A shower or an engagement party is usually hosted by someone who loves the couple and would like to enjoy the day too. Hiring a bartender is how the maid of honor, the mother of the bride or the best friend with the nice backyard gets to stay out of the kitchen. This page covers how we run bars for bridal showers, engagement parties and bachelorette gatherings across New Jersey.
What a shower bar looks like
Showers are daytime events with a mixed crowd: grandmothers, college friends, coworkers and a few people who are not drinking at all. The bar should suit all of them. A typical setup has:
- A mimosa or bellini bar with two or three juices and fresh fruit
- One signature cocktail named for the bride or the couple, with a printed menu card
- White wine, rose and a light beer or seltzer
- A proper non-alcoholic option, so nobody is handed a warm soda
Our bartender arrives 60 to 90 minutes early, builds the bar, pours for the length of the party and breaks everything down afterward. The host does not lift a bottle.
The mimosa bar, by the numbers
A 750ml bottle of sparkling wine makes about eight mimosas at a half-and-half pour. Daytime guests usually have two or three. Planning on three:
| Guests | Mimosas | Sparkling wine (750ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 60 | 8 bottles |
| 30 | 90 | 12 bottles |
| 40 | 120 | 15 bottles |
| 50 | 150 | 19 bottles |
Buy the same volume of juice as sparkling wine. A half-gallon carton covers about two and a half bottles. Orange is the default. Peach puree makes it a bellini, and cranberry, pineapple and grapefruit give guests something to choose between.
Prosecco and cava are the usual picks. There is no reason to pour expensive champagne into orange juice.
How much to buy for the rest of the bar
By the standard rule of two drinks in the first hour and one per hour after, a three-hour shower comes to four drinks per guest. Daytime crowds often drink under that, so treat it as the ceiling. Buy to it and return what stays sealed, where your retailer allows it.
For 30 guests with a mimosa bar, wine and one signature cocktail, a reasonable order is:
- 12 bottles of sparkling wine
- 6 bottles of white or rose
- 1 case of light beer or hard seltzer
- 2 bottles of the spirit in your signature cocktail
The alcohol calculator will size it for your exact headcount.
Signature cocktails for a shower
Every event we work gets a signature drink. For showers the requests we hear most are:
- Something pink. A rose spritz, or a vodka drink with strawberry and lemon.
- Something herbal and light. Gin or vodka with cucumber, mint or basil and fresh citrus.
- The bride’s actual favorite. Her usual order, made properly and given her name.
- A matching mocktail. The same drink without the spirit, on the same menu card.
More ideas are on the signature cocktails page.
Engagement parties
Engagement parties are evening events more often than not, and they run like a small private party: one bartender for up to about 50 guests, beer, wine and a short cocktail list, and a toast. Two things are worth planning for:
- The toast. One bottle of sparkling wine for every six to eight guests. Plastic flutes can be added to your booking.
- The first hour. Everyone arrives at once and heads to the bar. That is the hour we staff for.
A couple’s signature cocktail at the engagement party can become the one served at the wedding.
Bachelorette and bachelor gatherings
For a house party or a rental weekend at the Shore, a bartender for one evening turns the group’s big night in into an event. Frozen drinks are a common request. Our frozen mixers package comes with strawberry daiquiri and pina colada mix and a bar blender. We need at least seven days’ notice, and rental houses should confirm the owner’s event policy first.
Where showers happen, and what to check
- At home. The simplest option. We work from a kitchen island, a patio or our own portable bar.
- A clubhouse or community room. Ask about the outside-vendor and alcohol policy. Many require a certificate of insurance, which we can provide.
- A fire hall or rented hall. Confirm whether outside alcohol and bartenders are allowed.
- A restaurant or licensed venue. Licensed venues usually require you to use their own bar, so check before you plan around an outside bartender.
You buy the alcohol, we pour it
In New Jersey the host buys the alcohol from a licensed retailer and our bartender pours it. We cannot sell it to you, and neither can any bartending company without a liquor license. You pay shelf price and keep what is left. The dry-hire explainer has the full picture, and where to buy alcohol has retailer tips.
What it costs
Bartending service is $6.90 per drinking guest for up to four hours, with a 20-guest minimum. A 30-guest shower comes to $207 in service. Ice, cups, mixers, garnishes and a bar rental can be added if you would rather not shop for them. See pricing and packages and add-ons.
Common questions
Is a bartender worth it for 20 or 25 guests?
If the host wants to be present for the party, yes. Small events are where a host most often ends up stuck behind the drinks table.
Can you do a completely alcohol-free shower?
Yes. See the mocktail bar page. It is a common choice for baby showers and for brides who are not drinking.
How long should a shower bar run?
Most showers run two to three hours. The four-hour base rate covers the whole event, so there is no need to cut the bar short.