All Things Bar

Classic Champagne Cocktail Recipe

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:50:29 GMT

Aperol Spritz Recipe

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:45:16 GMT

Classic Margarita Recipe

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:41:33 GMT

How Much Alcohol to Buy for Your Wedding or Party

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:27:40 GMT

How Much Alcohol to Buy for Your Wedding or Party

Buying alcohol for a wedding or party doesn't have to be guesswork. Here's how to plan beer, wine, liquor, mixers and ice, and how our free Alcohol Calculator does the math for you.

Buy too little and the bar runs dry before the first dance. Buy too much and you're hauling cases home. If you're hosting at a venue that lets you bring your own alcohol, or throwing a party at home, getting the amount right is one of the biggest parts of your bar budget.

We don't sell alcohol ourselves, but we help clients plan their shopping all the time. Here's the step-by-step approach we recommend for weddings and parties around the Twin Cities, Stillwater and Western Wisconsin.

Step 1: Start With Our Free Alcohol Calculator

Our free Alcohol Calculator is the easiest way to do this. Enter your event details and it estimates:

Beer, wine and liquor servings, bottles and cases, with an estimated cost
A breakdown by spirit (vodka, bourbon/whiskey, tequila, gin, rum and other)
Mixers, garnishes, ice, straws, napkins and cups

You can even email the estimate to yourself so it's saved for shopping day. Here's what goes into those numbers, so you can adjust them for your crowd.

Step 2: Know Your Guests and Your Timeline

The calculator asks for a few key details:

Hours of drink service. Count only the time the bar is actually open.
Total guests and how many drink. The calculator starts at 85% of guests drinking, and you can adjust it up or down.
What kind of drinkers they are. Choose from light (under 1 drink per hour), average (1 per hour), heavy (1.5 per hour) or very heavy (2+ per hour).
Weather. A hot, humid July afternoon calls for different planning than a cool fall evening indoors.
Number of bar setups. More bars can mean more supplies.

Step 3: Split It Between Beer, Wine and Cocktails

Next, decide what share of your guests will reach for each type of drink. The calculator offers starting points. For example, at events with cocktails it suggests about 30% of guests prefer beer and about 20% prefer wine.

Then adjust for your crowd. Craft beer fans need more beer; a wine-loving family needs more wine.

Step 4: Plan Your Beer

For bigger crowds, a keg can be easier than cans or bottles. Per our FAQ , a standard U.S. half-barrel keg (15.5 gallons) holds about 165 twelve-ounce servings, which works out to 6.8 cases, or about 124 sixteen-ounce pints.

If you're going the keg route, chill it for at least 24 hours before your event. Our 4-tap mobile bar trailer can serve up to four different drinks on tap, so you can offer variety without a table full of coolers.

Step 5: Plan Your Wine and Bubbly

A standard 750 ml bottle holds about 25 ounces, which is roughly five 5-ounce glasses.

Planning a champagne toast? Count it separately from regular bar service, since it's poured for the whole room at once. Ask your bartending team how they handle the pour. For us, it requires a minimum of two bartenders and the bar closes while we pour. Our champagne cart and champagne wall rentals make that moment look great, too.

Step 6: Plan Your Liquor

The calculator assumes a 1.5-ounce pour. At that size, a 750 ml bottle gives you about 16 drinks and a 1.75-liter bottle about 39.

By default, the spirit breakdown is 25% vodka, 25% bourbon/whiskey, 15% tequila, 15% gin, 10% rum and 10% special/other. Adjust it to match your menu. If you're serving two signature cocktails, you can focus your shopping on the spirits those drinks use.

Step 7: Don't Forget Mixers, Garnishes and Ice

Mixers. The calculator's mixer estimates cover cocktails only, not general drinking, so buy extra soda and juice for non-drinkers and kids. Signature-cocktail events usually use fewer sparkling mixers.

Garnishes. The calculator figures about 6 wedges per lime, 8 per lemon and 10 slices per orange.

Ice. Plan on an average of 1–2 pounds per guest. Plan for more if it's hot or you need ice to chill bottles and cans, and always have a little extra. We also offer 18 lb bags of ice and large coolers as rental add-ons.

Cups and glassware. If you're renting glassware, a good rule is about 1.5 glasses per guest, with plastic cups as backup.

If you'd rather skip a lot of this shopping, our Bartender with Supplies package includes cups, napkins, straws, garnishes, water, sodas, club soda, tonic, grenadine and juice boxes for the kiddos. See our Packages page for details.

Step 8: A Few Smart Shopping Tips

Check your venue's rules first. Confirm whether you can bring your own alcohol and what the venue requires. A venue that allows it can save you a bunch on your budget. See a few favorites on our Vendors page .
Ask your liquor store about its policies on unopened bottles before you buy.
Plan the pickup. We can arrange pickup of your order for a delivery fee.
Take care of non-drinkers. Mocktails and a water station keep everyone happy.

