How much do bartending services cost in Los Angeles?

Professional bartending services in Los Angeles start around $70 per hour per bartender for a standard event, with final pricing based on guest count, event length, bar setup, and add-on services like cocktail design or full event production. Contact us for a custom quote tailored to your event.

How many bartenders do I need for my event?

As a general rule, plan for one bartender per 50 guests for standard service, or one per 35 guests for cocktail-heavy events. We help you confirm the right staffing ratio based on your guest count, bar style, and timeline.

Are your bartenders licensed and insured?

Yes. All Platinum bartenders are licensed and insured, and we operate in full compliance with California ABC regulations. When required, we obtain an event-specific ABC permit before your event date. Host liquor liability and general liability insurance are available, and additional insured status for your host or venue can be added for a fee.

What areas do you serve?

We serve Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Palm Springs, and Las Vegas, with other locations available upon request.

How far in advance should I book?

We recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance to secure your preferred staff and date, though we can often accommodate shorter timelines. Peak dates and large events should be booked as early as possible.

Do you provide the alcohol and handle the ABC permit?

We provide full bar setup, mixers, glassware, and bar rentals; clients typically supply the alcohol, and we secure the event-specific ABC permit where required. Let us know your needs and we'll handle the compliance details.

How to Hire a Bartender for a Wedding

Sep 1

Written By Jesse Owens

Bartenders pouring drinks behind the bar at a wedding reception in Los Angeles

Yes, you can hire a bartender for a wedding, and the process runs in five steps: settle the guest count and timeline, decide who supplies the alcohol, check insurance and certification, book the date, then brief the team. Bartenders are $70 per hour, one per 50 guests, with a 4 hour minimum and a $100 service charge per staff member.

Step one: guest count and staffing

Divide the guest count by 50 and round up. Weddings usually run at medium consumption, three to four drinks per guest, and a second bartender is recommended at medium or heavy, so a 60 or 80 guest wedding is a two bartender job. A 120 guest wedding is three. Medium also sets the drinks price, since package prices double at medium and triple at heavy.

Step two: the timeline sets the hours

Book the hours the bar is open, not the length of the wedding. Walk the day in order: cocktail hour, dinner, toasts, dancing, last call. The bar is busiest at cocktail hour and again when dancing starts, quiet through dinner, and closes before the booked hours run out.

Most weddings land on 5 or 6 hours of bar. Three bartenders for 6 hours is 3 x 6 x $70 = $1,260, plus $100 each, so $1,560. Add a barback at $70 per hour, and a banquet captain at $90 per hour once staff numbers reach double figures.

Step three: who supplies the alcohol

Two ways. You buy the alcohol and pay for staff by the hour, with no per guest charge. Or Platinum supplies the drinks on a package: a full bar is $19 per guest light, $38 medium and $57 heavy, and craft cocktails with a full bar are $37, $74 and $111. A 120 guest wedding at medium on the full bar is 120 x $38 = $4,560. Package prices are at book.platinumbartender.com.

Step four: what the venue will ask

A hotel or event venue asks questions a house party never does.

Proof of general liability and liquor liability insurance. Platinum Bartenders carries both, plus workers' compensation.
A certificate of insurance naming the venue. Ask early, because venues set their own wording.
Whether staff are employees or contractors. All are W-2 employees of Platinum Bartenders LLC.
RBS certification for anyone pouring. Every bartender is RBS certified.

California alcohol rules turn on the venue, the property and whether drinks are sold rather than hosted. Confirm what applies with California ABC or your venue.

Step five: lock the date and brief the team

A 100 percent deposit secures the booking, so the date is held once payment is made in full. Card payments carry a 3.6 percent fee, bookings inside 48 hours a 20 percent rush surcharge, and recognised holiday dates add 50 percent to staff cost. Then send the run sheet: load-in time, where the bar sits, the drinks, and who calls last call.

Common questions

How far ahead should we book bartenders for a wedding?

As soon as the venue and the date are fixed, because the date is held only once the booking is paid in full. Booking inside 48 hours adds a 20 percent rush surcharge.

Do we need a licence to serve alcohol at our wedding?

It depends on the venue and on whether alcohol is sold rather than hosted. A licensed venue often needs nothing extra; private property sometimes does. Platinum can obtain an ABC one-day permit for $1,950 where one is required. Confirm your case with California ABC or your venue.

Can we buy the alcohol ourselves and hire the staff only?

Yes. You supply the spirits, mixers, ice and glassware, and pay for bartenders by the hour with no per guest charge. Some venues restrict this, so ask them first.

To price your wedding by guest count and hours, build a quote at book.platinumbartender.com, call 310-985-3014, or email info@platinumbartender.com.

Jesse Owens