Open bar, cash bar, or limited bar: comparing the real cost and the real etiquette

Bar cost is one of the largest and most unpredictable line items in a wedding budget, and the format you choose changes both the price and how guests experience the evening.

Open bar

The couple covers every drink, either at a flat per-head rate or against actual consumption. It's the most guest-friendly option and the one most etiquette guides recommend, but consumption-based pricing can run well over budget if the crowd drinks more than expected.

Cash bar

Guests pay for their own drinks. It keeps costs predictable for the couple but is widely considered poor etiquette in a lot of wedding cultures, guests generally expect not to pay for anything at an event they were invited to.

Limited bar (the middle ground)

• Beer, wine, and one or two signature cocktails covered, with liquor available for purchase
• Open bar for a fixed number of hours, then cash bar afterward
• A drink ticket system, a set number of free drinks per guest before it switches to cash

This format covers the etiquette expectation (guests aren't paying from the start) while giving the couple real control over the total cost, and it's become the most common choice for exactly that reason.