Hosts who have planned parties of significant size have had to come to terms with their need for caterers, rental companies, florists, valet service and even, on occasion, event coordinators. For some reason though the idea of hiring a professional bartender to pour wine, mix drinks, welcome guests as they arrive and keep on eye on rambunctious revelers all the while dispensing valuable relationship advice (as all good bartenders do), falls into the camp of extravagance with gilded lilies and weekends in Paris.
Ask professional party planners about what can really sink an otherwise flawless party, though, and a chorus of voices will come back with the same answer, the absence of capable and professional bartender. Ask around Seattle for a recommendation and one comes up over and over again at Martini's Bartending Services. Martini¹s Bartending Services will provide you with professional bartenders, the bar themselves, glassware, stemware, wine and spirits (if your caterer is not handling this Martini's will even do the shopping), as well as that relationship advice. Costs vary, but a bartender serving a full bar for a four-hour party with 50 guests (glassware included) is about $15-$20 a person (not including tips).
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