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Wedding signature drinks allow you and your partner to express your unique personalities, share a funny anecdote from your courtship, or even give a nod to your furry friends. A signature drink adds a fun element to your party and will delight your guests. Plus, only offering one or two special drinks can keep the celebratory vibe alive without blowing your entire wedding budget on an open bar.
Whether you’re already a signature cocktail connoisseur or have yet to take your first sip, here’s how to select the perfect signature drink for your nuptials.
A signature wedding drink is a personalized beverage served at the wedding reception or during the cocktail hour. It might draw inspiration from a classic cocktail like a whiskey sour or Moscow mule, or it could be an entirely new concoction. Some couples opt for two signature drinks, with each partner contributing their name or preferences to one. However, serving just one is perfectly acceptable, as is offering three or more.
Signature cocktails offer several advantages.
First, they add a personal touch to the bar offerings, allowing a couple to express themselves and giving wedding guests a glimpse into their love story.
If you only offer signature cocktails rather than a full bar, this also makes life easier for the bartender. Instead of managing a fully-stocked bar, they only need to whip up one or two cocktails, speeding up service and getting guests back to the dancefloor pronto.
Plus, having a limited drink selection is a budget-friendly choice, as you only need to stock ingredients for a few drinks.
Choosing your signature cocktail can be overwhelming. Here are some considerations to help you select the perfect drink for your wedding.
Ease the bar staff’s workload and streamline service by selecting a drink that’s easy to make. A handy rule of thumb is to keep the ingredients list to four items or less unless you’re going for pre-mixed big-batch cocktails.
Only serve drinks that you genuinely love. It’s your wedding day, so focus on what you enjoy rather than following trends or catering to guest preferences.
Reflect on your early dates for inspiration. Maybe you sipped Aperol Spritzes on a terrace or bonded over mojitos. Let those moments inspire your unique creations. You can also draw from your heritage, with drinks unique to your culture, or recall places you’ve lived or traveled to and pick a drink unique to a special locale.
Incorporating local products or flavors can pay homage to your wedding location. For instance, a New England wedding could showcase maple syrup-infused drinks, while a destination wedding in Portugal could take inspiration from local tipples like port wine.
Certain drinks, such as vodka sodas, are suitable for any season, while others, like a Tom Collins, are more fitting for warmer months. Tailor your choices to align with the season of your wedding date.
Unless you want your guests stumbling around the dance floor, keep the alcohol content in your signature drinks low. If you decide on one drink with a higher alcohol content, make sure the second option is light on booze.
While it’s important to choose drinks that suit your preferences, remember to factor in the types of alcohol you’re using. Go for one light-colored spirit, such as vodka or gin, and one dark-colored liquor, like rum or whiskey.
Chances are you won’t find the winning drink on your first attempt. Chalk it up to experimentation and sample different combinations until you find the best options.
Your signature wedding drink should match the season of your celebration. After all, you wouldn’t want guests enjoying hot toddies in May or sipping on piña coladas in December. Here are a few signature wedding drinks categorized by season.
Hot summer celebrations call for refreshing drink options — think sparkling wine infused with fresh fruit or sweet tea blended with vodka and fresh lemon juice. Other tasty options include:
As temperatures drop, embrace rich autumn flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, maple, and bourbon. These cozy cocktails promise to infuse your celebration with the warmth and charm of the season.
Embrace winter’s enchanting flavors – peppermint, cinnamon, nutmeg, hot chocolate, and spiced rum. These beverages promise to infuse your celebration with the cozy magic of the season.
Step into the blooming season by surrounding yourself with refreshing notes of floral blossoms, zesty citrus, and crisp greenery. These spring wedding drinks promise to bring lively magic and romantic allure to your celebration.
Velvet Rose Twilight – Blackberry brandy, crème de Cassis, lemon juice, and club soda. Serve in a highball glass with a blackberry and rosemary garnish.
Weddings usually offer two signature cocktails, each representing one spouse, but you can opt for any number. For quantity, assume guests will have two drinks in the first hour of the reception and one drink each subsequent hour. So, for example, plan on providing three drinks per guest for a two-hour reception.
Choosing to offer a sole signature wedding drink is a budget-friendly alternative to providing a full bar. For the best options and accurate pricing, discuss drink choices and signature cocktail packages with your venue.
Before you grab the cocktail shaker and start sipping, check out all that The Groom Club’s wedding resources. From budget advice and destination wedding guides to dancing tips and fashion tips for the groom, we’ll help you plan your ideal wedding.
