As you plan your wedding, a big question will come in to play, one way or another. Do you have a cash bar, or an open bar? This decision is not an easy one. On one hand, you want to provide an experience for your family and friends. On the other hand, being budget conscious is important to your planning process. So what do you do? This blog gives you pros and cons of each the cash bar and open bar. We also review third options, that can help you decide on your final action to your wedding day.

Firstly, let’s clarify the difference between the terms.

The first option – An open or host bar means guests attending don’t need to pay for anything they drink. It is assumed that you, the client, are responsible for the final bill at the end of the evening. 

The second option – A cash bar is simply where the guests pay for the drinks they consume. Much like a restaurant or any regular bar. 

Now, there is a lot of grey area between these two options, which we will dive into at the end of the blog. 

PROS OF AN OPEN BAR

For the guest, it’s awesome

Guests love an open bar. You will never go to a wedding and hear someone complain that the drinks are free. With an open bar, the evening becomes more about the drinks flowing instead of trying to figure out tabs, cash or however the guests will pay.

Photo credit: Aiota Photography

‘Liquid Courage’ encourages socializing

It can always be a bit daunting to strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know. With a glass of wine in one hand, it gives the guest a chance to let loose, just a touch. It encourages guests that might not know one another to chat, making the wedding an overall better atmosphere.

Photo credit: Ivory Embers

Guest stay longer if the drinks are complimentary

Often times, the dinner is finished, and guests are ready to get down and party. Than they learn that drinks are costing upwards of $8 for a single drink. A guest can feel almost taken back by the cost, and just choose to drink at a local bar or go home. With an open bar, the guests are more likely to stay longer and have fun during that epic dance party.

Photo credit: Jelger + Tanja 

It’s way faster service

From a venue and vendor perspective, the service is way faster. Imagine having all 150 of your guests slam the bar for a drink order. Think of the ‘dance’ of placing your drink order: “what do you want to drink, how would you like to drink it, how would you like to pay for the drink, I’m sorry, there’s only a two drink minimum”, etc. With an open bar, a venue or bar service can have a bunch of pre-poured glasses of wine, perhaps a punch or a signature drink ready to go on trays for guests. With a drink in their hand, guests feel welcomed to the reception and the evening can begin without having to wait in line.

CONS OF AN OPEN BAR

Some opinions will say it’s tacky

In some cultures, families and circle of friends, a cash bar to be seen as ‘tacky’. When hosting a wedding is about providing the best for your guests, and can also be seen as a reflection of you and your family, you’re likely to hear, “no one will be paying for a drink at my insert name of person getting married here’s wedding”.

It can get sloppy, really fast

With no limit or control, some guests can take advantage of the free bevies. If you have guests that consistently go over their limit in their consumption, an open bar might not be the best choice.

The bill can get out of control

With no budget, the bill can be unknown. Which makes it hard to stay close to the budget you had in mind. Without keeping track of that bill amount at the end of the evening, you could be paying for it the next year after your wedding.

Photo credit: Ivory embers 

PROS OF A CASH BAR

You know your bar bill before the wedding starts

From a cost perspective, a cash bar makes sense. You won’t have a huge surprise at the end. You will know the cost of your wedding way before the wedding day itself. There is comfort in knowing how much you’ve spent on your wedding and knowing the budget won’t change literally by the minute.

Photo credit: Teryn Lee Photography

Guests will be in control, unless they want to pay for it

This is a great way to ensure your guests don’t get to crazy. That is unless they want to fork up the bill and pay for it themselves. It’s their choice and on their dime!

Way less work for you, the couple

Now you don’t have to sit down, figure out bar menus, go through all signature drinks available. All that thinking is over! You can just let the bar, restaurant or hotel offer whatever it has available on the bar. If your guest chose to order a vodka soda, they can choose a low end or really high end vodka. Best part: It’s their choice, and at their cost.

Photo credit: Elyse Anna Photography 
Cocktails: Coastal Cocktail

CONS OF A CASH BAR

People will complain

There is always one person in every crowd that will voice their opinion about the cash bar, and having to pay for their own drinks. This is something that can’t be avoided. If it’s someones date, it’s ok to say, “yep! And that’s that”. However, if it’s a parent or someone very close to you with issues about guests paying for their drinks, have a conversation with them. If budget is your concern, perhaps this person will be willing to contribute to the overall bill.

Service can be impacted

With a cash bar, service slows down. It can be tough for two bartenders to keep up with everyone’s drink order when everyone is thirsty. A solution is to offer a free punch so everyone can get a drink, but can wait for their alcoholic beverage of choice.

Photo credit: These Days Photo + Video

Is the venue set up for electronic transactions?

If you are choosing to have a cash bar, is there a float involved? Remember – most people carry cards these days. You have to let your guests know it’s cash only, so they don’t go hunting for an ATM at your wedding. It can really dampen the mood. From there, who is the person in charge of this float? Once there are 50s and 20s only, who will run out to grab those five dollar bills and coins? And lastly, who is managing your money for your float? If a dollar amount is off at the end of the night, then who is to blame?

THE THIRD OPTION

With these options, you don’t just have to have one or the other, you can blend an open bar and a cash bar.

TOONIE BAR

• PRO: It’s a great way to encourage guests to pay, but it’s cheap so it’s acceptable
• PRO: It makes guests think twice about leaving a half empty glass around the venue
• CON: Carrying a roll of toonies can be heavy, literally. Ladies already fit a phone and lipstick into a tiny clutch, where will the toonies go?
• CON: The float, again. Who is in charge of this once it’s filled with bills and requires coins?

DRINK TICKETS

• PRO: Guests get some free drinks, and you know that exact budget
• PRO: You can get beautifully designed tickets that blend in with your decor
• CON: If you limit the drink ticket to a type of alcohol (beer and wine only), people might complain or it can get complicated with upgrading using the ticket and then paying the remainder.
• CON: Dollar store drink tickets are tacky, don’t put these on your guests place settings

Photo credit: Isle & Oak Photography 
Stationary: Inky Dot Design

LIMIT YOUR BAR

• PRO: You know what you are serving, and can choose the times of day to limit it to beer and wine only, then maybe open it up later for dancing and fun. Offer a full bar or at least highballs/spirits.
• PRO: Most venues have a package you can choose from, making selection way easier
• CON: Guests will complain if they can visually see another type of liquor available but it’s not part of the limited bar. You can choose at this point to open all options to your guests, they just have to pay full price.

Photo credit: Ivory Embers

FINAL THOUGHTS

• If you are going with cash bar, we highly suggest getting wine for the guest tables. This keeps your guests in their seats during dinner and speeches. There’s nothing worse than the clinking of ice and chitchat at bar, while someone is giving a heartfelt speech.
• Do not leave this to chance, have some type of plan! Don’t be afraid to ask your venue, planner or caterer for options.
• If you have a toonie bar, we suggest selling drink tickets that are valued as a toonie. That way, someone can buy more tickets at once, reducing the amount of actual coins.
• If you are selling drink tickets and the money is yours, have someone you trust monitor this.
• If you want to have a fully stocked bar, have lots of food available.
• Have a lot of non- alcoholic options. Punch, fancy water, coffee and tea. Anything to quench their thirst!

Photo credit: Ivory Embers