Three Tips Thursday: Stir It Up Mobile Bar, Vol. 1
We’re coming to you in the middle of the month with brand-new content!
I have been wanting to transition our newsletter from monthly to weekly for quite some time, but my creative juices simply weren’t flowing. As I typed out our last newsletter and included three things I had learned so far on this journey, I thought about how helpful it would be to also hear advice from other industry professionals.
I’m happy to present what I have aptly named, “3 Tips Thursday” and what will be the new format going forward!
The first Thursday of the month will remain our traditional newsletter, where I share my “musings” and current happenings around the venue.
The remaining Thursdays in the month will now be dedicated to short but helpful posts where our preferred vendors (“friendors”) share three tips to help people plan events with less stress.
My hope is that clients will benefit from the invaluable tips shared, our vendors will have another space to highlight their services, and we will gather advantageous information that will make us better, more capable venue hosts. A win-win-win.
We hope you continue to follow along, gain some great tips for the next time you plan a party (even if it’s not here ;)), and get a few laughs in along the way.
So, without further ado, I would like to introduce our very first “3 Tips Thursday” interviewee, Yasmin of Stir It Up Mobile Bar!
Photo Credit: Gardens of Weber Manor.
THREE TIPS
Yasmin, a fun and crafty bartender and business owner, founded a mobile bar service called Stir It Up Mobile Bar located here in South Florida.
We were first introduced to Yasmin through one of our brides who hosted her wedding in the venue, and the connection couldn’t have come at a better time. We’ve since had several brides ask us about mobile bar services, and after witnessing the beautiful cocktails and professional service she and her co-bartender provided, we can confidently recommend her business to future party hosts.
“People are going to remember the drinks that they had and the food that they ate, so the service has to make a lasting impression,” Yasmin stated.
As a guest at a fair number of weddings, I can attest that while we don’t always remember many details, we do remember if the food and drinks were good!
Before interviewing Yasmin, I had no idea just how much thought, preparation, and work went into providing beverage services, so it is a good thing I sat down and picked her brain.
Here are her three tips for hiring a mobile bar service.
1. Staff your event accordingly.
“Even if you’re having a wedding of 50 guests, you need to have two bartenders, and the reason for that is when people are at a wedding, we have to take into consideration their drinking habits because they’re going to drink a lot more than when they’re at a regular party. They’re happy, they’re celebrating. And we have to take into consideration that signature cocktails take longer to make than to just hand them a beer or pour them a vodka and cranberry.”
For the wedding Yasmin first hosted in our venue, the bride originally wanted one bartender.
After a longer conversation and given the circumstances (e.g., it was her first event in our venue, it was a wedding versus a more laidback event, there were specialty “his and her” drinks, etc.), Yasmin decided that a second bartender would be beneficial, and it resulted in an elevated, positive experience for everyone involved.
2. Batch your specialty cocktails.
Yasmin had to explain what this meant to me (I’ve never had a bartender or server position, so I’m new to this lingo!).
For anyone else who doesn’t know, batching means making big batches of all or parts of a specialty cocktail beforehand.
“We save up to a minute in making cocktails, and when we batch, [the drink] is consistent no matter which bartender is serving. It prevents waste. And batching can often lead to less staff.”
Something I appreciate about Yasmin is that she looks for ways to save clients money (which batching can do), and she values efficiency.
Let’s face it. Guests who have to wait a long time in line for their beverage of choice are not going to be happy guests. And that can be a real party damper.
3. Stick to the shopping list.
“I go through a selection of cocktails with [the clients]. I ask them about what they would like to have, and a lot of times they already have something in mind. And we just recreate it. Sometimes I give them insight about what’s new out there or what’s popular. I add my own little tweak to the cocktail, like in Miami, I will do guava mojitos. I try to do something that’s fun and will go with the theme of their event.”
One of the most fun parts about hosting a wedding or party is getting to decide the drinks that are served as well as creating a unique beverage special to the occasion. With that select menu, though, comes a specific shopping list.
“If you follow your shopping list, we’re going to have quality cocktails with quality service. And you’re preparing the bartender for success to be efficient with our time and to prepare what you want.”
To go along with your special beverages, Yasmin creates a curated, printed menu for her clients. If the client or the delegee does not stick to the shopping list, Yasmin may not be able to make the requested drinks, and that can lead to disappointment across the board.
As Yasmin puts it, “It’s more than a service, it’s an experience.” So make sure to follow her list and guidance to have the best experience possible!
To connect with Yasmin, follow her on Instagram or connect with her via her website.
Thanks for tuning in!
-Emily, Co-Founder, The Gardens of Weber Manor
Blog News: We love to connect with our clients and friends, and we publish a special newsletter every 1st Thursday of the month. We also provide a lot of wedding tips from our preferred vendors.
“You will find that most times you have a vision of what it is that you want to accomplish and that’s most important. It allows you to work backwards and make cuts and changes that will still reflect the overall outcome you wish to achieve. What good is splurging on one particular item if it doesn’t result in the overall outcome you were trying to create?
-Emily, Co-Founder, The Gardens of Weber Manor
Follow Us to See All the Magic
“ When I say that pictures and videos do not do this space justice, that is an understatement!! The Gardens of Weber Manor, in all of its whimsy and magic, is truly a perfect little nook in the heart of the Redlands. No matter what the vision or mood board, this venue and its versatility will allow you to transform it to match your wildest dreams. Add to that the fact that Mike & Emily are the absolute sweetest owners & venue managers, and there should be NOTHING holding you back from booking a tour and picking your wedding date that same day. It is clear that they have put their heart and souls into building up The Gardens from the ground up. So whether you’re planning a wedding, anniversary, birthday or corporate event, you need not look further. ”
– Alianne Valladares-Prieto
“ The Gardens of Weber Manor is a hidden gem. This venue is magical. I can’t express how amazing it was working with Emily and Mike. They answered every question I had and made me feel that they had everything under control at all times. The staff was awesome!!! The rooms looked beautiful!!! I want to give a special thanks to Emily it was an absolute pleasure working with you. Everything went smoothly, easily and successfully thanks to Emily and Mike and the rest of the team. We felt like family from the time we started to plan the wedding and especially on our wedding day. Thanks to the Gardens of Weber Manor for the wedding of our dreams! ”
– Fernanda Rodriguez
“ We cannot say enough good things about this venue and the owners, Emily & Mike! It is truly a hidden gem. The garden is absolutely gorgeous – you really don’t even need to decorate because the scenery has so much beauty all itself. There are so many spots throughout the venue that could be used for different parts of an event, and no matter where you turned it was a perfect photo backdrop. Our friends and family kept telling us how beautiful the venue was and wondering how we found it. ”