Every bartending service structures its package differently — some are bare-bones, some are all-inclusive, and pricing can be per-hour or flat-rate. Whichever service you choose, confirm these components before signing: Setup time (normally 90–120 minutes before bar service begins) Inventory custody — who’s responsible for repackaging and transferring leftover alcohol Drinkware — cups, straws, beverage napkins, garnish picks Equipment — keg taps, jockey boxes, tubs, coolers, water dispensers, bar tools Menu signage Travel compensation, often charged for locations 60+ minutes outside a service’s home market Portable bar and back bar setup Most services would also charge separately for consultation and detailed planning documents — but Planabar provides those to couples for free, regardless of which bartending service you ultimately hire.

A few questions can save you a lot of surprises later: What insurance is required — general liability, liquor liability, and named insured documents? What is the venue’s policy on overservice or guest intoxication? Are shots or doubles allowed or restricted? What’s required for cleanup of the bar area afterward? What equipment does the venue actually provide — a physical bar structure, coolers, ice tubs, keg equipment, floor mats — versus what you or your bartending service need to bring? Planabar stores information from partner venues in our database, so when you enter your venue during your Planning Session, your agent will populate all of these details and more from your chosen venue.

An open bar typically costs between $15–$30 per guest per hour, depending on your region, the liquor selection, and whether you’re paying a flat per-person rate or by consumption. For a 4-hour reception with 100 guests, that’s a real number to plan around — especially with a deposit already paid and six months of unknown economy ahead. The good news: your bar can be designed around almost any budget, and Planabar offers real consultation on where you have room to save — serving kegs instead of bottled beer, batching cocktails ahead of time, prioritizing fresh ingredients over premium-label spirits, or buying wine by the case for a retailer discount. Planabar calculates your actual alcohol needs based on your specific guest count and menu style (Call Bar, Featured Cocktails, or Beer & Wine only), then helps you find where your budget has real flexibility — so you’re in control of the cost, not guessing at it.

Almost always, yes — and most venues will require it. Even for a simple beer-and-wine setup, most venues require a licensed and insured professional to serve alcohol, both for liability reasons and because you don’t want Uncle Jack learning to make cocktails for the first time in front of your toasts. Expect to pay somewhere between $300–$700 total, and confirm upfront whether that includes equipment and drinkware or just labor — it varies a lot by service. The good news: you don’t need to figure out the rest yourself, and you’re not locked into any one bartending company either. Planabar generates a complete, professional-grade Event Sheet and Purchase List for free — documents detailed enough that any licensed bartending service can pick them up and execute your bar with zero back-and-forth, so you’re free to hire whoever you want.

Not exactly — a liquor license is what a venue or business holds to sell alcohol, so as a couple hosting a private event, that’s not something you need to obtain. What you may need, depending on your state and municipality, is a one-time event permit — often called a Special Event Permit or Banquet Permit — which typically costs somewhere around $10–$20 and covers serving alcohol at a single event rather than an ongoing business. Requirements vary by location, but your venue will already know exactly what’s needed and can walk you through the simple process. Planabar’s venue database includes house rules and permitting notes for supported venues, so this can surface automatically as part of your planning session.

Nothing — Planabar is always free for couples. Tell us about your vision and ideas in one guided planning session, and you get a complete Event Sheet, Purchase List, and Digital Menu, no cost, no catch. We’re able to offer this for free because Planabar generates revenue through partnerships with venues, planners, and vendors — not by charging the couples actually planning the wedding.

Tipping for wedding bartenders isn’t as standardized as restaurant tipping, so it’s worth settling before your contract is signed, not after the reception. A few things to know: Always discuss tipping directly with your bar service before signing — confirm whether gratuities go entirely and directly to the bartenders themselves Some services include automatic gratuity in their pricing; most offer a rate with and without a tip jar included, so ask which applies Professional bar services typically display a tasteful tip sign with a QR code or link to apps like Cashapp or Venmo, making cashless tipping easy for guests If you expect your guests may be unlikely to tip — for cultural reasons or otherwise — arranging a direct gratuity with your bar service beforehand is the cleanest option If you as the couple want to hand bartenders a cash tip yourselves, arrange it through your planner or day-of contact ahead of time — reception wrap-up is chaotic, and tracking down your wallet is the last thing you’ll want to do It’s completely normal to simply ask your bartenders at the end of the night how tipping went. If they’re well taken care of, great — if not, a supplemental tip on the spot is always appreciated