Drinks in hand · presses on
Sip, watch it print, wear it home.
A sip-and-print party is the creative kind of get-together where nobody's stuck making small talk. Guests pour a drink, pick a design, and watch their own shirt, tote, or hat come off the press — still warm — right in the room.
You (or your venue) handle the drinks. Merch Troop brings the presses, the crew, and the take-home pieces.
What makes it different
It's an activity, a favor, and the entertainment — in one station.
Most parties hand out a favor at the door. A sip-and-print party lets each guest design and claim their own, so the keepsake actually means something. And because the printing is happening in front of everyone, it doubles as the show.
Relaxed, not crafty
No stencils to fumble with or paint to spill. Guests choose from a curated design menu, hand it off, and get back to their drink while our crew does the pressing.
Made, not bought
People remember the shirt they watched come off the press far longer than a goodie bag. It leaves with them and it gets worn.
A reason to gather
The press, the peel, the reveal — there's a little moment of applause every time a piece comes out. It keeps energy in the room.
How the night runs
Four easy beats.
We arrive and set the bar
Our crew rolls in, sets up the printing station in a corner you'd otherwise waste, and lays out a blank rack plus a tidy design menu. Setup is quiet and quick — usually inside an hour.
Guests sip and choose
People drift over with a drink, browse the designs (yours, ours, or a mix), pick a garment and size, and drop their order at the station.
We print it live
Full-color DTF transfers get pressed onto Bella+Canvas tees, totes, or caps in front of the crowd. Most pieces are ready in a couple of minutes.
They wear it out the door
Warm, finished, and theirs. No shipping, no "we'll send it later" — the party is the delivery.
A few of our favorite excuses
Parties this was made for.
Bachelorette & bridal
The bride squad designs matching tees or trucker hats between rounds. See private parties.
Milestone birthdays
30ths, 40ths, and "we survived this year" nights get a wearable memento everyone actually keeps.
Team socials & launches
Company happy hours and product-launch nights turn a logo into an experience. See all party types.
Quick answers
What hosts ask before they book the night.
What does a sip-and-print party cost?
Staffed parties start around $5,000 for Orange County, LA, and San Diego, all-in: the press station, crew, blanks, setup, and teardown. Crew time runs $250 per hour and parties beyond Southern California add a flat $900 travel fee. Send your date and headcount and the quote lands within 24 hours.
Can you set up at a house or an Airbnb?
Yes — the station needs about a 10x10 corner and one standard 120V outlet, so living rooms, garages, covered patios, and private dining rooms all work. We scout the space from a couple of photos and arrive an hour before guests to set up quietly.
How long should the print bar stay open?
Two to three open hours covers the 20 to 60 guest sweet spot. Each piece presses in about two minutes and a single press clears roughly 60 pieces an hour, so nobody spends the party in line. Bigger nights get a second press, not a longer wait.
Can guests put their own names on things?
Yes, and it is always the hit of the night. We pair your design menu with name and initial personalization, so the bride's squad gets matching tees with each name on the sleeve, or the birthday crew gets an inside joke each. Art gets locked about a week before the party.
What is there to print on besides shirts?
Bella+Canvas tees are the staple, but totes, dad hats, crewnecks, and zip pouches all ride the same press. Most hosts pick two or three blank options — enough choice to feel personal, not enough to stall the line.
Let's plan it
Tell us about your night.
Give us the occasion, a rough headcount, and the date you're eyeing. We'll come back with a station setup that fits your space and a clear, all-in quote — pieces, crew, setup, and teardown included.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (562) 614-4800 or email contact@merchtroop.com.
Beverages are on the host or venue — we run the printing bar, not the drinks bar. That keeps the night flexible for whatever you're pouring.