Staff the event.
Servers by service style, bartenders at one per 75 guests, and the wage cost.
Servers
0
Bartenders
0
Staff wage cost (BLS median, labor only)
0
A floor, not a quote: agencies add minimum hours, travel and gratuity.
How it works
The math, in the open.
The ratios are the same planning ratios used in our catering and bartender tools. Wages default to the national median from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; replace them with local figures, for example from our Montana city pages. The 1.35 multiplier stands in for an agency's payroll taxes, insurance and overhead.
| Step | Formula |
|---|---|
| Servers | guests ÷ 25 (buffet), ÷ 20 (family style), ÷ 12 (plated), rounded up |
| Bartenders | guests ÷ 75, rounded up, if there is a bar |
| Wage cost | (servers × server wage + bartenders × bartender wage) × hours × 1.35 |
| Default wages | US medians, BLS OEWS May 2025 |
Example: 120 guests, plated, with a bar, 5 hours at $16.94 and $16.51 an hour: 10 servers and 2 bartenders, about $1,366 in wage cost.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
How many servers for a 100-person wedding?
About 4 for a buffet, 5 for family style and 9 for a plated dinner.
Why is the wage cost lower than the quote?
Wages are only part of a staffing bill. Minimum hours, travel, supervision and gratuity come on top.
Related
Keep planning.
Estimates for planning, not quotes or legal advice. Formulas tested Oct 8, 2026.