Desert Rose Events

Frequently asked questions

Everything about how our dry bar service works, what's included, and how to plan your bar for a Las Vegas celebration.

How it works
Do you provide the alcohol?

No — we operate as a dry bar service, which means you purchase the alcohol and we handle everything else. This is genuinely the better deal for you:

  • You control the budget and buy at retail instead of paying catering markup
  • You keep whatever is left over
  • You serve exactly the brands you and your guests actually like

We give you a complete shopping list built around your menu and guest count, so there is no guesswork. On the day, we bring the bar, the bartenders, the mixers, the garnishes, the ice, and the glassware.

What is included in a package?

Every package is customizable, but our services typically include professional bartenders, a five-foot mobile bar if you need one, custom cocktail menus, full setup and breakdown, premium mixers and garnishes, ice and coolers, cups and napkins, personalized drink signage, luxury décor styling, your alcohol shopping list, and liquor liability and general insurance.

Add-ons include our champagne wall, flower wall backdrop, welcome cocktail setup, water station, specialty glassware, custom signage, additional cocktails or mocktails, extra hours, and travel outside the greater Las Vegas area.

What does the planning process look like?

You inquire with your event details. We help you choose the right package and design a custom cocktail menu around your celebration. We send you a simple shopping list for the alcohol.

On the day, our team arrives early to set up the bar, prep mixers and garnishes, and serve your guests throughout the event. When it's over, we handle cleanup. You stay present with your people.

Planning your bar
How much alcohol do I need?

The general rule is two drinks per guest in the first hour, then about one per hour after that — but that shifts a lot depending on your crowd, the time of day, and whether you're outdoors in Las Vegas heat.

For a rough sense: a four-hour wedding with 100 guests usually lands somewhere around 380 drinks, which works out to roughly 27 bottles of wine, 96 beers, 8 bottles of spirits, and about 225 pounds of ice.

Rather than guess, use our free calculator. Enter your guest count, hours, event type, and setting, and it returns a full shopping list — bottle counts by category, mixers, ice, citrus, and glassware.

Calculate my bar

Every package includes a personalized shopping list from us as well, refined around your final menu and guest count. The calculator is just a head start while you're still planning.

What if I buy too much or too little?

Our estimates run generous on purpose. Most Las Vegas retailers accept returns on unopened bottles, so overbuying costs you a trip rather than money — while running dry two hours into a reception is the one problem nobody can fix on site.

Check the return policy wherever you shop before you buy, and keep your receipt. Total Wine and Costco both handle unopened returns well.

Can you make mocktails and serve guests who aren't drinking?

Yes, and we build them into the menu by default rather than treating them as an afterthought. Zero-proof cocktails get the same fresh juices, house syrups, quality glassware, and garnish treatment as everything else on the bar.

Plan on roughly 20 to 35 percent of your guests drinking non-alcoholic depending on the crowd. Our calculator accounts for this automatically.

Do I need a bar, or do you bring one?

We bring a five-foot mobile bar when you need one. If your venue already has a built-in bar, or you have a piece you want to use, we'll work with what's there and style it to match your event.

How many bartenders will I need?

One bartender per 50 to 75 guests keeps lines short. Below 50 guests, one is usually plenty. Above 100, we'll typically recommend two or more depending on your menu — a bar heavy on built-to-order cocktails moves slower than one serving wine, beer, and two batched signatures.

We'll recommend the right staffing when we scope your event.

Logistics & coverage
Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. Our bartenders are certified, and liquor liability and general insurance are included in every package. If your venue requires a certificate of insurance, let us know and we'll provide one.

What areas do you serve?

We serve the greater Las Vegas area, including Summerlin, Henderson, and Boulder City. We travel beyond that regularly for weddings and destination celebrations — travel outside the greater Las Vegas area is available as an add-on.

How far in advance should I book?

For weddings and peak-season Saturdays, three to six months is ideal. For smaller weekday events, a few weeks is often workable.

That said, dates fill fastest in spring and fall, which are peak outdoor months in Las Vegas. If you have a date in mind, reach out early — we would rather tell you we're available than tell you we're not.

What happens if it rains, or the weather turns?

Las Vegas weather rarely cancels an event, but heat and wind both matter. For outdoor summer events we plan for significantly more ice and water, and we'll talk through shade and bar placement during planning.

If you need to move your date, reach out as early as you can and we'll do everything possible to accommodate you.

How much does it cost?

Pricing depends on guest count, hours of service, staffing, and which add-ons you choose. Because every event is scoped individually, we quote rather than list flat rates.

Send us your date, guest count, and venue and we'll come back with personalized pricing.

Still have a question?

Tell us about your celebration and we'll get back to you with personalized pricing and answers.

Request a custom quote