Ready to Plan Your Bar?

Run your numbers in the Alcohol Calculator , then let us help you fine-tune them. We serve weddings, corporate events and private parties across the Twin Cities, the St. Croix Valley and Western Wisconsin.

Get a quote online. We're happy to help you shop smart and pour right.

Call us: 651-354-2373

How Many Bartenders Do You Need for Your Wedding or Event?

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:23:29 GMT

How Many Bartenders Do You Need for Your Wedding or Event?

Not sure whether one bartender is enough? Here's how guest count, your bar menu, service style and timing shape your staffing plan, plus a simple rule of thumb to start from.

A long line at the bar can take the fun out of any party. The good news is that it's one of the easiest problems to prevent. It mostly comes down to having the right number of bartenders for your crowd.

We get this question a lot, whether it's a big barn wedding near Hudson, a company party in Minneapolis, or a backyard graduation in Stillwater. There isn't one magic number. The answer depends on four things: guest count, what you're serving, how the bar is set up, and when people will want drinks.

Start With a Rule of Thumb (Then Adjust)

Here's a common planning guideline in the event world. Treat it as a place to start, not a hard rule:

Beer and wine only: about 1 bartender for every 75–100 guests
Full bar: about 1 bartender for every 50–75 guests
Full bar plus handcrafted signature cocktails: plan toward the lower end, around 1 per 50 guests

Every event is different, so the rest of this post covers what pushes that number up or down.

Your Bar Menu Matters More Than You Think

Beer and wine pour quickly. Grab, open or pour, hand off, done. One bartender can serve a lot of guests this way.

A full bar means more choices, more mixing and more questions about brands and options. Each drink takes longer, so you need more hands.

Signature cocktails can go either way. A short menu of two or three drinks keeps things moving because guests order faster and the bartender repeats the same build. A long menu of shaken, muddled drinks slows the line down. We design custom cocktails for our clients, and part of that is building a menu that tastes great and pours efficiently. Browse drink ideas in our gallery .

Drinks on tap are another option. Our 4-tap mobile bar trailer can serve beer, wine, cocktails or non-alcoholic options on tap. If it goes in a keg, we can serve it.

Service Style: One Bar or Two? Any Extras?

Number of bars. Each bar station needs at least one bartender. If your venue is spread out, like an indoor reception with an outdoor patio or a farm venue in the St. Croix Valley with a separate cocktail area, a second bar can cut down on crowding. That means more staff.

Champagne toast or wine pour. This is labor-intensive. As our FAQ explains, we close the bar during a champagne toast or wine pour, and it requires a minimum of 2 bartenders. Plan on roughly 30 minutes to pour for 200–300 guests. So even a smaller wedding with a toast needs at least two bartenders.

Help beyond the bar. Bartenders should stay behind the bar. If you'd also like someone clearing tables, restocking food or washing dishes, look at adding host staff so your bartenders can stay focused on drinks.

Timing: Plan for the Rush, Not the Average

Drink orders don't come in evenly over the night. They come in waves:

Cocktail hour right after the ceremony is usually the biggest rush. Everyone arrives at once and everyone wants a drink.
Right after dinner , when the dancing starts, is often the second wave.
Long events mean your team is on their feet for hours. Enough staff keeps service fast from the first pour to last call.

Also think about setup. For a full bar setup we arrive one hour early, and for just the bartender we arrive 30 minutes early, so the bar is ready when your first guests walk in.

Other Things That Tip the Scale

Your crowd. A group of light drinkers is very different from a crowd that loves a cocktail. Be honest with yourself here.
Weather. Hot summer days mean more trips to the bar for cold drinks and water. A water station rental can take some pressure off the bar.
Kids and non-drinkers. They still visit the bar for soda, juice boxes and kiddie cocktails.
Your venue. Some venues have their own bar and staffing requirements. Always check with your venue coordinator before you finalize your plan.

Putting It Together: A Quick Example

Say you're planning a 150-guest wedding at a Western Wisconsin venue with a full bar and a champagne toast. Using the guideline above, a full bar for 150 guests points to about 2–3 bartenders. The champagne toast needs at least 2 anyway. If the crowd loves cocktails, or you want a second bar on the patio, lean toward 3.

For a 60-person beer-and-wine birthday party in Woodbury, one bartender is often plenty.

Figuring Out How Much to Buy

Once you know your staffing, the next question is usually how much alcohol to buy. Our free Alcohol Calculator estimates beer, wine, liquor, mixers, garnishes and ice based on your guest count, hours and crowd.

Let Us Help You Plan

Every event is a little different, and we're happy to talk through yours. We serve the Twin Cities and communities within about 1 to 1.5 hours, including Stillwater, Minneapolis, St. Paul and Western Wisconsin towns like Hudson, River Falls, Pepin and Stockholm.

