If you’ve been to a wedding or other large celebratory event, chances are you were able to take advantage of an open bar. An open bar allows all guests to drink freely without having to pay. Guests enjoy being able to drink what they like, while hosts appreciate the convenience and also watching guests enjoy themselves.

The open bar is generally paid for by whoever is hosting the event. The catering company most likely includes the open bar as part of the catering package. If this is the case, guests will have to settle for the hall's choice of liquor brands. Sometimes the hosts will have to pay extra for their guests to enjoy high quality or "top shelf" liquors.

There are pros and cons to an open bar.

The Pros:

• Guests can refill at their leisure. Instead of waiting for a server to come by, they can take it upon themselves to get their own drinks as desired.

• Guests can drink their favorite beverages rather than choosing from a limited menu. If their preference is for a certain brand of liquor or type of wine, this usually isn’t a problem.

• Even guests who don’t partake of alcoholic beverages will love being able to choose from an assortment of “virgin” drinks rather than the same old soda, juice or water.

The Cons:

• Some guests might over indulge. Nothing ruins a wedding like drunk, rowdy guests. Moreover, the host of the wedding can be liable if the guests are caught driving under the influence.

• An open bar might cost more money than having limited beverage options. For the family with unlimited means, this might not be a problem. For a family that wants to throw a nice wedding but can’t afford top shelf liquor, it might be best to stick with limited beverage options.

• Many guests spend their time around the bar instead of at the main events of the wedding. The open bar is a convenience, but it shouldn’t be the main event.

If an open bar is within your budget, look into it to see if it is right for you. It gives your guests the convenience of getting their own drinks. Letting them fend for themselves gives you one less thing to worry about. Most catering facilities have a bartender on staff and the cost is covered in your contract. If you don’t imbibe and would prefer not to have an open bar, see if you can get a discount.

If you are going with an open bar, designate a couple of bridal party members to check on the guests to make sure everyone is acting in a responsible manner. Have them confiscate car keys and call a cab if they feel a certain guest may have had too much fun. When it comes to an open bar, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.