Bartending!

Our cost for next year is $950 (this is with a small discount already applied) for 2 bartenders, they bring the garnishes and maybe ice. I believe we supply the mix, alcohol, and license. They also clear empties from tables throughout the night. They will also be doing a bubbly bar for cocktail hour and supplying all the sparkling wine, fruit juice, and fresh juice garnishes for that. (bubbly bar cost was $300 add on, so I guess our cost for just the bartenders for the regular bar would be $650 plus cash tip). I thought that was a great deal for the service they're providing. They gave us an option to either cash tip them ourselves or have them set out a jar, which we declined setting out a tip jar and instead will just do a cash tip ourselves. We've found it can be misleading at wedding bars where some guests think the money in the jar at the bar is going to the couple and so will throw a $20 in there but really it's the bartenders tip. We would rather keep it simple and tip out the bartenders separately ourselves. I think with your info one of the things they're providing themselves is the glassware which adds in, and was it just one bartender or 2 they are providing? it was explained to us that we need more than 1 due to the fact they will need bathroom breaks etc and can't leave the bar unstaffed during that time. Considering you're getting ice, mix, and glassware provided, that does add up. But I'm not sure if I'd be letting them keep the proceeds of the toonie bar...Like someone else said, you'd have to do the math and find out which way you're better off doing depending how much drinking you're expecting

The deal sounds good as the bartender is providing much of the serving ware and other things to make it easy on your end. The tips would make up for what you would have to give end of the event and bringing the cost down saving on your budget. I would agree to this deal and sign the contract.

View quoted message Yea unfortunately the venue literally has nothing for us to use

If they're bringing the equipment, I can see why it's that expensive.


Can they not use what the venue has? If the venue has mixers and glasses, I'd just hire a bartender for $40/hr and it's $400 for a 10 hour day.

I feel like this was within the range I saw when I was looking at bartenders in Vancouver. Not sure about Alberta pricing though so hopefully someone else can give their opinion.

Regarding the toonie bar - I would do some quick math to determine what that amount actually will be - so the number of your guests x approximate drinks per person x $2. If it's going to be less than $550 then that sounds like a fair deal, but I'd guess they have this agreement because the toonie bar usually takes in more than $550 and so they make money on it.