The bartenders at your reception will pour a lot of drinks. For an open bar with 150 guests? They might serve 600+ drinks in four hours. That’s a workout.
Here’s what to tip them.
The amount
$50 to $100 per bartender.
If you have two bartenders working a four-hour reception, budget $100-200 total. Simple math.
Open bar vs cash bar
Open bar: The bartenders are working hard but not receiving any tips from guests during the event. Your tip at the end of the night is their only gratuity. Lean toward $75-100 per bartender.
Cash bar: Guests are tipping throughout the night. Your end-of-night tip is on top of what they’ve already collected. $50-75 per bartender is reasonable here.
Consumption bar (guests pay per drink but no tip jar): Same situation as open bar. The bartenders aren’t getting tipped during the event, so your tip matters more.
Check your contract first
Same deal as catering: look at the exact wording.
If your bar package includes “gratuity,” the bartenders will receive a tip through your contract. You can add a little extra for exceptional service, but you’re not obligated.
If it says “service charge” or “administrative fee,” that money might not reach the bartenders. Plan to tip separately.
Ask your vendor directly if you’re unsure: “Does the service charge go to the bartenders?”
Venue staff vs hired bartenders
Venue-provided bartenders work for the venue. Your tip goes to them, but they’re part of the venue’s staff. The venue may have policies about tip distribution.
Outside bartenders you hired separately are typically independent. Your tip goes directly to them.
In either case, $50-100 per bartender is the norm. The employment arrangement doesn’t really change what you should tip.
When to tip
End of the reception, before they start breaking down the bar. Find a quiet moment, hand over the envelope, say thanks.
If you have multiple bartenders and want to tip them individually, prepare separate envelopes. Otherwise, one envelope with the total amount given to the lead bartender works fine.
What if there’s a tip jar?
Some couples put out a tip jar even for open bars—a subtle way to let guests contribute if they want. If you do this:
Your end-of-night tip to the bartenders stays the same. The jar is a bonus, not a replacement for your gratuity.
If the jar collected well and you saw it, you might adjust slightly. But don’t overthink it.
Example math
Your reception has 120 guests, open bar for 5 hours, two bartenders.
A solid tip: $75 × 2 = $150 total.
If the bartenders were particularly efficient, kept the line moving, made your signature cocktail correctly every time, and handled your cousin who ordered “something complicated” with grace: bump it to $100 each.
Figuring out tips for your whole vendor team? Our free calculator covers bartenders and every other wedding vendor.