Planning a wedding is no easy feat. With so many seemingly little details to tie together, there’s a chance you might overlook the bar. While you can opt for a full bar, it’s often not the most efficient option — your guests could spend a long time waiting in line to order drinks. A full bar is also not the most economical choice for a wedding. Even though you can opt for multiple bars, more bartenders and even extra waitstaff, these are not cost-savvy solutions for every couple.
The solution? Stocking the bar with staples like wine, beer and a couple of spirits. To spice things up a bit, add a few signature wedding cocktails.
More often than not, weddings have two signature drinks — one for each partner. This lets you cater to a broader range of guest taste preferences without the challenges of choosing a full bar.
When choosing signature drinks for your wedding, here’s what you should consider:
While a longer guest list doesn’t mean you have to add more signature drinks to your bar, considering the number of guests attending your wedding can help you choose cocktails that fit your budget.
At the same time, evaluating your guest list will clarify how many alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages you will need. You can plan non-alcoholic cocktails for younger guests and stock sufficient ingredients for alcoholic beverages.
It’s essential to choose contrasting flavors when choosing signature drinks. For example, you can pair a sweet cocktail with a spicey or bitter one. The clash of flavors will ensure your drinks appeal to a broader range of tastes among your guests.
You should also note common flavor preferences when stocking the bar with staples. When choosing wines, you won’t want to stick solely to the dry, bitter reds because there’s a good chance not everyone at your wedding will appreciate these intense flavors. Instead, choose a couple of sweet reds to cater to everyone. The same applies to beers and non-alcoholic beverages.
Beyond the flavor combinations, choosing base spirits that your guests will love is just as key. The best approach is to select white spirits like gin, vodka, tequila or white rum for one signature drink and balance the flavor with bourbon, dark rum or whiskey for the second drink.
A wedding is no place for a sizeable self-serve punch bowl or fishbowl drinks with umbrellas and bendy straws unless you plan a brunch-time beach wedding on a faraway island. But even so, there are classier ways to match your signature drinks to your wedding theme and season.
Instead of choosing funky glassware that’s better suited to nightclubs and casual social outings, choose glassware that fits your wedding’s theme. Vintage grass-green wine glasses and tumblers are perfect for a rustic wedding theme, while rose gold glasses can complement a romantic fairytale affair. Glassware is available in such an expansive range that you’ll quickly find tableware that fits perfectly with your theme.
When it comes to the season, choose flavors that complement the weather. Consider espresso martinis or old-fashioned cocktails if your wedding is set for winter. But refreshing mojitos or margaritas are a better option if your wedding is planned in the summer.
There’s no need to craft new cocktails that match your theme and season. Instead, you can choose popular wedding cocktails that will impress your guests. You can customize your drinks with unique garnish or artisan ice. Renaming the drinks is another way to customize the bar menu to complement the elements of your wedding.
Incorporate wedding words when renaming cocktails. For example, instead of a Bloody Mary, try Bloody Marry Me or ’til Daquiri Do Us Part instead of regular daquiris. Otherwise, consult your bartender for unique beverage name ideas.
These are some of the most popular signature cocktails for weddings:
Champagne is widely considered a wedding bar staple. But instead of serving it alone, add a bit of fruit. You could add a couple of berries or even mango squares to add a fruity flavor to the fizzy drink. Champagne cosmopolitan cocktails are another option to elevate your bar.
Daquiris are typically made with rum, sweetener and citrus juice. There’s a lengthy variety of daiquiris to choose from as well. Depending on the ingredients, these cocktails can be pretty pink, vibrant blue or even green. While rainbow daiquiris are another flavorful option, too many colors can be distracting and clashing.
The St. Germain Spritz is a lightly colored cocktail similar to the French elderflower cocktail. With ingredients like St. Germain elderflower liqueur or martini and Rossi prosecco, club soda, artisan ice and a twisted lemon peel garnish, these drinks complement summer and spring weddings well. Elderflower liqueur is made with hand-picked elderflower petals, giving drinks a distinctive and romantic appearance.
The Pink Gin Spritz blush pink cocktail that offers floral flavors. The ingredients include rose-flavored gin, lychee liqueur and sparkling water. Romantic garnish options for Pink Gin Spritz cocktails include grapefruit wedges, blueberries and sweet strawberry slices.
Another perfect choice for spring and summer weddings, blue mojitos are popular flavorful cocktails. You can add a few blueberries and a leaf or two of mint for garnish. When choosing mojitos for your signature cocktails, choose elegant glassware to balance out the bright hue of the drink.
If classic Moscow Mule cocktails don’t appeal to your tastebuds, consider a Strawberry Basic Mule. Instead of rich, smokey flavors, you can expect refreshing, sweet flavors. Add vodka and ginger beer and top with strawberries, a lime wedge and a few basil leaves.
Whether you’re after a beachfront wedding or a rustic chic event, coconut margaritas are a great choice. The rich, creamy flavors of coconut pair perfectly with the sweet and sour flavors of the margarita. These wedding cocktails use the same ingredients as classic margaritas, with some coconut milk.
A successful wedding needs an efficient bar. When bartenders serve drinks in a timely and professional manner, your guests can enjoy the experience rather than wait for their drinks.
Catering By Design offers first-class bartending catering services that can elevate your wedding. With a reputation as a top catering and bartending service across the Raleigh-Durham region, you can count on us for a superior bar experience. We’ll help you stock the bar with staples and add signature cocktails that complement your wedding theme and budget.
Contact us online to learn more about our catering and bartending services.
