When to close the bar? Votes

Maybe the first half hour of dinner and the last half hour of the reception?

Our venue closes the bar at dinner time. It helps all be seated and then it's easier for everyone to be served without people moving around too much while that is occurring. It's up to you but I'm not sure I would do it at the last hour, though many are usually leaving by then.

I guess I would do it at the end of the reception. As a guest, I'd much rather be able to get drinks continuously rather than being cut off for an hour in the middle of it.

I'd close the bar during dinner if you are serving wine with the meal. Most people expect to have wine, vs. cocktails, during dinner.

Another option is to close the bar for half an hour during dinner. Then, half an hour before the reception ends, close the bar and put out coffee and maybe a small snack (like mini donuts).

We're closing the bar during dinner time. The majority of our guests will be staying at the hotel rooms on the grounds so no real need for them to sober up.

Usually banquet halls will close the bar during dinner and place wine on the tables. It works, so that's my vote. People will usually grab something before the bar closes also.

During dinner

if you close the bar an hour early people will leave. i'm serious. i would think that the party is over

Good point Kate!

I think we'll go with closing during dinner.

Check with the venue. Most places here require the bar to shut down an hour before the end of the event. You may not have much choice. It's a good idea in any case to let people sober up.

Agree with Tina!

Dinner, I wouldn't even know it was closed.... just have no bartender there.

I think it's fine to close the last hour of reception. I wouldn't leave. When the DJ/band is done playing, then it's time to go home. I just think I'd rather have the option to get drinks during dinner.

We can choose when it closes, they don't have any requirements.

We had to close our bar down an hour before our reception ended. It's a requirement where I live that any establishment must shut down an hour before the bar, club, wedding closes down.

We also closed it down during dinner, which is quite common for every wedding I've been to. If you do this, get your DJ, MC or someone to announce it just before such as "We will be starting dinner in 5 minutes, make sure you grab yourself a drink as the bar will be closed during dinner."

I would want to be able to get drinks during dinner and have the bar close during the last hour.

We also have 4 hours of open bar. Our cocktail hour is from 6-7. Then reception is 7-11. The bar will be closed for our introductions, first dance, and toasts as the waiters will be going around with champagne. After that our guests will start going to the buffet and the bar will then open (around 745ish). We will then close it down at 1045 as the reception will end at 11.

We're closing our bar an hour before the end of the reception. Reception runs from 5 to 10, including cocktail hour, and the bar closes at nine. There are several bars close by, so if people want to leave early to go to the after party, I have no problem with that.

Last hour. Do what you can to not contribute to drunk driving.

My first instinct was to close the bar for the last hour of the reception.

I closed my bar a half hour before the reception ended. Can you pay for an extra 1/2 hour to keep it running throughout the night and the bar don't close at all.