Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Based in New Orleans, LA, Blue Book Barkeeps is the premier bar service for weddings, engagements, and private functions. Specializing in hand-crafted cocktails, you and your loved ones can enjoy fine drinks made from fresh ingredients. With these professionals by your side, you can sip on well-made classic cocktails or have something created just for you on your special day.
Blue Book Barkeeps is owned and operated by passionate bartender Nate Usrey and Emily Starr, whose PhD dissertation studied New Orleans bartenders and the intersections of identity and work. Since 2006, Nate has enjoyed serving signature drinks and creating a comfortable environment to share his knowledge and love for his craft. Thanks to their skill and expertise, Nate and Emily have created a team of beverage enthusiasts who can serve every wedding with the grace only a proper barkeep can.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate dinner party or a lavish after-party, Blue Book Barkeeps offers services for every type of event. Their standard package includes an experienced bartender alongside a party attendant to help with any beverage or food needs. These skilled bartenders can craft an array of custom cocktails and will also provide polished glassware.
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Prices & packages
Couples usually spend $4,200
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Details
Bar & Drinks
Bartenders
Beer
Champagne
Liquor
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Signature Cocktails
Wine
Awards and Affiliations
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Meet the team
Nate Usrey
Owner
Nate was lured to New Orleans in 2003 to attend Tulane and attain his BA in English/Political Science/Philosophy, a humanities trifecta jokingly referred to as a "Bartending Degree". He has been behind most any type of bar you can imagine since 2006 and has run events large and small all over the New Orleans area. Having had a front row seat to the craft cocktail resurgence over the last decade or so, he is determined to bring those same sensibilities - hand-crafted cocktails with quality ingredients served by consummate professionals - to your wedding in an approachable and unpretentious way.
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Reviews
4.9
out of 5.0
16 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Blue Book Barkeeps received consistent praise from reviewers for their exceptional service, professionalism, and creativity at various events, including weddings, vow renewals, and rehearsal dinners. Nate and his team were lauded for their helpfulness, responsiveness, and attention to detail, offering unique cocktails tailored to specific themes and preferences. Guests particularly appreciated the friendly and well-dressed staff, along with their efficiency and ability to handle unexpected challenges. The overall sentiment was highly positive, with many reviewers expressing gratitude for the stress-free and enjoyable experiences provided by Blue Book Barkeeps.
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Paulina F
5.0
4/08/2025
We were fortunate to have several great vendors for our wedding at the BK House, but Nate and his staff at Blue Book quickly emerged as the most helpful and resourceful of any of them. We were out of town and doing the planning ourselves, and Nate advised us on items having little or nothing to do with the bar.
Their staff were veterans and while I hope we didn't present any particular challenges, they would have been up to the task if we had. You can't ask for a more friendly and professional bunch.
Courtney K
5.0
1/05/2025
Nate was wonderful and easy to work with while planning our cocktail hours- he was a favorite vendor of our venue (Pharmacy Museum) and for good reason. He was timely and communicative with his planning and his team were well dressed in their NOLA best and on time. They were professional and charming with our guests and made a darn good cocktail as well! Blu Book will coordinate your glassware rentals, second line cups, alcohol, ad even assist with specialty cocktails! The team was fast, efficient and fun- a great choice for any event!
Any questions?
Erica B
5.0
10/09/2024
HIRE THEM NOW! Working with Blue Book Barkeeps has been a dream. Nate was so responsive, professional, and on his stuff. The two lovely women who came to help organize and keep my wedding venue looking fresh were amazing. So kind, fun, and they made that place look as if we hadn't even been there in no time. Couldn't recommend more.
Monica C
5.0
9/28/2024
We worked with Blue Book Barkeep for our vow renewal, and they were absolutely fantastic! They crafted unique cocktails and ideas that perfectly matched our 'till death' theme and felt personal to us as a couple. From start to finish, they were incredibly responsive, meeting every request we had—including my dream of a champagne tower. Their creativity, professionalism, and attention to detail made our event unforgettable. I can't recommend them enough!
Olivia S
5.0
4/24/2024
Nate and his team added so much to my wedding day! They went above and beyond to make ensure there was no stress on our end. The staff was so fun and helpful! 10 out of 10 recommend to anyone needing to hire bar service!
Sierra C
5.0
4/16/2024
Their professionalism, drinks, and service was top notch! We booked them for a wedding at the last second, and Nate not only accommodated our requests but also worked with us when plans changed again. They also worked with us to develop a signature drink for the wedding, which worked well with the ambiance. Highly recommend!
