Sippin’ Pretty Mobile Bar owners (l-r) Stephanie Sherwood of Traer and Bri Lorenzen of Dysart. The bartending duo’s new portable bar business debuted this Thursday in Traer at the Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Girls’ Night Out event. While primarily a dry hire bar, for an additional cost the business can provide liquor, beer, and wine via a special events permit. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TAMA COUNTY – “Pull up. Set up. Bring the party.” That’s the motto behind one of the newest businesses in Tama County – Sippin’ Pretty Mobile Bar, owned and operated by Stephanie Sherwood of Traer and Bri Lorenzen of Dysart.

“Sippin’ Pretty is a dry hire mobile bar and bartending service,” the duo explained in a recent email. “A dry hire service provides bartenders, the mobile bar, insurance, cups/ice/mixes, EVERYTHING except the alcohol for hosted events. We also offer energy drinks and mocktails along with handcrafted cocktails.”

Sippin’ Pretty is a “side gig” for the close-knit duo who believe their niche business is a first for the local market.

“We are close friends who have always loved seeing mobile bars and food trucks set up at markets and events … Similar vendors [to Sippin’ Pretty] exist in the Des Moines area and Cedar Rapids but nothing in our area that we have found.”

One of Sippin’ Pretty’s primary markets, Sherwood and Lorenzen said, is the wedding market.

“Many wedding venues do not offer a bar service or a bartender,” the duo explained. “The couple has to bring in their own alcohol, find someone to serve it, and often obtain an insurance policy for their wedding. Sippin’ Pretty takes on the liability, along with serving cold drinks with friendly service.”

But even if your wedding planning days are long behind you – or your plans include alcohol – Sippin’ Pretty can still make your next event smooth and memorable, the owners said.

“Along with weddings, we do grand openings, town events, showers, graduation, etc. While we are primarily dry hire, we [can] obtain a special events liquor license and sell alcohol for any event as well.”

Any event that requires a liquor license must be booked at least 50 days prior due to permitting requirements.

This past Thursday, Sherwood’s and Lorenzen’s portable bar made its grand debut at the Traer Chamber of Commerce’s ‘2024 Girls’ Night Out: Sipping with Your Peeps’ event, setting up inside Mavens Market which is located downtown on Second Street.

Beginning in early summer, the business’s mobile trailer will head out on the road as well, setting up at various events throughout Iowa including the Bacoon Ride on June 15 in Waukee and along RAGBRAI’s 2024 route in July.

“We will go statewide for any event, however, there is a travel fee for anywhere outside of Tama County.”

Additional information including various event packages can be found on the business’s website, sippinprettymobilebar.com, or on its Facebook page.

Those interested in booking Sippin’ Pretty for an upcoming event are asked to email events@sippinprettymobilebar.com or call/text 319-318-2139.

You’ll be sippin’ pretty in no time.