I would say 80% of my clients are REALLY into open bars and having premium labels for their wedding reception. The other 20% can care less, which is totally fine, too. (I’m not a big drinker myself). When you’re getting married at a venue that provides catering and bar services, you’re pretty lucky to not have to deal with the nitty-gritty, since there is usually a bar package and charged by headcount. If you’re more adventurous and getting married in a venue that allows you to bring everything in, then I highly recommend you hire a bartending service to help you along the way, and create a craft cocktail experience.
Guest blogging today is Iveth Navarro of LA Speakeasy, answering your frequently asked questions about BYO alcohol and bar services.
Why should I hire bartending service?
The number one reason to hire bartending services for your wedding or special event is to keep the bar organized. You’re investing a lot of time, money and energy in putting together a nice event for your friends and family and just hiring someone to serve your guests and keep everything neat is a tremendous value; an unattended bar can get nasty really quick. Beyond that, you may also want specialty drinks and/or the convenience of full-service. Also, you may want to find out what the venue’s policies are regarding the service of alcohol; chances are you need to hire someone and they may have to provide some kind of documentation to the venue- license, certificate, insurance, policy forms, etc.
How many bars and bartenders do I need for my event?
Having one central bar at your event is the most efficient setup, as long as there’s enough space and staff for it. Sometimes, however, it makes more sense to have multiple setups; in which case you may need to spend a little more on supplies and staff time.
Regarding how many bartenders are needed- this would depend on the types of drinks being served. Here’s a quick breakdown based on my experience:
- Beer & wine only – 1 bartender / 100 people
- With easy mixed drinks (i.e. vodka+cranberry) – 1 bartender / 75 people
- With signature drinks (like these) – 1 bartender / 40 people
Where can I buy the beverages?
The place I always recommend is BevMo. They have consistent product selection throughout their multiple locations and ordering online is really easy. They also offer free delivery throughout Los Angeles on purchases over $500, which is so convenient for our clients since we’re always there to receive it. (Don’t forget to get ICE!)
Should I rent glassware or go with disposables?
This really comes down to personal preference and budget. Personally, I love cocktails presented in glasses, but it’s much more work (and expensive) than disposable. Here are some pictures to illustrate the difference…
Glass
Plastic
What do I need to buy and how many bottles?
This is a pretty loaded question but a good rule of thumb is one drink per person per hour (which is usually more than enough). This means if you’re expecting 100 guests for 5 hours you’ll need about 500 drinks. And what you’ll need to purchase depends on what you want to serve (everyone is different).
Sample Shopping List:
Here’s a sample shopping list for a standard open bar (no menu) using the above reference of 500 drinks:
Tip: We don’t like working with large bottles but they offer so much value. If you want to go this route purchase one large bottle for every two regular.
About LA Speakeasy
LA Speakeasy was founded by Iveth and Vincent– your average bartending couple doing what they enjoy every day; connecting with clients, creating new content, collaborating with awesome vendors like In The Clouds Events, and most importantly making drinks!
They both came into bartending and mixology back in 2012 and have worked hundreds of events since. In June 2017 they decided to offer more than just a bartending service but a craft cocktail experience. That’s when LA Speakeasy was born. For people who can appreciate the craft or simply enjoy a delicious drink, they offer the best value and one of the most convenient options for hosting your very own craft cocktail bar. When the drinks matter #laspeakeasy.
