OUTSIDE BARTENDERS

Must be from a pre-approved company. If you are hiring outside bartenders, be sure to clear with them their expectations on setup and cleanup of the bar. Are they planning to show up a half hour before the ceremony and everything is ready to go for them? Or will they be there early to setup and ice beer down, chill wine, cut lemons and limes for garnishes? Will they be bringing openers, shakers (if needed), ice? Will they be packing everything up at the end of the night or just walk away and you’ll be in charge of cleanup?

If you have hired outside bartenders, you or they are responsible for making sure bar is setup and ready for the event and cleaned up at the end of the night. All alcohol must be packed up and loaded that evening.

RIVERCREST BARTENDERS

We’re particularly fond of our fun bartenders. They love to help keep the party going! Rivercrest bartenders are $300 per bartender for six hours of service. Set up and clean up is included. Additional service hours are $50 per hour per bartender. Once you bring in bar items, just drop off and walk away - they’ll take it from there. Hiring our bartenders means setup, decorating the bar, and evening bar cleanup are all done.

If using Rivercrest Bartenders, payment and contract is due 30 days from event day. Please do not include bartender payment with venue payment. Checks should be made to Rivercrest Farm Events Services LLC for bartenders.

How many bartenders?

The more guests you have, the more bartenders you’ll need. This is especially true if you have more than one bar or are planning on some additional work, such as champagne pours or offering wine at the table. Two bars should have at least a total of three bartenders. If your event is over 50 people, you must have at least two bartenders. A good recommendation is that for every 50 guests, you should have one bartender.

AMOUNTS

You can choose to have just beer/wine, or beer/wine and a couple signature cocktails, or a full bar. We recommend, if possible, purchasing from a place that will buy back unopened cases, or purchase what you like to drink so any leftovers will be a welcome addition to your home bar.

You know your guests best, so stick with that intuition when purchasing amounts. We recommend checking out some online resources to help you figure out the amounts to buy: Check them out HERE or HERE or HERE.

Planning Tip: For beer, we recommend sticking with either cans or bottles. Kegs don’t travel well and hard to use leftovers.

CORKSCREW JOHNNY’S

If you’d prefer to have mixers and alcohol dropped off, you can order directly through Corkscrew Johnny’s. They’ll help you estimate an amount, deliver and buy back on wine, beer and mixers.

Click HERE for more information.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING?

Not included - you may need to plan to bring:

• Cups for soda, cocktails, lemonade, iced tea. We recommend 9oz plastic cups.

• Ice. We recommend 20 large bags of ice to start (summer weddings or multiple bars may need more than this). There is freezer space to store onsite. We do not have an ice machine. You will need to purchase and bring in. There is a small carry out about two miles from the farm in the town of Somerdale. Click HERE for the address. Or a Giant Eagle near the farm in Bolivar. Click HERE for the address. Rivercrest bartenders can pick up ice and you can reimburse them.

• Alcohol. We recommend pre-purchasing alcohol, or plan to have it delivered by Corkscrew Johnny’s. If you need more. The Somerdale drive thru and Giant Eagle both carry wine and beer. There is a state liquor store in Bolivar; the address is HERE. (Be sure to check their hours!)

• Straws, cocktail napkins, bar menu.

• Garnishes (lemons, limes, etc) and toothpicks to serve them.

• Wine openers, shakers, stirrers, jiggers, muddlers (included with RF bartenders).

• Bar rags (included with RF bartenders).

• Coffee: cups, grounds, creamer, sugar.

Included:

• 250 wine glasses

• 250 water goblets

• 250 champagne flutes

• Antique wash tubs to hold beer.

• Three hammered silver tubs for service ice or wine.

• Two single bottle champagne buckets.

• 1 electric percolator, 2 air pots.

COFFEE

Is your caterer preparing coffee? If not and you want to serve, you will need to bring grounds, cups, and any creamer or sugar. You may want One Fine Day helpers to put out.

We do have a large 40 cup percolator available and two air pots.

Keep in mind: if you or your caterer is using a percolator, it will need to be plugged in in the barn kitchen and served via an airpot. Percolators are notorious for blowing fuses. Another idea if you have only a couple guests that will want a cup: a Keurig is a simple way to serve a small amount of coffee.

Planning Tip: Weddings in cooler weather are especially important to serve coffee! Don’t break grandma’s heart by not having coffee available to enjoy with her piece of cake as she sits in an Adirondack chair, enjoying the fireplace and the Highland cows.

Water

The water on the farm is potable, but it is well water and has a mild taste. We do include gallons of water for guests.

We do not include individual bottles of water. We recommend bringing 4 oz. bottles of water for wedding party and guests - there’s less waste with the smaller size!

Planning Tip: Be sure to make a plan for water service. Is your caterer filling glasses on the tables? Refilling? Are they dropping pitchers off at tables? Is all the water, or water bottles, available behind the bar? If your caterer is not filling water, you may want to hire One Fine Day helpers to help with this, especially for a summer wedding.

LEMONADE/ICED TEA

We do have a few large drink carafes that can be used to serve non-alcoholic beverages. Be sure to touch base with your caterer, bartenders or One Fine Day helpers to make a plan on who is making and refilling these.

COVID: Typically a table with non-alcoholic beverage dispensers works really well, but during this time we ask that all containers be served from behind the bar to minimize contact.

THE CHARLESTON BAR

The Charleston Bar is an elegantly fabulous dose of chic. With 9x9’ shelves as a backbar, it creates a gorgeous backdrop to display bottles and glassware.

Not included with venue rental. The Charleston Bar rents for $1000 and includes two Rivercrest bartenders and luxury display items, including one of our highland cow skulls (if that fits your aesthetic!), faux greenery swag, and candles.

Can only be used down below on the concrete pad (same level as the fireplace). Perfect if your dance floor is here!