A wedding is a special event that marks the celebration of a joining of two hearts. An enormous amount of time and effort goes into planning the day from the invitations to the favors to the songs. Along the way, inevitably the total cost comes into question and that typically is accompanied by some sort of cutting.
I have a suggestion that can add to the fun, create something special for you and your guests and at the same time save some of the precious money you are seeing fly out the window! My suggestion is to create a signature drink.
Signature drinks have been around for at least a century or more. Having a signature drink at your wedding can add a fun experience and really set off your reception. Many brides and grooms have added this to their celebration and if you are reading this you are probably thinking about having your own signature cocktail. But how do you start and what are the steps?
One place to start is with the theme of your wedding. You can choose a color that coordinates with your dresses or flowers and start there. You can start with a favorite flavor and start to add ingredients. You can take a hint from the flavor or your cake (think raspberry filling) and move in that direction. If you are having a beach wedding an obvious place to start is with flavors common to a beach. If it is a mountain wedding, the same applies.
Another place is with the season. A summer wedding might try lemonade as a starting place. Another idea is to create a frozen slush, perfect for hot summer weddings. The idea is to think outside the box! Fall brings to mind peaches, apples, pears and other fruit. Also, pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg and other spices might be ideas for weddings around the October and November time frame. Mint, candy cane and chocolate might be appropriate around the winter holiday time.
Some couples choose to create a drink around a special experience, their honeymoon plans or a memorable trip they took together. Wherever you start, make sure that you pick something meaningful to your time together as a couple.
The next step is to pick a base spirit. This can be literally anything. Most couples have their favorites and choose among them but be sure that it is not something that your guests will object to. Part of the fun of offering your signature drink to your guests is that you know them and probably know some of their preferences.
At this point, things get interesting. You have several choices including hiring a mixologist, taking an existing drink and modifying it to make it unique to your wedding or starting from scratch and creating one that no one has even thought of before! If you start with a classic cocktail, change one ingredient at a time. Change the spirit, change the base flavor, change the garnish, add a new flavor, make it sweeter or tarter.
Going to a unique flavor or ingredient can also be fun. One bride I heard about started with a puree of avocado! Others might try a spirit that symbolizes their honey moon location, such as cachaca, a classic Brazilian spirit or sake, for an Asian location. Also creating an infusion with your favorite spirit with fruit or spices is another way to make your signature drink special.
No matter what approach you choose, creating a drink involves a lot of trial and error. Experienced mixologists suggest that you have a taste testing party to ensure the flavors are what your guests would enjoy!
Your signature drink should say something about you as a couple or about your tastes, future plans or goals. You need to pick a name. Much like naming a child, this can get tricky and take some time!
A way to create a memorable experience for your guests, serve it in a unique glass; something that is different than the other drinks that you are offering. Another idea is to allow them to keep the glass as a favor. You could add LED lights to the serving vessel. Have it pour through an ice sculpture. Look for ideas on wedding blogs and come up with something that sets your wedding apart!
A few other considerations to keep in mine: Make sure you can make it in sizable quantities easily. Also, if it lends itself to mixing up ahead of time, even better! Make sure you talk about this in detail with your wedding venue. It is likely that you will need to order special ingredients that the venue typically does not have in their bar cabinet! Also, experiment with a non-alcoholic version of it for the younger crowd and those who choose not to have alcohol. Typically this just involves increasing the basic flavors and perhaps sweetener.
Once you have finalized your signature drink, write a story about it to make it personal. Tell about how you choose the ingredients or theme. Tell them about your taste testing and experimenting. Include the recipe so your guests can reproduce it at home.
Finally, a signature drink can save a lot of money. First, if it is your only alcoholic drink you can save the cost of an open bar. If it is simple or if it can be mixed ahead of time, you can save by having a less experienced (think less expensive) bar tender! Also, use the “well” or house spirits to avoid the cost of premium bottles. It is also likely that the venue will be able to offer a signature drink at a less costly price, as it requires less set-up time for the bartender.
If you spend the time and make this a joint effort with your fiancé and friends, a signature drink can add a unique touch to your special day!
Morrow, T. J. (2010, November 29). Wedding Reception Signature Drink: Where to Start. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Wedding-Reception-Signature-Drink:-Where-to-Start&id=5466699