How It All Started
Tending bar is much more than just slinging drinks for Emily Boston and Alyson Golladay, founders of Dottie Byrd Bartending. It’s an art form. Friends since their freshman years at Wichita State, they officially launched their mobile bartending company in May 2024, but their journey started years before and is rooted deeply in their friendship, creativity, and shared passion for exceptional service.
“We’ve both been in the industry since we were 18,” Emily explains. With nearly 30 years of combined experience in fine dining, hospitality, and event management, the duo has crafted a distinctive, personalized approach to bartending. “What sets us apart is how customized we get,” Emily says. “It’s really a boutique experience. Anything you want, we are willing and excited to do.”
Working with Ball Event Center
Their experience includes working with Musical Theater Heritage at Crown Center, creating a bar program for cabaret and experiential performance collective Quixotic, and the wedding of the daughter of high-profile event planner Platinum XP’s owner. However, making it to the semi-finals of the Bar Boss competition raised their profile to such a degree that the local chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation reached out. They were in a bind, with an event in about a month and a bartending service that had gone AWOL.
“They found us online, and the event was at Ball,” Emily remembers. “We only had five weeks to throw it together, and it was a pretty big event, with a cash bar (Dottie Byrd is one of the few bartending services that will still run a cash bar!) and specific drink requests.” More than that, she adds, “We had an awesome experience working with Michael. It was super easy. We love the venue, and he liked us. It was one of the best venue experiences we’ve had as a vendor.”
They appreciate Ball Event Center’s layout, especially its flexibility. “The venue itself is wonderful,” she says. “They can partition off their event spaces, and they have meeting rooms ideal for corporate events. Their kitchen setup is great, and we had a really easy time getting in and out.”
Her interactions with Michael and the Ball Event Center staff made a lasting impression: “Michael is so organized, calm, and responsive. Having done event venue coordination myself, I love encountering someone who operates the same way I do.”
Every Event is Unique 
For Emily and Alyson, every event is personal. From Bridgerton-themed weddings featuring custom cocktails and flower crowns, to Oktoberfest celebrations complete with bilingual bartenders dressed for the occasion, Dottie Byrd is always ready to elevate any gathering. “Event bartending is the absolute best because every single person is there to celebrate,” Emily says. “You make buddies throughout the night, and you get to know them and truly be part of their celebration.”
Thanks to the positive experience with Ball Event Center, Emily is excited about future opportunities. “We truly value the client experience,” she emphasizes. “It really adds to the event itself. Partnering with Ball Event Center makes delivering this level of personalized service even more enjoyable.”
Whether you’re planning a corporate gathering, wedding, or special celebration, Emily and her team at Dottie Byrd, together with Ball Event Center, ensure your event will be memorable, fun, and flawlessly executed.
Thanks again to Dottie Byrd Bartending – we are thrilled to have you as a vendor at Ball Event Center, and we can’t wait to service more events with you!
Excited to see what Ball has to offer? Contact us online today to learn more about our services and schedule a tour today!
