Vendor Spotlight: Pour Lotus Mobile Bartending

Looking for a way to further personalize your wedding or event? Consider the luxury bartending service provided by Pour Lotus. Based in Northern California, this mobile bar will pamper you and your guests with craft cocktails tailored to your event. Serving charm with a twist – let’s do this!

Spotlight Summary

Meet Janey — an entrepreneur and seasoned hospitality professional based in El Dorado County, California. In 2024, she teamed up with her best friend to launch Pour Lotus, a mobile bartending company serving Northern California. Pour Lotus brings craft cocktails and exceptional service to events across the region, including El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras, and Sacramento Counties. Your next event’s forecast: 100% chance of cocktails!

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Vendor Spotlight: Pour Lotus Mobile Bartending

Q: Welcome here! Please begin with telling us who you are, what you do & where we can find you!

A: Hi, my name is Janey and in 2024, I launched Pour Lotus Mobile Bartending Services with my best friend, Anna. We bring a personalized bar set up and experience to your event!  

We’ve both spent our entire adult lives in the wedding and hospitality industry, and our journey started together, serving at weddings and events at Sequoia Woods Country Club in Arnold. Working with your best friend makes everything more fun. Pour Lotus was born out of our shared passion for celebrating life’s moments, making them beautiful, intentional, and full of joy.

We are based out of El Dorado County, CA and you can find us on Instagram @pourlotus_mobilebartending, Facebook under Pour Lotus Mobile Bartending Services or at my website, www.pourlotus.com

Q: What is your favorite part of Pour Lotus?

A: For me, Pour Lotus is a creative outlet. I love connecting with people, learning about their cocktail vision, and bringing it to life by personalizing their menu to tie in with their theme, style and color palette.  It’s all the little details that turn an event into a lasting memory.  We’re not just mixing drinks- we create an atmosphere where people feel seen, celebrated, and completely at ease.

The event I have coming up, the client loves fresh florals. She’s chosen really pretty greens and peaches and yellows. So I put together a list saying, “Now that I know your color palette, here’s what you could do with tequila. For example…” And I suggested a honey peach margarita with a dried lavender sprig and a little splash of green with mint. It would be just so pretty and a little bit different than your regular margarita. Or we could do an elderflower mint spritzer, or elderflower cucumber spritzer. So just throwing out different twists on flavors, and bringing in the colors too.

Q: Please walk us through what else goes into the event planning with the client.

A: When designing your drink menu, I always recommend starting with the base spirits. Most clients don’t want to purchase 10 different types of alcohol, so we keep it simple and versatile. If you’re offering just two signature cocktails, a good starting point is vodka—it’s widely liked and very flexible. Then we can pair it with either whiskey, gin, or tequila, depending on the client’s preferences and the flavor profile they want for their event.

For guests who prefer to keep things classic, it’s a great idea to include beer and wine as well.

As for mixers, we typically keep it between 3 to 5 essentials. This ensures we have the basics on hand. Think soda water, tonic, cola, juices, and maybe a flavored syrup or two. This way, we can still serve popular go-tos that are not on the signature drink list.

The goal is to keep your menu streamlined, affordable, and still able to accommodate a range of tastes.

Q: What are some great crowd-pleaser cocktails?

A: Margaritas are always a crowd favorite, and cosmopolitans remain super popular—especially for events with a fun, vibrant vibe. For those who prefer something bolder, whiskey-based cocktails are a great choice. Old Fashioned tends to be the most requested craft cocktail among whiskey drinkers. 

Q: Can clients hire Pour Lotus for mocktails?

A: Absolutely. I actually just did a mocktail-only event recently for a fundraiser, and it was such a great experience. The organization was a nonprofit and, due to a time crunch, they weren’t able to secure a temporary daily liquor license—which California does allow for special events. So instead, we created a thoughtful mocktail menu, and it turned out beautifully.

Q: What is your favorite drink? And what is Anna’s favorite drink?

A: Honestly, it kind of depends on the day! We both love salt-rimmed drinks—especially Anna—so if it involves tequila or vodka, you can almost guarantee there’s salt on the rim. Margarita is definitely a go-to favorite, and I also love a good lemon drop! 

Q: Do you take care of purchasing everything for the bar, or is there something the client should anticipate purchasing in advance?

A: In California, we operate as a “dry hire” bar, which means the client provides the alcohol. Per state law, we are RBS-certified (Responsible Beverage Service – trained on responsible alcohol serving practices) and carry liquor liability insurance, but we cannot legally purchase or sell alcohol ourselves without a liquor license. Please check with Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for more information on liquor licenses.

Here’s how it works: you purchase the alcohol, and we take care of everything else. That includes our stylish bar setup, as well as plastic cups, napkins, straws, mixers, garnishes, ice. What many people don’t realize is that all those “little things” take a surprising amount of time, coordination, and care. Even something as simple as a water station needs constant attention during an event—refilling and making sure nothing runs out.

In the end, those little details that we take care of contribute in making your event feel smooth, thoughtful, and fully taken care of.

Q: One of the biggest bar related questions I hear is how to determine the quantity of alcohol to purchase for an event. What is your recommendation for how much alcohol to buy?

A: Online calculators are super helpful for estimating ounces per serving and per guest, but at the end of the day, I tell my clients ‘You know your crowd best, so use your own discretion‘.   Most of those tools are based on very basic averages. If you’re expecting a heavier-drinking crowd, I always recommend buying a little extra. The good news is, most stores will accept unopened bottles for return—just be sure to check their policy first. And even if they don’t, alcohol doesn’t go bad, so you can always use it for another celebration down the road.

If your group is more moderate with their drinking or if you’re working with a tighter budget, it’s not the end of the world if you run out of alcohol. In that case, we’ll just start making the soda waters look pretty—we’ve got you!

