"Open Bar or Cash Bar" - The Positives and Negatives to a Open and Cash bar.

Every bride has wondered, "open or cash bar?" There are many positives and negatives to each, but the reality is that no one bar type fits every wedding! It depends on a number of factors,  like your budget and guests. 

Open Bar

Positives-

Guests save money

Starting with the obvious,  your guests won't have to shell out money for drinks (remember to put out a tip jar,  though!) There's not much more to elaborate on here- everyone loves saving money!

Party atmosphere

Ask yourself what type of partiers your guests are. Will there be a lot of your college friends there, ready to down shots and dance the night away? Do you want the reception to feel like a big party? Do you want it to go late into the night? An open bar almost guarantees a late night party! With the alcohol flowing, the dance floor will fill up and the guests will be more encouraged to keep the party going.  

Thanks guests and makes them feel more welcome

Your guests will really feel taken care of if they have complimentary drinks during your reception. It'll feel more like a party. It will also create fun memories that everyone will keep with them forever. 

Negatives- 

You spend a big chunk of your budget

Of course, an open bar is never cheap. If you've been stretching your wedding budget,  an open bar may not be in the cards for you. And that's ok!

Guests may get too drunk

Do you have a few guests that you just know will drink past their limits? To avoid any drama, damages, or obnoxious scenes, you may choose a cash bar instead. As we mentioned above,  it's all about knowing your guests. 

Driving home safety

This isn't a fun part of the night to think about, but it's important.  Do you feel your guests will drive home responsibly? The last thing you want on your wedding night is to feel responsible for a drunk driving incident. 

Cash Bar

Positives-

You save a ton of money on alcohol

Small budgets reap the benefits of a cash bar! 

Responsible drinking

Guests will be much more likely to drink responsibly with an open bar,  reducing the risk of any drunken accidents or scenes. 

Negatives-

Guests may feel restricted if on a budget

Guests on a budget or struggling financially may not be able to drink at your reception. 

Guests may get upset with bartender if they feel their order is incorrect 

Since guests are paying for each drink, they will be more critical of taste and ratios, potentially holding up the bar line. 

Party likely to end earlier

The longer guests stay, the more money is coming out of their pockets. This will make the reception more likely to end earlier.  

Compromising

A simple compromise to those on the fence is easy. You could have a limited open bar with just beer and wine. No liquor will likely keep "problem" relatives out of trouble. It's also more affordable. 

Another good option is limiting the hours of the open bar. An open bar that lasts through the first 2 hours of the reception is much cheaper than an open bar that lasts 4+ hours.