Bartender fee at a private wedding reception?!
Bartender fee at a private wedding reception?
there will be a chuch wedding with a private reception in in-law's home to follow. There will be approximately 100 people. What is the fee for a bartender and what does the bartender supply/what are we responsible for aside the choice of alcohol?
Answers:
You are responsible for the alcohol and set up (lemons, limes, mixers, glasses etc.). The bartender is there to pour the drinks. As for the payment...How long do you plan the reception to be. I bartend at Christmas parties and if it is 4 hours I'd ask for 200 to 300 dollars depending on how many are at the party. I also ask to keep tip. And when I work those parties I always took my wine key, bottle opener and shaker. Just in case they were not provided. So have those items on hand in case the bartender you've hired doesn't bring them.
For about 100 people offer the bartender 200 plus he/she gets to keep the tips.
What kind of beverages are you wanting to serve? Beer and wine. Or beer, wine, and liquor. If you are serving just beer and wine have a few domestics like Bud, Bud Light, Coors Light Miller Light and an import like Heineken. With wine have a white (Chardonnay), red (Merlot) and blush (white Zinfandel). For a bar with liquor have vodka, bourbon/whisky, rum, and gin. Mixers needed will be club soda, tonic, coke and diet coke, ginger ale, cranberry juice, orange juice, and 7-up.
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Don't be afraid to ask every question in the book. It's their job to make sure they'll be doing the best job. Anything from if they bring their own table, linens, glasses, ice, garnishes, fees, you name it. Ask if a gratuity is figured into the bill. Even if it is, I'd slip the person $50.
It would be an hourly rate... do not allow the bartender to accept tips (make sure there is not an empty glass out to receive tips, either). I would think about $20-25/hour, depending upon your location, w/ your bartender cutting the limes/lemons, disposing of his/her own trash, and exercising a bit of discreet judgement when pouring for the barflys. I'd tip them about another hour's wage at the end of the night.
THE BEST THING TO DO IS TO ASK THE BARTENDER!!!!!!!