How Much Does a Mobile Bartender Cost? Your Complete Pricing Guide for Arizona Weddings & Events
One of the first questions couples and event planners ask is:
“How much does it cost to hire bartenders for my wedding or event?”
Totally fair—budgeting is a huge part of planning any celebration.
Whether you're hosting a wedding in Scottsdale, a private event in Phoenix, or a backyard party in Gilbert, here’s a transparent breakdown of how mobile bartending pricing works at Garnished Bar and why each component exists.
This guide explains it all: bar top rental, per-guest fee, bartender staffing, supplies, gratuity, and everything in between.
1. Bartop Rental – $250 Flat Fee
Our custom bar top is one of the biggest visible upgrades to your event. This fee includes:
✔ Renting our professional-grade bar top
Stylish, sturdy, polished, and photo-ready for weddings and upscale events.
✔ Loading + unloading
It takes two staff members to safely transport, set up, and break down the bar.
✔ Setup and teardown labor
You don’t lift a finger—we handle placement, leveling, lighting (if applicable), and full breakdown.
✔ Transportation
Delivery across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, and Peoria.
Why it's worth it:
DIY tables wobble, look messy, and don’t support bar tools or ice loads well. A real bar setup massively elevates the guest experience.
2. Per-Guest Fee – $15–$18 per guest
Your cost per guest depends on the size of your event. Larger groups = better pricing.
This fee covers the bulk of your supplies and consumables:
✔ All mixers
Fresh juices, soda, tonic, ginger beer, club soda, lemon/lime juice, etc.
✔ Garnishes
Citrus wheels, lime wedges, salt/sugar rims, herbs, dehydrated fruit.
✔ In-house syrups & specialty ingredients
This is where we shine. We make our syrups in-house for better flavor—like our signature habanero syrup (a huge hit for spicy margaritas).
✔ Ice
LOTS of ice, especially for outdoor Arizona events.
We bring the proper amount based on guest count + weather.
✔ Cups, napkins, straws, stir sticks
Everything your guests need—no last-minute store runs.
✔ Prep time
Batching syrups, slicing garnishes, prepping specialty cocktail components.
✔ Event-day replenishment
We keep everything stocked, chilled, and running smoothly.
Why it varies:
Larger events allow us to scale ingredients and supplies more efficiently, bringing down the per-guest cost.
3. Bartender Staffing – $200 per bartender
Staffing is simple:
The typical rule of thumb is 1 bartender per 50–75 guests, depending on the menu complexity.
This fee covers:
Trained, professional bartenders
Responsible service certification (Title 4)
Travel + setup time
Full event service
Breakdown
All tools + equipment
Cocktail craftsmanship (not just pouring)
Why staffing matters:
Understaffed bars create long lines. Overstaffing wastes your money.
We help you choose the perfect number of bartenders based on your guest count and drink menu.
It also means you don’t have to rely on your nephew to whip up your favorite cocktail at the most important party you’ve thrown yet.
4. Hourly Fee – Covers Supplies, Craft Ingredients & Gratuity
Your hourly fee includes everything required to run a high-quality mobile cocktail bar at your event. Here's the breakdown:
✔ Supply Costs
Garnish prep, mixers, syrups, ice, barware consumables, and custom drink ingredients.
✔ Labor Beyond Pouring
Setup time before the event
Mixing, batching, prepping ingredients
Breakdown and cleanup
Travel time for staff
Ice management
Packing/unpacking tools and equipment
✔ Wear + Tear on Equipment
Shakers, strainers, coolers, bins, cutting boards, etc. all require ongoing maintenance or replacement.
✔ Gratuity
We include gratuity to keep your final bill predictable and eliminate awkward tip jars at weddings.
The goal: One simple hourly rate that keeps your event polished, smooth, and fully staffed without surprise charges.
5. Additional Costs You Don’t Pay With Us
Many venues charge extra for items we include automatically. With Garnished Bar, you do NOT pay for:
❌ Ice fees (often $100–$300 at venues)
❌ Mixer packages
❌ Garnish packages
❌ Bar tools or cooler rentals
❌ Setup or teardown fees
❌ Corkage fees
❌ Required alcohol packages
We let you provide your own alcohol to save thousands—and yes, you can buy from Total Wine or Costco and return any sealed bottles you don't use.
6. What a Typical Event Investment Looks Like
To help you visualize costs, here’s an example:
100 guests in Scottsdale wedding
Bartop rental: $250
Per-guest fee ($15 × 100): $1,500
Bartenders (2 at $200 each): $400
This gives you:
Full mobile cocktail bar
2 bartenders
Complete supply coverage
Craft syrups + mixers
All ice & garnishes
Setup + teardown
Fully custom cocktail menu
Professional service
Gratuity included
Most couples spend significantly more at venues that require pricey alcohol packages.
7. Why Mobile Bartending Is Often Cheaper Than Venue Bar Packages
Most venues charge:
$30–$60 per person for bar packages
Additional fees for signature cocktails
Corkage fees
Per-hour bartender fees
Mandatory gratuity
Ice charges
Bar setup fees
With a mobile cocktail bar, you control your alcohol budget.
And returning unused alcohol at Costco or Total Wine saves even more.
8. Transparent Pricing = No Surprises
Garnished Bar is built around transparency.
Everything is itemized, upfront, and easy to understand.
We serve Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, Glendale, and Peoria with customizable packages for weddings, private events, corporate events, and intimate parties.
