Tag: Oak Island parties

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Creating a Memorable Cocktail Menu for Your Brunswick County Event

Whether you’re planning a wedding in Ocean Isle Beach, a birthday celebration in Leland, or a holiday party in Southport, curating the right cocktail menu can elevate your event from simple to spectacular.

Guests often remember the drinks just as much as the food—and a thoughtfully planned menu can help reflect your style, theme, and the local Brunswick County vibe.

Here’s how to design a custom cocktail list that delights your guests and enhances your event experience.

🍹 1. Consider the Season and Location

Start by looking at the time of year and event setting.

  • Summer events in Oak Island call for refreshing, light drinks like mojitos, cucumber coolers, or spiked lemonades.
  • Fall weddings might lean into flavors like apple, cinnamon, and bourbon.
  • Beachfront parties love tropical vibes—think rum punch, pineapple mules, or coconut margaritas.

Let the natural atmosphere of Brunswick County inspire the flavor profiles you choose.

🥂 2. Offer Variety Without Overcomplicating

A good rule of thumb is to offer:

  • One signature cocktail
  • One beer option
  • One wine or sparkling option
  • A non-alcoholic mocktail

This keeps your menu accessible while still making it interesting. One or two curated signature cocktails can be far more impactful than a long, generic list.

✅ Bonus Tip: Give your signature drinks a fun name that matches the theme of the event or the couple’s personality.

🍊 3. Use Local Ingredients When Possible

Support Brunswick County’s local markets and farms by incorporating fresh, locally grown herbs and fruit.

  • Strawberries from a spring market
  • Mint from your backyard garden
  • Honey from a local apiary

Local ingredients elevate the freshness and offer a unique personal touch your guests will notice.

🧊 4. Think About Presentation

A beautiful drink is a drink people talk about. Consider:

  • Garnishes like edible flowers, citrus wheels, or herb sprigs
  • Specialty glassware that fits your vibe (mason jars, coupes, rocks glasses)
  • Custom cocktail napkins or drink stirrers for branding or a personal message

Presentation is part of the experience, and even the simplest drinks look elevated with the right styling.

📝 5. Plan for Dietary Needs and Preferences

Don’t forget:

  • Gluten-free options
  • Low-sugar or keto-friendly mixers
  • Alcohol-free options for kids or non-drinkers

A mocktail bar with fresh juices and herbs can be a thoughtful and inclusive feature.

🎨 6. Match Your Menu to the Theme

Is your event rustic? Try whiskey-based cocktails in smoked glasses.
Hosting a coastal affair? Go with citrus-forward gin drinks and tiki classics.
Throwing a retro party? Bring back old-school favorites like Tom Collins, Sidecars, or Grasshoppers.

When your drink menu complements the event design, it ties everything together beautifully.

👩‍💼 About POUR THE PEOPLE Mobile Bartending

Based in Shallotte, POUR THE PEOPLE Mobile Bartending specializes in creating unforgettable bar experiences throughout Brunswick County, NC—including Oak Island, Southport, Leland, and beyond.

Founded by Charity Sunrise, our team collaborates with each client to craft personalized cocktail menus that match their event’s mood, setting, and audience. We use fresh ingredients, serve with style, and help bring your vision to life one drink at a time.

Ready to elevate your bar experience?
Learn more at pourthepeople.com

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How to Estimate Alcohol for Your Event: A Guide for Brunswick County Hosts

Planning the perfect celebration—whether it’s a wedding in Oak Island, a birthday party in Shallotte, or a reunion in Southport—often comes with one big question:

How much alcohol do you actually need?

It’s easy to overspend or underestimate without a bit of planning. Here’s a helpful guide to estimating alcohol for your event so that your bar is stocked efficiently and responsibly.

🥂 Start with Guest Count and Timeframe

The two biggest factors to consider are:

  • How many people are attending?
  • How long is your event?

A general rule:
One guest = one drink per hour
(plus a buffer for early arrivals and late-night toasts)

Example:

50 guests × 4 hours = 200 drinks minimum
Add a 10–15% buffer: plan for about 225–230 drinks total.

🍸 Break It Down by Drink Type

Depending on your crowd, you’ll want to divide the total into wine, beer, and liquor. A common breakdown:

  • Beer: 40%
  • Wine: 30%
  • Spirits: 30%

For 225 drinks:

  • Beer: ~90 servings
  • Wine: ~67 servings
  • Liquor: ~68 servings

Adjust this based on what your guests prefer—beach wedding crowds might lean more toward light beer and spritzers, while backyard BBQs might favor bourbon and rum-based drinks.