Q: For weddings and events, would you recommend canned beers or jockey boxes with a keg?

A: I’ll be totally honest—I don’t love working with kegs. It’s just a personal preference, but they can be a real hassle. They’re heavy, they often come with pressure or foam issues, and when they aren’t set up perfectly, it can really slow things down behind the bar. That’s why I always recommend cans or bottles instead. They’re easier to transport, chill, and serve, and they give your guests more flexibility and variety without the mess or stress.

Q: Talking more about the business side of things, how has it been starting a new business?

A: Starting my business definitely came with its learning curve. Things like getting a business license weren’t too difficult, but they were definitely the less fun, more frustrating parts of the process. When it came to creating a contract, we reviewed several templates and tailored the terms to reflect how we operate.  This part is Anna’s strength for sure. I send out our “Terms & Conditions” with each proposal so there are no surprises—it’s really important to me that everything is transparent from the start.

Each proposal is custom-built for the client, and I always try to connect in conversation—even just for 10 minutes—before sending anything over. I really believe there’s something powerful in hearing someone’s tone and energy; you can tell how much they care. More often than not, I walk away from events having not just served drinks, but built real connections—and even friendships—with my clients.

Q: What has been one of the biggest challenges for you and your business?

A: One of the biggest things I’ve been learning is figuring out who our clientele is and how to tailor our service to peoples budgets. I’ve sent out a lot of proposals, and while many people love the concept, I often hear, ‘That’s way outside of my budget.‘ And I totally get that—not everyone is looking for the kind of service we offer.

What many people don’t realize is that we’re not just showing up and pouring drinks for five hours. There are countless hours of work that happen before the event even begins. I spend time planning every detail, prepping everything you see and taste on the day of the event, and everything you’ll later see in your event photos. I make my own dried garnishes, source the details, coordinate the logistics, and create all the visual touches that elevate the bar experience.

For larger events, I bring in additional help—so I’m not only covering my own time and labor but also paying my team. And then, of course, there’s the breakdown and clean up afterward.

So what I’ve learned is that our service isn’t a fit for the DIY or budget-focused crowd—and I don’t say that in a negative way. Pour Lotus is a luxury mobile bartending service. We don’t just pour drinks; we create a personalized, beautiful experience. This service is for those who don’t want to do it themselves—those who want to feel pampered, to host effortlessly, and to know every detail is handled with care and creativity. That’s the client who will truly appreciate what we do.

Q: What is your recommendation for the DIY or on-a-budget client?

A: If hiring a professional bartending service isn’t in your budget, but you still want your alcohol to be monitored and managed, I always recommend asking someone you trust—preferably someone who’s not already in your wedding party—to help out. When you have an open self-serve bar, things can get messy fast. It’s really helpful to have someone keeping an eye on things.

For example, Anna and I are the type of guests who love being hands-on at social events—it actually makes us feel more comfortable. So if you have someone like that in your circle, who thrives when they have a task, ask them to be your honorary bar lead!

Then, head over to Pinterest for some simple décor inspiration. A few cute touches can go a long way in making the bar feel thoughtful and intentional. You can absolutely create a lovely setup on a budget. You don’t need fancy cocktails—grab some good plastic cups, add ice, pour in a flavored seltzer, pop in a flower or garnish, and boom—you’ve got a cute and refreshing drink. Anyone can do that, and your guests will still feel the love and effort you put into it. 

Q: How do you approach work-life balance?

A: Running a business while raising kids is no small feat—and I’m still learning every day. I have two girls, and finding the balance between being their caretaker, provider, and role model while also growing Pour Lotus has been a challenge—but also a gift.

I’m fortunate to have a career as an office manager for a construction company that has a fairly flexible schedule. I work in the office three days a week and remotely the other two. On top of that, I have a remote sales role in pool fencing, which gives me even more flexibility to be home when I need to be. A traditional 9-to-5 wouldn’t allow that, so I’m incredibly grateful. But it also means I’m often working late nights and early mornings, squeezing in tasks from my phone whenever I can.

Anna’s in the same boat—she’s a real estate agent and a mother of four, juggling it all with incredible strength. We both still bartend events at the country club where we got our start.

For both of us, this is our fun creative outlet.  For as long as we’ve known each other, we’ve been finding any excuse to throw a party and get together—this business was just the natural next step.

Q: What has been the biggest change from last year to this year for your business?

A: Last year was about laying the groundwork, starting the process of getting licensed, permitted, and set up to grow Pour Lotus — and this year the vision is starting to come to life.   

Last year we purchased our 1970s horse trailer, now lovingly known as Miley. We’ve been renovating Miley from the ground up to serve as a second mobile bar option, and it’s been such a fun project! Anna has played a huge role in the transformation, and her boyfriend—who happens to be a talented contractor—has been a major help in bringing our vision to life. Watching it all come together has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

This year, I’ve also been stepping out into the networking scene, joining groups and attending events specifically within the wedding industry. We are thrilled to be featured next month at the Wedding Professionals Network of California mixer in Sacramento. It’s such a great opportunity to connect with other vendors in the wedding and event industry. Exciting things ahead!

Q: What is next for Pour Lotus?

A: Of course, we’re excited about all of our upcoming bookings under the Pour Lotus name—every event gives us a chance to connect with new people and bring something special to their celebrations.

But another big thing on the horizon is finishing the renovation of Miley and we can’t wait to share her with all of you!

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Conclusion

Thank you for joining me on getting to know Janey and learning more about the mobile bartending services offered by Pour Lotus for weddings and events. Please visit her website for more information and to reach out with any questions you might have!

I hope there is something you were able to take away from this Vendor Spotlight with Pour Lotus.  Remember to Pin this post for when you are ready for next steps.

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