Cheers to Signature Cocktails!

Over the past couple of years signature cocktails have become a big trend at wedding receptions.  It's a wonderful way to make your wedding reception unique and personal  while providing a fun and tasty element for your guests.

Many couples choose their signature cocktail based on color and appearance to fit with the decor of their wedding. Or they may choose a cocktail they had on their first date or when they became engaged.  Some couples decide to each have their own signature cocktail according to what is their favorite drink. We assisted with a wedding that took place on Kentucky Derby Day, so the couple chose mint juleps as their signature cocktail.

Besides wanting your cocktail to taste delicious, you also want it to wow your wedding guests with it's presentation.  You can do this with creative signage, the type of glassware or using a lovely beverage dispenser.  No matter what you decide to use as your presentation, make sure the look and feel compliments the rest of your wedding reception decor.

PINK LEMONADE COCKTAIL

1 (12-oz.) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
3 (12-oz.) bottles beer (not dark), chilled
3/4 cup vodka, chilled
Ice
Garnishes: fresh cranberries, citrus slices

Stir together first 3 ingredients. Serve over ice.

BLACKBERRY MOJITOS FOR A CROWD

Serves 50 (approx 4 ounce servings)

5-6 pints blackberries plus some for garnish

4 bunches mint leaves plus some for garnish

6 cups sugar

4 cups cold water

1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice

6-7 cups light rum (depending on how strong you want the drinks. This is based on 1 ounce per drink which is light. Add more if you like. You can also substitute vodka if you prefer)

Ice

2 bottles of chilled club soda (to taste)

RASPBERRY VANILLA LEMONADE

Makes about two quarts but it depends on how strong you want the lemonade to be- you can stretch it to a gallon by adding more water. I like it strong because it is always diluted when you add ice. 

2 pints fresh raspberries

2 cups fresh squeezed lemon juice

2 cups sugar

2 cups water

1 vanilla bean

2 quarts cold water*

* add the water to your taste. More if you like it weak, less water if you like it strong. I used about 1 quart water and then added a splash of chilled club soda at serving time to make it a bit fizzy.

Fresh Peach Sangria

Serves 6-8

5-6 peaches, peeled and sliced

1 cup vodka (if you use peach vodka, omit the peach nectar)

1/2 cup peach brandy

2 tablespoons sugar

1 cup peach nectar (find it in the International aisle)

1 bottle chilled white wine or Prosecco

Club Soda, chilled (omit if you are using Prosecco)

Reserve 2 peaches for later. Muddle the remaining sliced peaches with the sugar in a large pitcher to release the juice. Add the vodka and brandy. Allow to sit for 1-2 hours. Crush to a puree with a wooden spoon or use an immersion blender to make into a puree. If you like, strain the puree before adding the remaining ingredients. I happen to like the pulp. Add the peach nectar, remaining peach slices, and white wine. Chill well. You can serve this immediately but it's even better if it has a chance to sit for a while so the flavors can develop. I like to chill it for at least 2 hours before serving. Top with club soda to taste at serving if you are using white wine. Omit the club soda if you are using Prosecco.  

Cucumber and Gin Wedding Cocktail

2 oz. Gin
2-3 Cucumber Wheels
Lemonade
Ginger Ale

Muddle 2-3 cucumber wheels in the bottom of a highball glass with a dash of Ginger Ale. Fill glass with ice. Add 2 oz. of gin and fill rest up with lemonade stopping an inch or 2 from the top and finish with Ginger Ale. Stir to combine flavors and garnish with a cucumber wheel.

Signature cocktails are a fantastic way to personalize your wedding day and add some fun to the festivities! Have fun with the process.

Are you planning to have a signature cocktail at your wedding reception?  Please share what you have chosen.  We love hearing from our readers.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please be sure to share it on facebook, twitter and pinterest.

Wedding Receptions

This may be a scary thought for some couples who are in the wedding planning stage...but nearly 40% of your entire wedding budget is going to be spent on your reception.  But that is definitely something you will want to keep in mind as you are setting the budget for your entire wedding and deciding what you can afford. 

Now it's time to talk about how you are going to spend that big chunk of money to throw

a fabulous reception that your guests will not forget!!

Today's weddings are about personality and creativity.  Put some thought in this when planning your wedding reception.  The theme and style you wish to reflect will help dictate the type of wedding venue you choose.  Remember that your options are numerous; hotel ballrooms, banquet halls, country clubs, historic sites, museums, or parks. 

You should start out determining the theme and style of your reception.  Different types of wedding venues set the stage for specific styles of receptions.  So before you chose a location, decide the style of reception you would like to host.

Another important decision to make is  deciding on the location of your wedding and reception.  Do not be afraid to consider something different or unexpected.  Perhaps your style or theme will dictate the location; in a friend's backyard,  a rustic farmhouse or barn, a local attraction, a country club, a dock...the sky's the limit.

