Finish according to the evening you are hosting.
There is no single correct wedding bar finish time. Match cocktail service to when guests will use it, the venue's event timings and your booked service hours, rather than automatically paying for every hour the room is open.
Consider evening arrivals, the first dance, food later in the night and transport home. A service window can be too short if it ends just as the evening party builds; it can also be longer than you need if most guests leave earlier. Agree the finish and any final-order arrangements before the wedding.
A practical example
If evening guests arrive well after dinner, a package focused only on the afternoon reception will not cover their part of the celebration. Compare the actual periods you want served, including any planned break.
What to confirm for your wedding
- Evening guest arrival and departure pattern
- Booked service window and venue closing arrangements
- Any planned pause between reception and evening
Continue with the related wedding planning guide. For the bar, team and cocktail supplies together, see our wedding cocktail packages.
Tell us about your wedding with the date, postcode, guest number and the times you want cocktails served.