Tell us your guest count, date and bar style, and we'll recommend the right number of bartenders. Get a quote online. Cheers!

Call us: 651-354-2373

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Mobile Bartender in Minnesota or Wisconsin

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:20:16 GMT

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Mobile Bartender in Minnesota or Wisconsin

Hiring a mobile bartender for your wedding or event? These are the questions to ask about insurance, alcohol, what's included, staffing, venue rules and non-alcoholic options before you sign.

A great bartender does more than pour drinks. They keep the line moving, keep an eye on guest safety, and make your event feel relaxed and fun. But mobile bartending services vary a lot in what they include and how they work.

Whether you're planning a wedding in the St. Croix Valley, a corporate event in the Twin Cities, or a backyard party in Western Wisconsin, here are the questions worth asking before you book.

1. Do You Carry Liquor Liability Insurance?

This is the big one. Ask whether the company carries liquor liability insurance and whether they can provide a certificate of insurance (COI). Some venues ask for one, so find out early what your venue needs and when.

2. Are Your Bartenders Trained in Responsible Service?

Ask what training the bartenders have, such as alcohol-server certification. Also ask how they check IDs and how they handle a guest who has had too much.

3. Who Supplies the Alcohol?

Some bartending services can sell alcohol and some can't. It depends on their licensing. If they can't, you'll buy it yourself, so ask:

Will you help me figure out how much to buy?
Can you pick up my order, and is there a fee?
What happens to unopened bottles at the end of the night?

Rules around alcohol sales and service vary by city, county and state, and by venue. Check with your venue and your local rules rather than assuming.

4. What's Included in Your Packages?

"Bartending service" can mean very different things. Get a clear list:

Is it just the bartender, or do you bring a bar, cups, ice, mixers and garnishes?
Is travel included, and how far?
Can you create a signature cocktail menu?
Do you offer rentals like glassware, a champagne toast setup or a mobile bar?

5. How Do Setup and Cleanup Work?

Ask how early the team arrives, how much setup and cleanup time is included, and what "cleanup" covers. A good bar team leaves the space the way they found it.

6. How Many Bartenders Will I Need?

A reputable company will recommend staffing based on your guest count, bar menu and timeline. Be cautious if the answer is always "one" no matter what. Read our guide on how many bartenders you need for a starting point.

7. Does My Venue Have Rules We Need to Follow?

Before you sign anything, check with your venue. Ask whether outside alcohol is allowed, whether outside bartenders need to be insured, if there's a required end time for service, and where the bar can go.

8. Do You Offer Mocktails and Non-Alcoholic Options?

Not everyone drinks, and those guests deserve something better than a plain soda. Ask about mocktails, what's available for kids, and whether water is easy for guests to get to.

9. What Are Your Policies on Shots, Tips and Attire?

Ask whether they serve shots, how gratuity is handled (tip jar or added to the invoice), and what the bartenders wear.

How Give Us A Shot Handles These Questions

We've been bartending and working events for more than a decade. Here's how we answer each question:

Insurance: We're fully insured with liquor liability insurance, and we provide a certificate of insurance once you book.
Training and safety: Every one of our bartenders must be TIPS certified. We don't serve anyone under 21, so please ask your guests to bring ID. We also have the right to refuse service to anyone who appears intoxicated.
Alcohol: We don't have a liquor license to sell alcohol. We can arrange pickup of your order for a delivery fee and help you figure out how much to buy. Try our free Alcohol Calculator .
What's included: Our packages each include 30 minutes of setup, 30 minutes of cleanup and up to 1 hour of travel. Every bartender brings an ice bucket, bottle opener, shaker, beverage mat, bar towels and bins to chill your drinks. Our Bartender with Supplies package adds a portable bar with linens, cups, napkins, straws, garnishes, water, sodas and mixers, and juice boxes for the kids.
Setup timing: We arrive one hour early for a full bar setup and 30 minutes early when it's just the bartender.
Extras: We offer custom cocktail design, a light-up bar, a 4-tap mobile bar trailer, a champagne cart, a champagne wall, glassware, coolers and a water station. We also offer host staff to help clear tables, replenish food and wash dishes.
Mocktails: Yes! We love making non-alcoholic drinks, and our tap systems can pour non-alcoholic options too. We also offer kiddie cocktails.
Policies: Our beverage packages don't include shots, which helps keep the night safe and the bar stocked. We can use a discreet tip jar or add gratuity to your invoice. Our team dresses in all black, and we can adjust to fit your event.

Let's Talk About Your Event

We're based in Stillwater and serve the Twin Cities and communities within about 1 to 1.5 hours, including Western Wisconsin towns like Hudson, River Falls, Pepin and Stockholm.

Get a quote online. We'd love to raise a glass at your next event.

Call us: 651-354-2373