Message 17737 of 39188 in General Discussion

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Ivoriesope,
I have some great ideas for you. Personally, I think there should always be 1 
bartender per 100 guests, but, you can get away with this and make it work by 
making part of the bar area self service. Self service at a wedding is 
acceptable if you use champagne fountains. They are a nice touch. Do you know 
what these are? You can rent them at a party store for about $40.

This is what I see: 2 long tables set side by side longways and 2 round tables 
angled at each end of these tables. The 2 bartenders can stand behind this. 
You will need to build UP a bar on top of the long tables (not more than half 
the width of the long tables so that the bartenders have storage and working 
room). This can easily be done by getting some concrete blocks, or milk 
cartons and laying something flat across these. (All of this should and would 
be covered up with linens) You are going for a height around normal bar 
height. This will step you up and out of the 
we-don't-know-what-we-are-doing-cept-what-we-learned-at-a-college-frat-party 
stage. The bartenders will highly appreciate it and besides it just looks 
better and more professional. 

Now, place the self service chmapagne fountains on the linened round tables. 
One will be non-alcoholic (for kids, pregmant women, people that don't drink) 
and the other one not. Make sure that you label them. Make up a name like John 
and Betty's Wedding Day Punch.....or I can help you later with this (this will 
be fun for the guests). There are some really yummy wedding punches that I can 
recommend. Behind the bar only have beer and wine.

Walking up the the bar area one would see 2 bartenders standing behind a linen 
clad bar with 2 self service champagne fountains on the ends. Glasses will be 
arranged around the fountains and on the bar at both ends, the choices of wine 
and beer are displayed on top of the bar. You'll have your monogramed cocktail 
napkins and a coupla bowls of mixed nuts. (Also, don't know if you are 
allowing a tip jar, but if you are then this can be placed in the center.)

Behind the bar the bartenders will have beer and wine on ice, glasses, extra 
glasses to keep the fountain ends stocked, and extra pre-made punch for both 
fountains to keep them full (the #1 thing about the fountains is not to let 
them run dry or it will burn out the motor), big trash can and all the other 
essentials.

This is the most efficient way for 350 people. If you'd like to add one more 
cocktail, then the bartenders can mass produce it and serve it. However I will 
tell you that usually the bigger the event the least amount of choices there 
should be. (Example: if you go to a big art gallery show in NYC then all you 
will see is white wine and bottled water). But it really all depends on what 
your sister wants. At a wedding/celebration I think I'd provide (if your 
budget allows) a red and white wine (or maybe your guests would like white Zin 
since it's pink), an import beer and a light domestic beer, the punches for 
the champagne fountains, bottled water, coke, diet coke, 7 up.

Make sure that you tip your bartenders at the end since they will be losing 
direct potential tips with the self service fountains. This set up should keep 
things flowing. Just make sure  you allow a large wall area that allows lots 
of room and flow.

Email me and tell me if you plan to rent glassware or use plastic and I can 
also help you with the cocktail recipe for the fountains. If you decide not to 
have the fountains then I would have the bartenders make 2 specialty cocktails 
as well as providing the beeer, wine, etc. What you plan to serve will have to 
be decided before I can help you with the amounts that you need to purchase.

Cheryl


> Hi Cheryl,
> 
> I'm actually helping my sister with her wedding.  She's hired 2 
> bartenders and the bar will be set up on a table top (not an actual 
> bar).  So I imagine the bartender won't even be able to get to crazy 
> with mixing drinks.  Anyway, she put me in charge of purchasing the 
> alcohol.
> 
> There will be approx. 350 guests for about a 5 hour period.  The age 
> range will vary from kids to grandmothers.  So it's a wide range.  My 
> sister will have a budget for the alcohol, but even with the budget, 
> I'm not sure where to begin because I don't know what everything 
> costs.  
> 
> I've started on a list and this list is based solely on what I like 
> to drink and what I've seen my friends drink.  So far I have red and 
> white wine, beer, gin, vodka, tonic, orange juice and cranberry juice 
> on my list.  I know there's a lot more alcohol out there.  I just 
> don't have any experience with anything else.  HELP!
> 
> Thank you so much for any help you can provide!!


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