Closing the bar during dinner

We have 3 hours of open bar and will be doing that. Cash bar is the norm in Wisconsin...so I am not worried about anyone not having cash. We are doing an open bar for Cocktail Hour, we will close the bar from 6-7 when dinner is being served and ate, and reopen the bar for dancing from 7-9. Anyone who wants to drink more are certainly welcome too. Anyone who wants more to drink during dinner, is certainly welcome to pay for their own. We are having a sign right next to the bar so our guests know.

I think almost every wedding I've ever been to has closed the bar during dinner service, and at 36 years old I've been to a lot of weddings. I believe this is something set forth by the venue, not a request by the couple. I am surprised how many people have not heard of that, so maybe it has something to do with state regulations? I always found it stupid, but they blame it on wanting people to listen to the speeches or to watch the first dance or some other nonsense. That being said, most people know the bar is going to close and just get a drink before they go to sit down. It's really not that big of a deal.

We will be closing the open bar during dinner, and having wine service at the tables instead. This way we avoid guests getting up during dinner and going to the bar, it also allows us to extend the open bar through the reception (has to close 30 minutes before the end of the event but that’s the law).

I haven't ever heard of this before... I agree with FutureMrsD.... I would be frustrated if I needed a drink (even just water) and not be able to. I guess I don't really know why this would even be a thing. What good does it serve?

We didn’t close the bar. We did beer and wine only during cocktail hour and full bar was available starting at dinner. People were more worried about getting their food at dinner than waiting for a drink!

I never been to a wedding that they closed the bar. I was just at a wedding and I enjoyed being able to get up and grab another glass of wine to enjoy with my dinner

The venue we chose keeps the bar open for dinner, but most of the ones we toured closed the bar during dinner and only offered wine service. I think it kind of depends on your time line a bit if it would be an issue or not, but a lot of places do it to keep guests from walking around during speeches, dances, and cake cutting. For my family that would have been a huge issue so we were very conscious of that when making our decision. I don't think it would be a big deal for a lot of people/weddings but if you have the special brand of drinkers that we do, it might raise some eyebrows.

I’ve seen this happen at a lot of weddings. Our venue actually requires it, so we will close the bar during dinner.

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This is what we are doing. The bar will close for dinner and it will save us a few thousand dollars

Its definitely not that uncommon in my area. It's not only for the reasons people described (distractions with people getting up and milling around, cost, etc.) but also as a preventative measure for people getting too drunk too quickly. I think we all know that one friend/relative that would drink all 5 hours of the reception if they could! I've been to several weddings with this, and it's never been a big issue. It's one of those details that seem large but in execution works flawlessly. Hope this helps!

My venue does this. Mostly to break down one bar and set up the other. Also I believe they have waiters that will come around and get drink orders during dinner so people are not getting up through speaches and things of that nature

I've seen it done but will not be doing it at my wedding.

The 2 weddings I've been to since turning 21 and noticed is they closed the bar during the speeches and 1st dances

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There should be glasses of water on the table or the waiters should be walking around pouring water table side along with tea, lemonade etc. You don't go thirsty at a wedding just because they don't have alcohol at a wedding or just because the bar is closed for alcoholic drinks during the wedding

View Quoted Comment Yes for most of this, except sometimes the bar closes from cocktail hour and takes 30 minutes to set up again at the reception. In our case it had to do with the staffing and setup, not being cheap or the bar package. That’s what happened at ours and we had servers pouring wine during that time, and same, white glove service to bring them their drinks for dinner once they could.

I've been to weddings where the bar closes during the dinner. Honestly, it's not a big deal and it's only been closed for a short time PLUS there were bottles of wine on the tables. They do this so there's no distractions during the the entrance, speeches and toasts. We're doing buffets and theme stations so our bar will stay open the duration of our reception but if we we're doing a sit-down dinner I would consider closing it for a short time.

Perhaps a regional difference, but whenever someone must leave their table to get a drink, the bar is always closed during dinner. And whenever servers take drink orders and diners do not need to get up, the bar is open. That has been true for every catering service where I have worked, too. The obvious point, people should not be getting up and sitting down while servers are in the aisles with trays of food or drink. And they should be eating, or socializing with table mates during the meal part of the reception. It is disruptive to have people co.ing and going repeatedly. Usually once seated, people leave no more than once for a buffet. And at many buffets, after the initial serving before sitting down, any extra portions are dealt with by servers.

Its very common.

We are closing the bar during dinner but we opinion for water, ice tea or wine (red or white). And once dinner is over and cleaned up the bar will open for the last two hours of the reception

I haven't heard of it being closed during dinner, but when touring a venue, the coordinator told us that they did have a couple who had cash bar for the cocktail hour, opened it up for dinner and a good bit of the reception, and then an hour or so before the end of the night, had it go back to being a cash bar.

Bar is open. Wide open. Lol Both our family's are huge drinkers though 🤷‍♀️