Creating A Signature Wedding Drink: A Couple's Guide

how to make a signature drink for a wedding

Creating a signature drink for your wedding is a fun way to express your style and give guests a memorable treat. It's not a must, but it can be a thoughtful way to make your wedding stand out. Here are some tips to help you create the perfect signature drink for your big day:

- Consider your style: Choose a drink that complements the overall vision and theme of your wedding.

- Pick meaningful flavours: Use ingredients that have sentimental value or incorporate your favourite spirits or juices.

- Accommodate dietary needs: Offer low-alcohol, non-alcoholic, gluten-free, or vegan options to cater to various dietary requirements.

- Compliment the season and setting: Select drinks that suit the season and wedding backdrop, such as citrus drinks for summer weddings or warm bourbon cocktails for winter.

- Offer a variety: Provide 2-4 signature drinks to cater to different tastes and preferences.

- Test options beforehand: Don't forget to taste-test your signature drink recipes to ensure they're a hit!

Remember, you don't have to break the bank to offer signature drinks. Be mindful of your budget and consider pre-batching or mixing individual drinks to keep costs down.

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Choosing a drink that reflects your personality

  • Consider your style: Think about whether you want your wedding to be elegant and classic or fun and quirky, and choose a drink that complements that vibe.
  • Pick meaningful flavours: Use ingredients that have sentimental value, such as spirits or juices from a memorable vacation, or flavours that represent your cultural heritage or favourite travel destinations.
  • Accommodate dietary needs: Offer a variety of options to cater to guests with different dietary requirements, including low-alcohol, non-alcoholic, gluten-free, and vegan choices.
  • Compliment the season and setting: Select drinks that suit the time of year and your wedding backdrop. For example, opt for citrus drinks in the summer or warm bourbon cocktails in the winter.
  • Make it personal: Use your love story as inspiration. Model your signature drink after your first date, a movie or activity you both enjoy, or incorporate details related to your hometowns or family backgrounds.
  • Serve your go-to drinks: If you and your partner have a favourite drink that you order every time you go out, why not share it with your loved ones on your wedding day? You can work with a bartender or mixologist to customise the recipe and make it extra special.
  • Test your options: Before finalising your signature drink, mix up small batches of potential recipes to taste-test and ensure they will be a hit with your guests.

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Selecting a meaningful flavour

  • Incorporate sentimental ingredients: Use spirits or juices that hold a special memory for you and your partner. For example, you could include ingredients from a memorable vacation or a drink that holds a special significance in your relationship.
  • Accommodate dietary needs: Be sure to offer a variety of drinks that cater to different dietary requirements. Provide low-alcohol, non-alcoholic, gluten-free, and vegan options to ensure that all your guests can enjoy the signature drink.
  • Complement the season and setting: Choose flavours that match the season and the wedding backdrop. For example, select citrus drinks for summer weddings or warm bourbon or spiced cocktails for winter celebrations.
  • Offer a variety: It is recommended to have 2-4 signature drinks to cater to different palates. Vary the textures, flavours, colours, and presentation of the drinks to give your guests a range of options.
  • Test the drinks beforehand: Don't forget to taste-test your signature drink ideas before the big day! Mix up small batches of potential recipes to ensure that your chosen drinks will be a hit with your guests.
  • Consider the bar service style: Factor in how the drinks will be served. A stationary bar versus passed cocktails may affect the optimal recipes and ingredients you choose.
  • Mind your budget: Signature cocktails can get pricey, depending on the ingredients used. Be mindful of your budget and scale your options accordingly.

By following these tips and choosing meaningful flavours, you can create signature drinks that truly represent you and your partner, adding a unique and memorable touch to your wedding celebration.

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Catering to dietary requirements

Decide on the Level of Accommodation:

It's essential to consider both ethical and practical aspects when planning your wedding menu. While some guests may have dietary restrictions due to health reasons like allergies, others may follow ethical beliefs like veganism. Offering separate cooking areas and utensils to prevent cross-contamination may be necessary, which could impact your budget. You can opt for a tiered approach, providing a vegetarian base menu with modifications for vegan or gluten-free options.

Understand Common Dietary Requirements:

Familiarize yourself with common dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut allergies, dairy-free, and religious restrictions like Halal and Kosher. Work with your caterer to ensure that the menu options cater to these diverse needs.

Choose Between Buffet and Plate Food:

Buffets offer more choices and a social element, but they carry a higher risk of cross-contamination and may lead to guests accidentally choosing unsuitable dishes. Plated meals provide better control and timing but require advance knowledge of dietary needs and may result in cold food if not managed well.

Select the Right Wedding Caterer:

Choose a knowledgeable and flexible caterer with experience in managing dietary restrictions. Ask questions about their ability to accommodate special diets, their experience, and their policies on food sourcing and cross-contamination prevention.

