Bartenders for Events
We are a specialized event bartender and "garden to glass" craft cocktail catering company, with a variety of fun Happy Camper mobile bars in tow. Because we provide a unique cocktail reception experience, we have a few unique, but frequently asked questions to take into account when plotting the bar for your event. Don't see your question here? No problem, hit the "Contact Us" button!
When is the Happy Camper available for booking?
We are currently accepting weddings, corporate events, charity galas, and other cocktail reception events for 2023 and beyond. We will accept only 20 wedding bookings per wedding season, and so we encourage you to inquire early!
What types of events does the Happy Camper service?
From intimate parties and elopements to corporate events for 1,500 guests, we can do it all! We are built to scale and love to serve guests at all varieties of events, including weddings, festivals & street fairs (sponsored by a nonprofit/ 501(c)3 organization), company picnics, corporate parties, reunions, retirement parties, birthdays, tailgates, retirements, and any other reason you have to celebrate, including "Tuesday." We can bartend with one of our mobile bars, or at the bar of the venue of your choice. We also have a love for corporate events, and have worked for many of Seattle’s elite companies.
Are you licensed by the WA state Liquor Control Board and insured?
Yes indeed! We’re one of the few bartending companies in the greater Seattle area to carry a Washington State Liquor, Beer and Wine catering license (if you need our license info, we are a DBA of Simple goodness Events) to sell alcohol to our private event clients. This allows us to offer cash bar, drink ticket bar, and other bar packages where we provide the alcohol. In addition, we are licensed food caterers with an excellent inspection record, and carry liquor liability and general liability insurance to cover our services. All bartenders are class 12/MAST permitted. All employees carry a food handler's card.
When we serve at private events, clients generally elect to also apply online for an $11 banquet permit from WA state liquor control board to cover their party.
When we partner with nonprofit organizations to serve publicly, the nonprofit client must apply online for a $60 special occasion license from the WA state liquor control board.
Do you bring the booze?
Can I bring my own alcohol?
Yes, we absolutely do! Select a prepaid Open Bar, a Drink Ticket bar, or Cash Bar package, and we will bring the booze to you!
But, if you prefer, we also offer the option for you to buy the booze (we call this Service Only), and then we serve it and make it taste delicious. We will walk you through the complications of what and how much to order and from where so that you don't end up with wasted product.
How far does Happy Camper Cocktail Co. travel?
We love exploring the beauty of Washington state so we're happy to travel to your events in Seattle, Puyallup, Bellingham, Tacoma, Walla Walla, Chelan, Leavenworth, and wherever else you want to celebrate!
Travel within 20 miles of DuPont, WA carries no additional charge. Outside of this area a travel fee will be added to quotes to account for our time and the wear and tear on our pretty little camper bar.
What is required to bring the bars to an event site?
Our camper mobile bar is a petite 13.5 feet long and we're getting pretty good at backing her up so you can belly up to her bar. We'll need a flat space of about 10 feet wide x 14 feet long x 10 feet high for the Happy Camper and more space for your guests to gather. Entrance to the site should be clear with a wide, easily traveled and accessible road for our fullsize truck + camper. The service area MUST be flat and level.
The wooden mobile bars are trailered in as well, using a cargo trailer. We require an easily traveled road to tow the cargo trailer in and unload the bar equipment. The wooden bars require a flat space about 5 feet wide and 6 feet deep, with additional room for a line to form.
We can discuss electrical options (if needed) for your site over email or, better yet, a cocktail. If you don't have any electrical options, don't worry. One of the reasons we started this business was the desire to turn any pretty spot into the perfect party spot so we can run our camper bar off of a generator and our wooden bars have battery powered lights.
One last thing we'll say again - we cannot serve in public access areas or to any publically advertised event without a 501(c)3 partnership due to WA state’s strict liquor control board rules.
Please contact us if you have concerns or questions about the site you plan to use.
We have wooden mobile bars that can be used as additional bar locations for large events or as the solo bar for your event. Many of our favorite venues have built in bars where we can serve, so that works too. If the camper bar is booked for your date, your venue won't accommodate the camper bar, or it just isn't what you're looking for, fear not! Our signature "garden to glass" cocktail service is still available to you from the wooden bars or your venue’s bar.
Are there bar options besides the camper bar?
We can travel almost anywhere, including your own corporate office, inside some of Seattle's large, unique indoor warehouse spaces for winter events, parks (permits are required), barns, outdoor venues, or your own backyard!
We are also preferred vendors at several event venues in the Seattle area, including: The 101, Trinity Tree Farms, Carnation Farm, the Field at Willie Greens, the Kelley Farm, Rein Fire Ranch, Mountain View Manor, Black Diamond Gardens, 10 degrees, Shangri-La on the Green, the Finery. We can also service other event venues and even WA state parks, if we meet their “Outside Vendor Requirements”. They may need to ask us some questions about licensing, insurance and service policies and we'll be happy to oblige. If you would like to receive a list of venues in the Seattle area with open catering policies where we can work (not comprehensive, but featuring many venues that we know of) just mention that request when you contact us. We are able to work in public spaces only if your event is sponsored by a non-profit/501c(3) organization.
I'm not sure my venue will allow this service...
Yes! For all reserved events, a tasting and consultation is offered. For weddings, we require that the couple meet with us in advance by video or in person. Not only do we want to get to know you, we want to make sure that your menu is exactly what you're looking for, that we know the timeline for your big day, and that you understand our terms of service.
Can I taste the drinks before the event?
You had me at happy hour. How do I book?
Start by sending us an email at our contact page and we can chat about the details of your dream party! We require a 50% deposit and a signed contract to save your date.
And, we book fast! Weddings tend to book out 6 months+ in advance, so please contact us today to reserve your date.