Beer, Cocktails & Beverages

» bootscoots7 - Being hired to bartend wedding

I was asked to bartend a wedding for 400-500 people. They would like me to supply all of the beer, wine, liquor, cups, straws, ice, etc.
Would anyone be able to help me fiqure out what to charge per hour and how to fiqure amounts on liquor, beer, wine, and pop?
I appreciate any help that can be given.

-- posted by bootscoots7

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» Angie Rayfield - Being hired to bartend wedding

In response to Being hired to bartend wedding posted by bootscoots7:

I don't know if I would begin to hazard a guess about prices - I would imagine that the per hour charge varies from region to region. It would also make a difference how elaborate a bar that you'd be presenting.

But as far as amounts - if this is a dinner with a dance afterwards, figure 4-6 drinks per person. A general guideline for what to buy per 100 guests would be:

Beer - 9 cases (3 domestic, 3 imported, 3 light)
Wine - 5-8 cases (3-4 Chardonney, 1-2 White Zinfandel, 1-2 Cabernet Sauvignon)
Champagne - 1-2 cases
Vodka - 5 liters
Gin - 3 liters
Rum - 2 liters
Scotch - 2 liters
Rye or Bourbon - 2 liters
Kahlua - 3 liters
Vermouth - 750ml

You may also want to consider having 1 liter each (for each 100 guests) of Irish Cream, Grand Marnier, Amaretto, Sambucca, Brandy, Frangelico, Cognac.

For mixers, you'll probably want orange juice, cranberry juice, tomato juice, clamato, club soda, tonic, coke, diet coke, 7-up, and ginger ale. Also consider milk, tabasco, worchestshire sauce, lemon and lime juice, and sour mix, as well as lemons, limes, cherries, cocktail onions and olives.

Talk to the bride & groom about what they expect - are they wanting you to go all out with fancy cocktails and blender drinks, or are they looking for simple mixed drinks? You can help save them some money (and yourself some headaches) if you suggest they might make a list of available cocktails - a bar menu, if you will. If they want a very simple bar, you can get by with the beer, wine, and champagne, then add vodka, gin, whiskey, and rum. Those are the most popular liquors. (You'll need to adjust the amounts from the above list if you drop some of the liquors.)

A couple of other suggestions for keeping costs in line - suggest that the bar be closed during dinner, and shut it down a good hour, if not two, before the end of the party. (Let people sober up before time to leave - it's not just economics.) Also suggest that guests be served only mixed drinks, not shots - shots run up the amount of liquor used in a hurry, not to mention the "rowdy" factor. And when you buy the liquor, ask the store about their return policy - unless you're special ordering items, most stores will accept returns of unopened bottles. If that's the case, keep a close eye out to make sure that bottles aren't being opened willy-nilly.

Oh, and make sure that the reception site has a liquor license!

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