From Single Mom to “Bartender Betty”: The Bartini Events Story
My journey into the hospitality industry wasn’t planned it was born out of necessity and a mother’s determination. As a single mom working a 9-to-5 that wasn’t stretching far enough, I needed a way to earn more without sacrificing the time I showed up for my daughter’s after-school activities. So I did what made sense at the time: I enrolled in bartending school at night. It was practical, flexible, and as it turns out the first step toward something much bigger than I ever imagined.
For years, I juggled two jobs and college part-time, learning the craft from the inside out pouring drinks, reading rooms, and building real connections with people across bars and events throughout the DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia area. Every shift was a masterclass. Every event was a lesson in hospitality, energy, and what it truly means to make someone feel like a VIP. Then came New Year’s Eve many years ago the night that changed everything. I made myself a promise: after midnight, I would stop working for someone else’s dream and start betting on my own. Bartini Events LLC was born.
But let me be honest the excitement of that midnight decision was quickly met with the weight of reality. Some of the greatest struggles had nothing to do with bartending at all. The hardest part was simply believing I could do it. Hoping that people would trust me with their guests. Figuring out all the administrative layers that come with standing up a real business. Learning how to price my services in a way that reflects my worth without pricing myself out of the market because that balance is harder than it sounds. And then there’s the art of closing a contract without overexplaining, because the moment you consult with a potential client, you risk them turning to a cousin or a friend who “bartends on the side” and trying to recreate what you’ve spent years mastering. What goes into this service the expertise, the licensing, the equipment, the experience, the professionalism is something most people truly don’t realize until they’ve seen it done right.
What separates Bartini Events from the rest is simple: I see you. Not just as a client, but as someone planning one of the most important moments of your life and I treat every detail accordingly. I tailor my service down to the very aesthetics of your event, making sure the bar doesn’t just function beautifully, it fits beautifully. From the moment we connect, I take the guesswork off your plate. I provide a custom shopping list for your signature cocktail selections, handle the setup, and manage every behind-the-bar detail so that you can focus your energy on everything else that needs your attention. My goal is to eliminate your frustration and minimize your worry because when you hired Bartini, the bar was handled. Full stop.
What drives me, at the core of it all, is the reaction. That moment when someone takes a sip of one of my specialty cocktails and their face says everything before their words do. Let’s
be real you are putting something into your body, and that is not something I take lightly. Knowing that someone is truly satisfied, that they trusted me with that experience and I delivered, means everything to me. In the words of Erykah Badu I am sensitive about my s**t. Every cocktail I create, every bar setup I design, every event I service is a reflection of my craft, my standards, and my pride. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Today, Bartini isn’t just a bartending service it’s an experience. As a licensed mixologist, I bring the full package to every event: a stunning LED bar, a custom-crafted specialty cocktail menu, and the kind of warm, face-to-face energy that turns any gathering into something truly memorable. Whether I’m leading a Mixology 101 class, setting the tone for a bachelorette party, or tending bar at a private soirée, the value I bring is the same sophistication, creativity, and a personal touch that no venue or catering company can replicate.
Because at the end of the day, the bar is the heartbeat of any event. And nobody knows that better than the woman who built a business on believing that.