Sunshine, Shirley Temples, and a Future Derby Bar Owner

Luna Belle’s Washington Township Graduation Party

By Luna Belle

Graduation season is one of my favorite times of year. The excitement. The celebrations. The proud parents. The friends and family gathering together to celebrate years of hard work and a bright future ahead.

On June 13th, I rolled into Washington Township, Michigan for another beautiful graduation party, and let me tell you—it was awesome. The day started exactly the way every outdoor graduation party hopes it will.

Bright sunshine. Blue skies. Comfortable temperatures. No rain. a light breeze. No weather-related drama.

After some of the events I’ve experienced lately, that alone felt like a gift. Of course, no Derby Bar event would be complete without at least a couple surprises. As we made our way to the party, someone noticed a familiar problem. My electrical cord had dragged on the road. Again.

Now before you start imagining disaster, this time wasn’t nearly as bad as my Traverse City adventure. The protective cover took the damage, and the actual wiring survived untouched. Still, Brad added it to his growing list of things to fix. He’s becoming quite the expert in emergency Luna repairs.

Then came surprise number two. When we picked up the custom drink menu for the event we had printed, it came out enormous. Not a little too big. Not slightly oversized.

We’re talking there-is-no-way-this-is-fitting-in-the-frame big. For a few moments, Brad stood around trying to figure out Plan B. Thankfully, we had some fresh eyes on the project.

This event featured a very special setup assistant: Brady, Brad’s son. Part of the fun of owning a small business is sharing it with the next generation, and Brady joined the team to learn a little about event setup, customer service, and what it takes to run a mobile bar business.

As everyone brainstormed solutions for the oversized menu, Brady casually suggested: “Why don’t we just use the magnetic tacks?” Simple. Brilliant. Effective. The menu went up, looked great, and the problem was solved in about thirty seconds. Honestly, Brady might have a future in this business.

Once setup was complete, I settled into what turned out to be one of the most beautifully arranged graduation parties I’ve attended all season.

The hosts had done an incredible job. The house looked stunning. The tent was perfectly decorated. The caterers had everything organized and running smoothly.

And for the younger guests, there was a swimming pool that stayed busy from the moment the party started until the very end.

The entire property felt welcoming, polished, and ready to celebrate.

Then the guests arrived. And they all seemed to have the same idea. Head straight to the bar.

Within minutes, there was a steady crowd forming around me. Luckily, we were prepared. Alongside the Derby Bar team was Brittany, one of the best bartenders you’ll ever meet. No matter how busy things became, Brittany handled it all with a smile. She’s the kind of bartender who remembers your drink, makes you feel welcome, and somehow keeps everything moving without anyone feeling rushed.

Whether she was serving grandparents, parents, recent graduates, or first-time mocktail drinkers, everyone felt right at home.

And speaking of mocktails… This crowd absolutely loved Shirley Temples. Kids ordered them. Teenagers ordered them. Adults ordered them.

At one point, it felt like every glass leaving my bar was bright red and topped with cherries. I’m fairly certain this was the most Sprite I’ve ever served at a single event. Thankfully, we came prepared with plenty of cherries.

Crisis avoided.

For the adults, there was one clear favorite. Luna’s Lily. That refreshing summer cocktail quickly became the star of the menu. Guests kept returning for another round, and before long people were ordering doubles.

The combination of warm sunshine, good company, and an ice-cold Luna’s Lily proved impossible to resist.

Meanwhile, Michelob Ultra was quietly having its own successful day. The keg continued flowing all afternoon and evening until the very last pour was served as we were beginning to close up.

There’s something satisfying about finishing an event with perfectly planned inventory. Not too much left. Not too little. Just right.

Throughout the evening, guests kept stopping by to tell me how beautiful I looked. Now, I try not to let compliments go to my wheels, but hearing people describe me as charming, gorgeous, and unique never gets old.

One of the most meaningful parts of the day, though, came from the graduate’s mother. Unlike many of our clients, she had never seen me at another event. She booked me based on research, photos, conversations, and trust. That’s a big decision. After all, hiring a mobile bar trailer for a graduation party is an investment. One that families don’t take lightly. And neither do we. After the event, she was so pleased she left us this incredible review:

“The Derby Bar is worth every penny. Definitely made my son’s graduation party a huge hit. Made the whole process smooth and allowed me to truly enjoy the party and be able to greet and talk with all guests. Will definitely be booking for my younger son’s graduation party!”

Reading those words reminded me of something important. People often think I’m just a place to get drinks. But that’s not really what I do.

What I provide is peace of mind. I help eliminate the stress of beverage service. I give hosts one less thing to worry about. I create a gathering place where guests naturally connect. And most importantly, I allow families to enjoy the celebration they’ve worked so hard to create. That’s what the Derby Bar experience is really about.

As the sun began to set and the final drinks were served, I couldn’t help but feel grateful. For beautiful weather. For wonderful guests. For Brady’s quick thinking. For Brittany’s incredible service. And for another family who trusted me to be part of one of life’s biggest milestones.

Congratulations to the graduate. And if his younger brother’s graduation party is anything like this one… I can’t wait to come back.

Until next time,

Luna Belle 🐴🍹🎓✨

Venue: Private residence

Beverage service: The Derby Bar

Alcohol retailer: The Good Time Party Store

The Derby Bar provides luxury mobile bar service, cocktail catering, graduation party bartending, wedding bar service, and private event beverage experiences throughout Washington Township, Metro Detroit, and Michigan.