Planning to have a bar at your wedding or event? Then the bartender will be one of your most important vendor choices! Before booking anyone, you want to be confident that a bartending service can provide the level of service you expect. Here, we’ve put together a list of 5 questions to ask before hiring a wedding bartender. Use this list to help make sure you choose a good one for your event.
- What’s included in your pricing?
- While pricing isn’t everything, it’s certainly a big one. Before hiring a bartender or bartending service, you’ll want to make sure you understand what’s actually included in their price, and anything that isn’t. Below are some examples of specific things to ask about:
- How many hours of bar service are included? Does setup and breakdown time count toward this total?
- Does the bartending service operate as a “dry-hire” or as a full-service alcohol caterer? In many cases, wedding and event bartenders operate as a “dry-hire” service and legally cannot provide the alcohol. You definitely need to know whether or not alcohol and mixers are included in the quoted price.
- Are cups, straws, napkins, and garnishes included?
- Is ice an add-on? Some venues have an onsite ice machine, but if yours doesn’t you’ll need to make sure you know who is responsible for bringing the ice.
- What equipment does the bartender bring? This may include a portable bar, tables, coolers, cocktail shakers, decor, etc.
- Does pricing differ based on menu selections? While some companies upcharge to serve cocktails, North Georgia Bartending’s standard package price is the same for beer/wine, signature cocktails, and full bar menus.
- While pricing isn’t everything, it’s certainly a big one. Before hiring a bartender or bartending service, you’ll want to make sure you understand what’s actually included in their price, and anything that isn’t. Below are some examples of specific things to ask about:
- Are your bartenders certified & is the business insured?
- Make sure your bartender or bartending service is legit! Your bartender should be certified to serve in your state, and they should carry both general and liquor liability insurance.
- Many venues actually require vendor proof of insurance. Working with an insured bartending service helps protect you in the event that something goes wrong.
- North Georgia Bartending is fully insured and our small team of bartenders are all certified to serve alcohol in the state of Georgia.
- Who will actually be bartending my event?
- Your event is important. It’s a good idea to ask if the person you’re talking to is the same person who will be bartending your event. If not, who will they be sending instead? Knowing who is actually going to show up as your bartender will give you extra peace of mind that your guests will be well taken care of.
- The best bartenders not only make good drinks, they also provide great service that enhances the overall event.
- While many large bartending services just contract out all their jobs, North Georgia Bartending has a small but highly professional bartending team local to north Georgia.
- Can you help me plan my menu?
- Uncertainty about what to serve and how to stock the bar is a super common concern. This is something that any reputable bartending service should be able to help you with.
- Whether you want to keep it simple with just beer and wine, include a couple of signature cocktails, or go all out with a full bar, we’ll give you menu suggestions and a detailed bar shopping list based on your beverage selections and event specifics.
- North Georgia Bartending designs and prints custom bar menus for all of our clients, and we can even create unique signature beverages to make your event that much more personal.
- What can I expect working with you?
- Whether you’re booking a bartender a year out or only a few weeks before your event, knowing the timing of important milestones and who you’ll be interacting with along the way is generally quite helpful. For example, you’ll probably want to understand:
- How do you officially reserve your date?
- What is the payment schedule?
- When should you expect to hear from your bartending company again after booking with them? If you’ve booked far in advance, will they proactively reach out at a scheduled date?
- When will you need to start thinking about specific details for your bar setup? Some of these key decisions will likely include final bar menu, menu design, bar decor, bar service start/stop times, etc.
- Are you able to add services later if needed? Sometimes plans change, and you may find that you need an additional bartender or secondary bar station.
- What type of bar setup will your bartender bring? Will your bartending service design and print the bar menu? What is the bartender or bartending team’s standard attire? How early will they arrive to set up the bar? Can they have a conversation with your guests about available bar selections?
- Whether you’re booking a bartender a year out or only a few weeks before your event, knowing the timing of important milestones and who you’ll be interacting with along the way is generally quite helpful. For example, you’ll probably want to understand:
At the end of the day, you want vendors who will enhance your event and make your life easier. Asking the above 5 questions before hiring a wedding bartender will help ensure your bar vendor is actually a good fit.
When you’re ready to hire a professional bartender for your north Georgia wedding or other event, our small team at North Georgia Bartending is here for you. Put us behind the bar, and know that we’ll take great care of you and your guests!
call or text: 470-641-2581