Ryan L
5.0
4/04/2024
Nate and his team at Bluebook Barkeeps were super professional and extremely helpful for our Rehearsal Dinner event. Before the event, Nate reached out to go over all the details, and his party attendant was there early to help set up. The dinner was chaotic (rainy!), and both of his employees were professional and kicked into overdrive. Would highly recommend to anyone who needs bartending and party attendant services!
Diem T
4.0
1/02/2024
Nate was amazing to work with. His response to my email or phone calls are always quick. He does his best to meet my standards. I would definitely recommend him and the company!
Jennifer T
5.0
10/18/2023
Blue Book Barkeeps was incredibly professional to work with. Nate was very responsive, communicated quickly and effectively, and delivered what he promised. The bartender at the wedding, Heather, went above and beyond. They helped make the event exactly what the bride and groom wanted. We highly recommend!
Caitlin B
5.0
6/21/2023
The customer service Blue Book Barkeeps provided was stellar and our guests raved about how professional the bartending team was during our reception. The team was flexible, open-minded and willing to work with us through every detail of crafting unique cocktails for our guests. The party attendants ensured our event was set-up, bussed and cleaned up so that everything went smoothly. Absolutely recommend!
Celia C
5.0
5/19/2023
Blue Book Barkeeps was one of the best parts of our wedding reception! Their set up is so unique and really allowed us to provide what we wanted without any of the extra stuff that a lot of other bartending services come with. Their bartending skills were above and beyond—no Margarita mixers—everything was fresh! We had a really diverse mix of people including sober folks and Nate was really excited to helps us create a thoughtful experience for our all our guests. The bartenders were lovely, our guests were happy and we had a wonderful experience.
Natasha N
5.0
4/27/2023
The BBB crew took care of us for our wedding reception & they were amazing. Nate helped us create a signature cocktail for our party, including cooking a custom herbal tonic to really hit our flavor notes. The bar staff easily incorporated some last minute requests of ours (password protected bourbon) and made each and every guest feel special. The BBB team went above and beyond to make our reception drinks completely custom AND stress free!
response04/27/2023
Natasha! Thank you so much for your kind words and inviting us to be a part of your celebr...
ation. It was a such a wonderful evening. We are so happy you were able get an experience built just for you. I'm happy to send you the recipe for the tonic. It will give you a good base plan but may be a bit inexact. My barkeep that cooked it up only ever has a rough idea of the desired flavor profile and its only done when he says its done. I wish you nothing but the best going forward! Cheers!
Keely F
5.0
4/19/2023
I worked with Nate and the Blue Book Barkeep team for a wedding in February at Race and Religious and they were outstanding. Nate came in as a Hail Mary and took care of every request and handled our event with so much care. He was professional, kind and overall an incredible vendor to connect with. I felt so at ease as soon as we had Nate and his bartenders on for the event. I have only received incredible feedback regarding their work on the wedding day itself and can highly recommend Blue Book Barkeeps for any event of any size or style. I cannot wait to continue working with them on all future events.
response04/27/2023
Keely, thank you so much. You set everything in motion to make our process so much easier ...
and I only wish circumstances allowed you to be there day of as planned. I can't wait for another chance to work with you again. All the best to you and your family.
Alexandria F
5.0
2/13/2023
They were helpful throughout the whole process and had everything going smoothly. Nate helped with any question and his whole team went above and beyond!
Chris H
5.0
1/20/2023
NATE WAS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!!!!! We could not have asked for a more professional, talented, thoughtful, hardworking, creative, and just-all-around GREAT GUY to coordinate our bar at our wedding for over 200 guest at Race and Religious. Everyone raved about the quality of cocktails and service. Nate executed the entire evening flawlessly and went way above and beyond anything we could have ever imagined. He truly was a huge part of making our wedding magical. You will not be disappointed in anyway by what Nate provides.
response01/22/2023
It was magical! Your vision was the drive behind it all. I've been in this business a long...
time and I can't say I've seen anything quite like it. The smoked old fashioned and the high-end tasting room in the bedroom upstairs were just some of your brilliant ideas. We can't thank you all enough for the trust you put in us to make it all come to life.
Jessica M
5.0
10/17/2022
Nate was amazing from the moment we spoke over the phone about my wedding reception details. His “can do” attitude and open communication immediately put me at ease. He was professional and extremely knowledgeable in his area of expertise, which made my reception a huge success! This is a one-stop bar shop, and I cannot recommend Blue Book Barkeeps enough.
response10/18/2022
Thank you so much for the kind words! We were honored to be a part of it.
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Blue Book Barkeeps
Nate Usrey
|
Owner
Typically responds within 24h
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