PourPlan · bar staffing
How many bartenders for 300 guests?
6 behind the bar — one head barman and 5 working with them, for an evening wedding with a tab.
Most guides stop there. The number that actually costs you money is the next one down.
What the job really is
Crew1 head barman + 56
Setup before guestsice, glassware, stock, the bar itself1.5 hrs
Guests on site14:30 arrival to about 01:0010.5 hrs
Breakdownexcludes travel — that is yours1 hr
Shift length, eachlong enough to need breaks planned13 hrs
Total crew-hourswhat you are actually paying for78
That is a 13-hour day. One crew straight through, before travel. Price the job on crew-hours rather than headcount, or a long wedding quietly eats the margin you thought you had.
The other thing that runs out
Drinks rarely run out. Glassware does — two per guest per type covers breakage and the wash cycle.
Wine glasses600
Champagne flutes600
Highball / tumbler600
Water & soft-drink glasses600
Ice30 × 5kg bags150 kg
Other guest counts
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