Bar tender necessary?

With that count, as well as having it in someone’s backyard, I think you can do it without a bartender. Beer and wine is easily self serve. Don’t know how you’re serving the sangria. I would recommend you appoint someone to restock ice and drinks when you’re running low.

If if you were serving mixed drinks, then I would recommend a bartender.

I’m also having a backyard wedding. We’re buying beer to put in a cooler and doing mixed drinks that are premade. I have three of these glass jars.

I went to a back yard wedding that was all self serve for about the same number of people. They had tubs full of ice for the beers/water and a table with wine bottles out. Seemed to work out fine without someone pouring. Maybe have one person check on the ice and empty bottles, etc. I think having a bartender would be more of an aesthetic than especially functional for a small backyard reception, at least in my very minimal experience. Those glass jars Stephanie posted are very cute and great way to serve unbottled drinks also.

I would strongly suggest a licensed bartender for liability reasons. You can and absolutely will be sued by the medical insurance company (and others) if a guest leaves your wedding intoxicated and gets into an accident on the way home. Bartenders are also not that expensive.

I also suggest looking into hiring a licensed bartender - this would likely take loads of stress off you so you and your FS can enjoy your special day even more

If you don't end up hiring a bartender, you should look into one-day liquor liability insurance in case something happens. Most states you can be charged if a guest overdrinks and gets into an accident from your event.