Tips for planning and executing the perfect mobile bartending experience for you and your guests.
Planning a wedding or event is overwhelming. In this blog, we outline 5 things to consider when selecting your mobile bartending company to help make the planning process efficient and day of experience exceptional.
Know What What Your Mobile Bartending Company Offer
Before you start searching for a mobile bartender for your event, it's crucial to check the alcohol policies of your venue—every place has its own rules! Once you’ve done that, the next step is to inquire about what services your potential mobile bartending company offers. Some companies are only licensed to pour beer and wine, some are dry hire only, some are licensed to offer beer, wine, and spirits with the booking, making them full service, some bring the bar with them, some need to be provided with a bar space…the list goes on!
So…what does Tipsy Trailer offer? In short, all of the above!
Full Service Packages (Alcohol Included): Open bar, cash bar & drink tickets, and billed by consumption with select beer, wine and spirits available with your booking.
Dry Hire Packages(Alcohol NOT Included):
Silver package - pouring beer, wine only, seltzers & champagne only
Gold Package - pouring beer, wine only, seltzers & champagne + 3 signature cocktails or mocktails
Gold+ Package - pouring beer, wine only, seltzers & champagne + 3 signature cocktails or mocktails with premium mixers & garnishes supplied. (bitters, specialty juices, custom simple syrups, herbs, etc.)
Platinum Package - pouring beer, wine only, seltzers & champagne + unlimited basic cocktails with *Basic mixers & garnishes supplied. (club soda, tonic, sodas, cran, simple, lime, lemon, etc.)
One of our favorite things about Tipsy Trailer, are the trailers themselves and how they can elevate your event with a fun guest experience BUT if you have a bar space ready to use in your venue, we also offer hourly bartending packages so Tipsy can still bring the party to your event…just without the trailer!
Cocktails & Mocktails
Are mocktails in and cocktails out?
Maybe not for everyone, but a 2024 survey by NCSolutions found that 41% of American adults plan to drink less in 2024. With Gen Z also embracing an alcohol-free lifestyle, what does that mean for your wedding or event?
If you think a portion of your guest list will not enjoy a cocktail, don’t settle for just soda, juice, or sparkling water. Instead, ask your bartending company about offering mocktails!
At Tipsy Trailer, we believe that cocktails and mocktails are equally important! Fun, unique drinks can help enhance your guest experience, whether they contain alcohol or not. With Tipsy Trailer on your vendor team, no one will feel like they are at the “kid table.”
When you choose one of our packages that includes signature cocktails, we can easily swap one or even two of the cocktail offerings for delicious mocktails. You know your guests best, and we want to ensure everyone has a fantastic time.
During your consultation meeting, we’ll discuss your guest list demographic, how much alcohol to plan for (including beer, wine, and spirits), and what your signature cocktails should be. We’ll also explore if a mocktail or two might be a great fit for your event!
Planning
Yes…MORE planning. We know you’re probably exhausted from all the preparation that goes into a wedding or event, but one important question to ask your bartending company is: how much planning do they offer?
Is a planning meeting included in your booking, or is it an extra cost? Do they help you determine how much alcohol you will need and what drinks to offer? Do they provide decor for the bar? Who is responsible for those cute drink menu signs?
When you book Tipsy Trailer, we will schedule a planning meeting to go over ALL of these details and much more. As they say, a goal without a plan is just a wish—and we are here to help turn those wishes into reality!
Things We Will Cover in Your Planning Meeting
Mobile Bartending Package: We’ll help you choose the best package for your event.
Trailer Selection: Which trailer will fit your theme or venue best?
Signature Cocktails: We’ll discuss your signature cocktails.
Mocktails: If mocktails should be included, we’ll help you select those drinks.
Responsibilities: Who is responsible for providing what? Depending on your chosen package, this will include alcohol, mixers, garnishes, and more.
Event Timeline and Service Offerings: We’ll work with you to outline how long cocktail hour will last, whether there will be table-side wine service at dinner, how to announce last call based on venue policies and more about the timeline.
Decor: We want to ensure our mobile bars enhance all the planning and prep you’ve done to make your venue perfect. During our planning meeting, we’ll discuss basic decor options, the possibility of incorporating florals from your florist, and additional decor offerings to create your ideal bar experience.
And More! This is a great time to ask questions about whether event staff should be considered, if a satellite bar is needed, and anything else related to your mobile bartending experience!
Capacity
As much fun as it is to talk about drinks and decor, it's crucial to ensure that logistics are covered. One important question to ask your potential mobile bartending team is: does your mobile bar company have the capacity to serve your group efficiently?
A general rule of thumb is one bartender per 75 guests if you are serving only beer and wine, and one bartender per 50 guests if you are offering cocktails. Given the nature of mobile bartending and the constraints that a trailer can bring, it’s important to ask your bartenders if they have the staff and space available to accommodate your guest list. We’ve all seen those long cocktail hour lines, and no one likes to wait in them—not to mention, no wedding professional likes to see them form!
At Tipsy Trailer, all our mobile bartending trailers are suitable for events with up to 200 guests. For events with more than 200 guests, we recommend adding a satellite bar. Additionally, our guideline is one bartender per 60 guests, and a bar-back is required for events with 150 or more guests.
We also offer additional event staffing if table-side wine service will be provided during dinner. This is an extra charge we can discuss during your planning meeting to determine if it’s an ideal addition for your event, based on your venue, bartending package, and guest list.
WOW Factor
At Tipsy Trailer, we believe our "wow factor" truly sets us apart from other mobile bartending companies. Our carefully crafted package offerings and add-ons are designed to elevate your events and leave a lasting impression.
We provide a variety of trailers with unique aesthetics to complement your event's theme, along with an array of drink garnishes, bar signs, and rental decor options such as whiskey walls, champagne walls, vintage furniture, and specialty drinkware. Our goal is to ensure your guests are genuinely impressed by the drink selection and presentation.
While many companies focus solely on pouring drinks, we aim to deliver an experience that goes beyond the basics.
So, be sure to ask: What unique offerings do you provide that create a "wow factor" and enhance the guest experience?
Who knew there were so many logistics and creative elements to consider when booking a bartender?Be sure to keep these factors in mind as you search for the perfect mobile bartending company for your wedding or event!
Think Tipsy Trailer is the right fit? Book a consultation with us today, and let’s start planning your mobile bartending service with all these considerations in mind. We’re here to elevate events and exceed expectations.
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