The Pros and Cons of an Extended Cocktail Hour
More time means more food and drink. And more food and drink means more money spent on food and drink. Plus, many open bars operate on a fixed number of hours of service. If your heart is set on more than an hour between ceremony and reception, there is a way to have the best of both worlds. "We suggest suspending the open bar service in favor of wine service at dinner," says Olascoaga. "Some venues will allow you to split your bar contract and allow some of the service during cocktail and the remaining service after dinner for the rest of the evening."