Collect Dietary Information from Guests:

Include a section for dietary requirements on your wedding invitations or online RSVPs. Make it straightforward, with checkboxes for common restrictions and a space for additional details. This information will help you and your caterer plan accordingly.

Offer Inclusive Drink Options:

Remember to cater to dietary needs when selecting alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Offer gluten-free beers, vegan-friendly wines, and signature cocktails that cater to various restrictions. Provide non-alcoholic options like virgin mojitos, fruit-infused water, non-alcoholic sangria, and herbal teas to ensure all guests are included.

By carefully planning and communicating with your caterer and guests, you can create an inclusive and enjoyable wedding celebration that caters to everyone's dietary requirements.

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Complementing the season and setting

When creating a signature drink for a wedding, it is important to consider the season and setting of the wedding. For example, citrus-based drinks are perfect for a summer wedding, while warm bourbon or spiced cocktails are better suited for winter. If you're having a beach wedding, consider a drink with tropical flavours, or if it's an outdoor wedding in the fall, opt for a signature cocktail with autumnal spices.

The location of the wedding can also inspire the signature drink. For instance, a wedding in the Southern US might feature bourbon-based drinks, while a wedding in Italy could include Aperol Spritz, and gin cocktails for a wedding in the UK. Local ingredients and flavours can be a great way to pay tribute to the wedding's location and give a nod to the culture and traditions of the region.

The presentation of the signature drink is also an important consideration. A colourful cocktail can complement the wedding's colour palette, while garnishes such as fresh herbs, flowers, or fruit can add a special touch. For a unique presentation, consider serving the signature drink in a copper mug, a wine glass, or a mason jar.

In addition to the taste and appearance of the drink, it is also important to ensure that it is properly prepared and tested before the wedding. This can be done by mixing small batches of the potential recipes to ensure that the flavours come together as expected. It is also crucial to consider the bar service style and determine whether the drinks will be served at a stationary bar or passed around as cocktails.

By tailoring the signature drink to the season and setting of the wedding, couples can create a unique and memorable experience for their guests, adding a personal touch to their special day.

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Offering a variety

  • Aperol Spritz – a classic Italian aperitif, perfect for a summer wedding. Combine Aperol, prosecco, and soda, and garnish with an orange slice.
  • Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade – a summery twist on a classic, with blackberry syrup, lemonade, whiskey, and a bubbly topper.
  • Raspberry Limoncello Prosecco – a refreshing summer drink with prosecco, limoncello, raspberries, and mint.
  • Bourbon Sweet Tea – perfect for a Southern wedding, this drink combines brewed tea, lemon juice, sugar, and bourbon.
  • Margarita – a classic choice that can be easily customised. Add a fun name like "Main Squeeze Margarita" or "Something Blue".
  • Moscow Mule – a popular choice that can be customised with various flavours such as cranberry, honeydew, or apple cider.
  • Espresso Martini – a 90s-inspired choice that will keep your guests dancing all night.
  • Lavender Lemonade Cocktail – a fragrant, purple drink made with lavender syrup, lemonade, and vodka or gin.
  • Aperol Spritz – a bright and colourful drink that will fit right in with your summertime wedding décor.
  • Piña Colada – a tropical choice perfect for a destination wedding. Combine rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream in a blender with crushed ice.
  • Gin and Tonic – a classic choice that can be elevated with rose water and edible pink rose petals.
  • Prosecco Spritzer – a refreshing bubbly cocktail that's not too sweet. Muddle lime juice, cucumber, and basil, and add to Prosecco.
  • Spiked Apple Cider – a perfect choice for a winter wedding, spiked with rum or bourbon and complemented with cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.
  • Bloody Mary – a zesty and spicy choice, perfect for a brunch wedding. Garnish with bacon strips or cheese cubes.
  • Mojito – a refreshing choice with muddled mint leaves and lime. Add a fruity twist with flavours like mango, strawberry, or peach.
  • Lavender French 75 – a twist on the classic cocktail, infused with lavender and made with gin, lemon, and Champagne.
  • Mai Tai – a fun choice for a tropical wedding, garnished with fresh fruit, a paper umbrella, and a catchy name like "Mai Tai the Knot".

Frequently asked questions

It is recommended to serve 2-4 signature drinks at a wedding. This provides variety while still allowing you to showcase a cohesive vision. However, if you are offering other alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine, you may want to stick to 1-2 signature cocktails.

When choosing a signature drink, consider the overall vision and style of your wedding. Pick flavours that are meaningful to you and your partner, such as ingredients from a memorable vacation or flavours that represent your heritage or favourite travel destinations. You should also consider the season and setting of your wedding—citrus drinks are great for summer weddings, while warm bourbon or spiced cocktails are perfect for winter.

To make your signature drink memorable, give it a creative and catchy name. You can also include a short description on the menu explaining why you chose the drink or the significance of its ingredients. This will spark joy and conversation as your guests order and sip.

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