If you're planning a party, wedding or corporate event in Chicago, one of the first questions you'll ask is simple: how much does a mobile bar cost? The honest answer is that it depends. Every event is quoted individually, and the factors are easy to understand once you know what to look for.
What affects the price of a mobile bar?
- Guest count. More guests means more drinks, more ice and often more bartenders. A cozy backyard party of 30 needs a very different setup than a 150-guest wedding.
- Event length. Most mobile bar services price by the hour or by a set event block. Longer events need more supplies and more staff time.
- Number of bartenders. Busy events move faster with more hands behind the bar. A good rule of thumb is one bartender for every 50 or so guests, with more for cocktail-heavy events.
- Your package. This is the biggest variable. Some clients only need a bartender. Others want everything handled, from mixers and garnishes to custom signature cocktails.
- Specialty add-ons. Themed bars, like an espresso martini bar or a dirty martini bar, are quoted with your event.
Shake & Gather packages at a glance
- Bartender Only: A professional bartender for your event. The client provides the bar, alcohol and required supplies, confirmed in your quote.
- Pour: Beer, wine, champagne and seltzer service with selected nonalcoholic beverages and still water, plus package-specific service supplies, ice and chilling equipment.
- Pour & Mixer: Everything in Pour, plus standard mixers like tonic, club soda, juices, fresh citrus and agave for classic cocktails.
- Craft: Our full cocktail experience with house-made syrups, hand-squeezed juices, premium garnishes and up to two signature or custom cocktails.
- Brunch: Mimosas, Bloody Marys, beer, wine and non-alcoholic options for daytime celebrations.
Why hosts choose bring-your-own alcohol
Shake & Gather works on a dry-hire model. You purchase the alcohol, and we bring the service, setup and supplies. That means the alcohol cost is whatever you choose to buy rather than a per-drink rate, and unopened bottles stay yours. Compare an itemized quote from each option rather than a per-drink estimate, and check whether your venue adds corkage or service fees for outside alcohol.
How to get an accurate quote
When you reach out, have these details ready: your date, location, estimated guest count, event length and the kind of drinks you want to serve. With that information, we can recommend the right package and bartender count for your event.
Get your quote
Every event is different, so we build every quote around yours. Contact Shake & Gather at info.shakeandgather@gmail.com or 217-374-9985 to start planning.
