


HIRE A LICENSED BARTENDER HOW TO
Here's how to know what you're looking for:ĭo you want someone who is heavy-handed on the vodka pour and simply takes a pre-made mixer to a plastic glass? This is a bartender. To figure this out, she says you must consider the type of experience you are looking for for your guests and your wedding. When hiring a bartender for your wedding, one vital aspect is determining if you truly need a bartender-or if, instead, you're seeking a mixologist, says Diane Kolanović-Šolaja, the creative director and owner of Dee Kay Events in Howell, New Jersey. "Additionally, bartending services should also be able to provide references upon request." Consider a mixologist. "Couples tend to leave insightful and thorough reviews of their vendors, especially considering this is one of the most important events of their life," he says. Kilroy recommends using a site like The Knot to look at previous reviews of different agencies if you're hiring through a bartending service. That's why, as with every vendor hire, it's important to do research and look at reviews. Since a wedding bartender cost isn't cheap, you don't want to waste your hard-earned pennies are someone who will ultimately disappoint.
HIRE A LICENSED BARTENDER FULL
But, for the average five-hour wedding where the bartender provides full bar service and alcohol in a middle-tier package, the range is about $40 to 70 per person, Chang estimates. Location and seasonality also play a factor here: Miami will definitely be more expensive than a small town in Ohio. What the bartender is providing (i.e., just service, service and alcohol, service and alcohol and glassware, etc.) The drinks you plan on having (i.e., beer and wine, limited bar, full open bar, etc.). "High-quality bartenders will have the ability to work fast and hold an immense knowledge of mixology," he says.īut how much does it cost you? According to Jamie Chang, a destination wedding planner, the budget for a bartender depends on four things: When hiring a good bartender, don't go the cheapest route since it's worth your investment to hire those with experience, Kilroy says. How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Bartender for Your WeddingĪs with most vendors for your wedding-you typically have to spend a little more to have the optimal experience you crave for your wedding day.

"If a couple isn't sure about hiring certified staff, they should speak with the catering contractor to gather more information on their bartenders' certifications." "While it doesn't necessarily have to be a bartender serving the alcohol at a wedding, they are the ones who will most likely have the required certification," he continues. While liquor laws vary from state to state, most state liquor regulations insist anyone serving alcohol at a licensed venue is required to be TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) certified, or hold equivalent certification, explains Stephen Kilroy, the senior vice president of Table & Banter Hospitality at The Park in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.
