Late-night wedding and liquor question

Lol Meka yes please.

We are having an open bar, but the venue requires us to book a vendor with a city of chicago RETAIL license and my understanding is, technically those vendors can serve as long as they want just as if you were in a bar. In Chicago, bars don't close until 3 or 4. Although I don't know if there is a certain number of hours total they can serve by law. I keep asking that and I get very vague answers.

Chicago is just such a racket.

Hey lady,

What about allowing the guests to serve themselves? That is what I will be doing once the bartenders have to legally stop serving alcohol. My wedding will be going till 3 am or 4 as well.. for the same cultural purposes.

Kris if they are only stopping the serving of alcohol at 2 then I don't see this as a problem. Because if I am trashed at 2 it is only going to get uglier by 4. Like Labake says those extra 2 hours can be used to sober up and work off some of the liquid calories. BUT if they are trying to stop serving and pull glasses then that's a problem to me. It sounds like they are trying to get out of there early.

See I knew we had more in common Leena! lol.

I wish we could - it's in our contract that cannot happen. All liquor must be served by an appropriately licensed/insured/certified staff person.

How are you able to do that? Are the bartenders just leaving and leaving all the bottles out? Is your venue aware and okay with that?

Aaaah, Labake I just went back and read your edit. That's what I would do too, so that would be fine with me, I just wasn't sure if that would be weird for anyone else. If that's not a concern I can check that off the list and go to my next concern-

The pulling of glasses and the FFIL. Also the fact that this particular company is pretty rude and I don't want to give them our money but I can deal with that if need be.

If FFIL is sitting at a table with his buddies at 2:15 and somebody tries to swipe his glass he's going to make a scene and we will literally never hear the end of how cheap and embarrassing our wedding was.

Kris, is it too late to find another vendor?

Here's a few I just Google'd

http://www.bartendonthego.com/

http://www.theeventplanner.com/bartender.htm

http://twistbartendingservice.com/

http://www.gigsalad.com/Event-Services/Bartender/IL/Chicago

Meka we're totally working on it. We've been through all the vendors with liquor licenses in the city - either they're booked, or they don't do liquor-only service, or their timeframes are even more restrictive and they want to stop serving at 1, or something else.

We're not giving up - we're going through the phone book and my DOC is off the charts helpful. Just trying to figure out our "worst case" scenario.

I could use a few days on the beach! I'll PM you my address so you can send me your invitation! lol.

Sorry Hon, tried to help : (

Save the PM babe I'm out of invites and refuse to order anymore. Just need to know your meal selection.

Until 1:30am and bar will be open until the end

We are providing our own alcohol. The venue allows it. Both FH and my famly Love to Party so we will be there til the last person goes home.

FH has already started to purchase the clear liquor. Right now we are stocked on Ciroc, Amsterdam, Smirnoff, Patron & Moscato. This weekend he is going to purchase more.

Aw, you googled for me!

You know, the first one on that list is unfamiliar to me. I'll send it to our DOC just in case.

I'll eat anything as long as it's gluten free and FH will have the chicken.

How do you feel about schnitzel and pierogi and polish sausage? lol.

Thank you everyone for the ideas!!! It's really helpful to brainstorm. I'm sure there must be a very simple solution I'm just not thinking of. I appreciate everybody's feedback and suggestions!!!!!

Could you offer to pay to get a retail license for a business that is willing to serve later? i have no idea how much that would cost- but it's an idea.

Our DJ is scheduled to play until 2 a.m., we have to be out by 3 a.m. We are having an open bar, so we'll probably have last call around 1:30 a.m.

Shellie that's an interesting idea. I'll pitch it and see what happens.

Thank you!

Haha, indeed

Dang, that stinks about what's written in the contract. We are bringing our own alcohol and hiring outside bartenders. We also will be purchasing some sort of license to allow us to serve our own alcohol once the bartenders leave. Not sure how that would work in your state, but I know AZ allows it. It wouldn't hurt to research it =)

Our venue was technically a private home(B&B), so we were able to bring our own booze keep the booze flowing until the wee hours. Our bartender worked until 12:00.

I would close your bar at 2:00 and perhaps do your midnight sausage snack with a polish punch of sorts (there has to be one that involves vodka)or coffee and liquors(Sambucca, etc) from 2:00 - 4:00. Guests can serve themselves and you could get that really nice plastic for the last 2 hours.

Great idea Mrs. Carole. I don't know how strict the venue would be?

Kris we just play good cop, bad cop. FH is the bad cop.

Have you tried calling places in Chicago that serve alcohol late to get suggestions from them?

The polite companies- do they have any suggestions for you or do they just say no, it's not possible?

Thanks Labake. I think the coffee and cordials could work maybe.