

If you really want a videographer, then I'd say go with that.

Personally, I'd choose the extra hour of bar because I never want the party to end. We aren't having a videographer based on preference, not budget. For me, a photographer and an assistant is plenty.

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I would do the videographer. You can always have an after party elsewhere, without costing you extra money. Win / Win!

I would suggest going with the videographer and skipping the extra hour of the bar. Who's to say that even if you extended the bar by 1 extra hour that guest still won't do after parties after 12 or 1 etc. You definitely have the bar covered very well so treat yourself with the videographer!

I agree with the consensus, go with the videographer. You’re providing extensive bar coverage already, you should treat yourself to something that’s important to you.

I highly suggest the videography! You're already hosting your guests well with the open bar!

Normally I would say bar, but you have that covered well! Go with the videographer.

I was going to vote for extending the bar but now I am going with videographer. Your bar sounds very generous. Maybe your mom can pay for that last hour if she feels so strongly about it?

You have a good amount of time devoted to your open bar already so closing it at 11 p.m. is very reasonable. My reception was from 6-11 p.m. (cocktail hour was 4:15-5:450) so by 11 p.m. people had plenty of time to drink and enjoy themselves. We were able to have a videographer and it was so worth it. From a personal, sad note, my husband's brother (our only groomsman) passed away unexpectedly this year from a very short battle with cancer and our video is the only video anyone has of him. I am so thankful we have that video.

I've heard people advocate for both...I think both are great and whatever you go with will add to how special your day is. Personally, I think I would just end the bar early and do the video! That is PLENTY of time for people to get they drinks and move on. Your current bar sounds stocked plenty!

I vote for videography ****%. Having your special day on film has greater value than extending the open bar. It’s priceless.

Videography! I think some guests will certainly leave before 11 pm anyway. Five hours of booze is plenty.