Woodbury-based bartender Mark Lange recommends choosing up to three specialty cocktails that are notable to the bridal couple. iStock.com/zoranm
Elevate your events with drinks on tap and signature cocktails.
The vows have been exchanged, the kiss has sealed the marriage—and now it’s time to celebrate in style. Add a memorable touch to your cocktail hour and reception with a mobile bar that brings charm to the big day. Whether it’s a vintage camper or a chic tap trailer, these bars add an unforgettable (and Instagrammable!) twist to wedding festivities.
Based in River Falls, Wisconsin, The Bar Cart is in the business of crafting experiences. Owners Brian and Sarah Smith have been mixing up custom cocktails and mocktails on both sides of the St. Croix Valley from a vintage 1972 Play-Mor camper for five years. “We tailor each event to our customers’ needs,” Brian says. “We have our clients over for a tasting about six weeks ahead of their event … that personal touch is something we pride ourselves on.” The sky is the limit regarding signature cocktails and other offerings, Brian says. Lavender has been a wildly popular flavor choice, and the Smiths source lavender for syrups and garnishes from a local farm. Handcrafted cocktails and mocktails are often complemented by beer and wine service, made easy by taps built into the camper. “Whatever they want is what we do!” Brian says. Facebook: The Bar Cart
With over 12 years in the event industry, Ron and Sacha Hilpisch know how to get the party started with Give Us A Shot Bartending. From the bartenders and staff to its three mobile bars, the Lakeland-based business offers several concepts to choose from. Serve four on-tap alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages with the 4 Tap Mobile Bar (No bartender or electricity required!), featuring a gold, hexagonal backsplash and a recessed niche for additional wine or Champagne. Enjoy a pre- or post-ceremony drink with the Champagne Cart, a traditional, white beverage cart. The fun continues with the Tap Cart, a compact cart on wheels that has all the basics. Plus, equipment rentals (and all concepts as mentioned earlier) are available via its sister business, Bars and Bubbly. “I like being face-to-face with people. To me, that’s exciting,” Ron says. “[The mobile bars] give the event an upscale feel and give people something to talk about.” giveusashot.com and barsandbubbly.com
The Tipsi ’Tini Events brings a luxury take to the mobile bar concept in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Lindstrom-based company’s Tapper Trailer is a self-serve solution for private events, offering four customizable taps that can pour a variety of beer, cocktails, mocktails, soda and wine. The trailer achieves a modern, elevated look with pine boards and black hardware, with a stunning marble hexagonal backsplash. “It’s super fun, and it gets rid of all the messy coolers too, so it’s a nice clean look,” says owner Sarah St. Peter, who has a background in bartending. One of her favorite parts about the trailer is that it doesn’t require any electrical hookup or generator; it’s run off of ice! Tipsi ’Tini works with clients to build a shopping list, using client-purchased ingredients to fill kegs. The team will stay nearby to refill kegs if needed, and clients can add a bartender to their package to mix drinks. thetipsytini.com
Launched in March 2024, Wanderlust MN Mobile Bar was created out of passion by North St. Paul resident Candice Mich. The business, which has served events in Hudson, Wisconsin, Stillwater, White Bear Lake and Woodbury, is a full-service experience specializing in custom cocktail menus, nonalcoholic options, signature cocktails and more. Along the way, Mich has noticed a growing demand for nonalcoholic options, which led her to add dirty soda, fresh lemonade and mocktail bar options. “What I love most about Wanderlust is the ability to be personable with clients,” Mich says. “I take the time to get to know who you are and what they like so I can customize their menu, whether that means cocktails, mocktails or a mix of both. Every event becomes an opportunity to create something unique and memorable.” wanderlustmnmobilebar.com
Wanderlust MN Mobile Bar serves the East Metro, including Woodbury, and western Wisconsin. Offerings include custom cocktail menus and signature cocktails alongside nonalcoholic beverages such as dirty soda, fresh lemonade and mocktails. Photo: Candice Miche
Area mobile bars operate as a dry-hire service, in compliance with Minnesota and Wisconsin state liquor laws that require a business to operate in a brick-and-mortar to obtain a liquor license. This means that clients or event hosts are responsible for supplying and purchasing any alcoholic products, while the mobile bar provides a range of bartending services, as well as bar set-ups, garnishes and mixers.
Add a Special Touch With a Signature Cocktail
Whether it’s customized napkins, personalized drink stirrers or the signature cocktail itself, there are copious amounts of ways to make your cocktail hour and reception stand out. Bartender Mark Lange, whose family has owned the Minnesota School of Bartending (mnschoolofbartending.com) since its inception in 1968, offers several ideas for curating a drink selection that will keep guests coming back for more.
When curating a signature bar menu, Lange recommends offering no more than three specialty simple cocktails notable to the couple. “A lot of times, [couples] will ask us, ‘What are good drinks to make? What are your recommendations?’” the Woodbury resident says. “We will always ask them, ‘You know yourselves best; what kind of drinks do you normally like?’”
Lange recommends a drink for each side of the wedding (such as a “His” and “Hers” choice) and an optional third named after someone meaningful in the couple’s lives. “People really love to see—and eat it up—when the drinks have a name or a connection to a family member or a pet,” he says. “It resonates with a lot of guests when they do that.”
Specific cocktails are always on trend, the master mixologist says. “Everything old always comes back around,” Lange says. Old Fashioneds and Moscow Mules are top contenders, as the enduring classics appeal to all generations and are known crowd-pleasers. Drinks on the rise include the Aperol Spritz, a vibrant and refreshing summer beverage, and Whiskey Sours, an option that is as sweet as it is tart. No matter the signature cocktail, Lange recommends sticking to straightforward drinks to avoid long mix times and lines. “Simplicity is key,” he says.
Take the drink experience to the next level with customized additions. Consider napkins or stirrers embellished with the couple’s initials, fun facts about the couple or even pets’ faces. Personalized signs are a big hit too. “It’s an easy way to give your drinks a little more flair,” Lange says. “It really does give that extra touch that puts it over the top.”