🍷 Bottle & Can Equivalents

Here’s what each standard serving looks like:

  • Wine bottle: ~5 glasses
  • 750ml liquor bottle: ~16 cocktails
  • Beer can or bottle: 1 drink per unit
  • Champagne bottle: ~6 flute servings

Knowing this helps you translate your totals into actual shopping quantities.

🧊 Don’t Forget Mixers, Garnishes & Ice

It’s easy to overlook the bar extras that make drinks shine:

  • Mixers (tonic, club soda, juice, cola)
  • Fresh garnishes (citrus, herbs, fruit)
  • Ice: Plan for at least 1–1.5 pounds per person

📋 Other Factors to Consider

  • Service Style: Will you have a bartender, or is it self-serve? Guests pour less when drinks are made for them.
  • Season & Setting: Outdoor summer events = more drinks and hydration.
  • Glassware: Larger glasses = faster consumption.
  • Mocktails & Non-Alcoholic Options: Essential for designated drivers and younger guests.

🧠 Planning Ahead Prevents Waste

Estimating properly helps:

  • Prevent over-purchasing
  • Avoid running out early
  • Ensure guests drink responsibly
  • Keep your budget on track

📍 Need More Help?

If you’re still unsure how much to order or how to build a drink menu around your event type, you’re not alone. Many hosts in Brunswick County reach out to experienced mobile bartenders for insight into guest preferences and inventory planning.

POUR THE PEOPLE Mobile Bartending provides professional event support across Shallotte, Oak Island, Southport, and surrounding areas. Their team helps clients estimate quantities, create balanced drink menus, and serve events with ease.

Explore more planning resources and bartending insights at pourthepeople.com

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Top 5 Benefits of Hiring a Mobile Bar Service for Outdoor Events in Brunswick County, NC

From beach weddings to backyard birthdays, outdoor events in Brunswick County, NC are more popular than ever. And there’s one upgrade that takes your open-air celebration to the next level: a mobile bar service.

Whether you’re hosting in Southport, Shallotte, Leland, or along the Oak Island shoreline, here are 5 big reasons to bring the bar to your backyard (or beachfront).

🍹 1. No Venue Bar? No Problem!

Many outdoor venues—like parks, private homes, and beach rental properties—don’t include a bar setup. A mobile bartending service brings everything you need, including:

  • Professional bar equipment
  • Coolers, tools, and glassware
  • Trained bartenders
  • Fully mobile setup that fits your space

No bar? No worries. We bring it all to you.

🍸 2. It’s a Stylish Statement Piece

The bar isn’t just functional—it’s a feature. A well-designed mobile bar adds visual appeal and can match the theme of your event, from rustic to modern coastal chic.

Services like POUR THE PEOPLE Mobile Bartending offer:

  • Sleek bar stations
  • Themed signage
  • Garnish displays
  • Custom menus

Perfect for photos and even better for vibes.

🍍 3. Custom Cocktails in the Fresh Air

Outdoor events call for refreshing, seasonal drinks. Mobile bartenders can design a custom drink menu with ingredients that match the weather, theme, and guest preferences.

Popular choices for Brunswick County events include:

  • Cucumber mint coolers
  • Fresh berry sangria
  • Local peach bellinis
  • Non-alcoholic mocktails for all ages

Custom cocktails = custom memories.

🍾 4. Stress-Free Setup & Cleanup

When you’re managing an outdoor event, the last thing you want is one more thing to worry about. Mobile bar teams handle:

  • Setup
  • Service
  • Cleanup
  • Trash removal

You focus on hosting—we’ll handle the drinks.

🌴 5. Local Bartenders Know Local Needs

Working with a local service in Brunswick County means your bartenders know the best vendors, alcohol laws, and event venues. That local expertise makes planning faster and smoother.

POUR THE PEOPLE Mobile Bartending is based right here in Shallotte, NC and serves the entire Brunswick County area with reliability and flair.

Pour the Perfect Party

An outdoor celebration deserves more than a cooler and solo cups. Add flair, flavor, and functionality with a mobile bar service designed to meet your needs.

If you’re planning an event in Shallotte, Oak Island, Holden Beach, or anywhere across Brunswick County, check out POUR THE PEOPLE Mobile Bartending. Their team specializes in coastal events, beach weddings, and backyard parties with full-service bar setups and signature cocktails.

Let us bring the bar to you—anytime, anywhere.
Visit pourthepeople.com to learn more or request a quote today.