Locations for Wedding Receptions

Private Property

The backyard of a friend or family member will contribute to making your reception a very personal affair.  By setting up a tent, dance floor, chairs and tables, you can transform a backyard space into a beautiful event venue.  It can also be a financially beneficial option.  Of course, weather will be a serious consideration when planning an outdoor reception of any kind.  So will need a backup plan if your wedding reception is outdoors.

Rustic Setting

 An old barn can make a beautiful rustic wedding reception location.  The open floor plan of a barn allows an extensive variety of layout options.  Barns are usually quite large, making a barn reception a wonderful option for couples with large number of wedding guests.  Many barns that are used for events have been fully restored and are equipped with modern amenities and can offer many possibilities for a great reception.

Local Attraction

Hosting your wedding reception at a local landmark, such as a historical town spot, an area museum, or a large aquarium, can make your wedding festivities unique and unforgettable.  Choose a location that carries a special meaning for you and your fiance or select an interesting place that celebrates the town were you are hosting your reception.

Country Club

A more traditional wedding reception option is a country club setting.  You can make it a very elegant reception venue.  Many clubs allow couples to rent space for their reception, regardless of the couples' membership status with the club.  One of the benefits of hosting a country club reception is that most cities have very good restaurants on premises, which will eliminate the problem of finding an outside catering company.



Beachfront or Lakefront

If your wedding will be during a warmer month, why not have your reception on the water? Your guests will enjoy the cool sea air without getting sand in their shoes. A beautiful sunset over the water will add to the overall romance of the evening. You could also consider having a lakefront wedding reception.  You would still be able to enjoy the water and the beautiful sunset over the lake.

So now you have decided the type of venue you would like to use.  But before you get in your car to start touring wedding venues, there is one more thing to consider - capacity. No matter how beautiful a place may be, if you anticipate 250 guests, cramming them into a facility that holds 150 will quickly turn an beautiful affair into a mob of angry guests!  Most reception sites make seating capacity information readily available.  Make sure to find out the capacities for the type of wedding reception you are envisioning (seated dinner, buffet, cocktail reception, etc.).  There may also be different capacities based on the setting with or without a dance. floor.

Find as many venues as meet your initial criteria.  You may want to search wedding venues and services at www.Elegala.com and www.banquetfacilities.com to find sites in your area. If you are in the upstate of South Carolina, you may want to check out www.upstateweddingmall.com/ for wedding reception venues and other wedding services. The more possibilities you check out the greater your chances to find something that meets your vision and your price.  Then when you have narrowed your choices schedule appointments to tour each venue and meet with the manager.

Things to consider while touring different venues.

1.  Make sure the decor of the venue is accommodating to the theme and style of your wedding. 

If it is not, can it be altered with decorations?

2. Check to see if the reception site has their own catering service.  If they do, dine on a test menu to see how the food tastes. Also, you may decide for some reason their catering services does not meet your needs.

Will they allow another catering service in their venue?

3.  Ask if they have a liquor license.  If they do, ask if you can supply your own alcohol or if they must supply it.  It is usually cheaper to supply your own, if possible.

4.  Find out their deposit, cancellation and refund policies.

5.  Check to see if there is a limit to the decorations you can use and also the cleanup policy.  Many sites will have their own staff available for cleanup for an additional fee.

6.  Drive around the venue to make sure there is adequate parking for all your guests.

7.  Check to see if there is adequate space and the proper equipment if you are

planning on using a band or DJ at your venue.

Time for negotiations

The most successful negotiations take place when you are armed with all the facts.  Make sure you have gotten quotes from a venue's competitors before attempting a negotiation.  A wedding venue is far more likely to want to work with you on the price if you remain firm but pleasant throughout the negotiating process.  Remember the phrase..."you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar?"  It applies when negotiating, also.

If you are flexible on the date of your wedding, venues may offer deep discounts to you if you are willing to hold your wedding on a holiday weekend or a Friday night.  Ask the venue management if they can suggest a

particular date which will off a discounted price.

Be sure to ask what is included with the quoted price.  Get the venue to itemize the quoted price so you know exactly what you are getting for your money.  Often, a venue may be offering items that you are just not interested in or that you need.  If that is the case, ask the management if you can exclude those items in the

package details until you reach a price that meets your budget.

Look for hidden fees.  Many venues may try to charge you for cake plating, unused alcohol, additional gratuities and other add-ons that you shouldn't have to pay.  Have them explain each and every part of the quoted price.  Then ask if they can subtract any fees that seem extraneous.

Be sure you are speaking to the person who can help you best.  If the venue representative doesn't seem to want to help you in reaching your budget, call back or visit on a different day and ask for the manager.

Now...it's decision making time!

I hope you found this information helpful on choosing the perfect reception venue for your dream wedding.  Please share any comments or experiences that you have had in finding a wedding venue.

resources:  www.ehow.com

                 www.itsyourpartysc.com

Types of Wedding Receptions

Do you envision your wedding reception in the early morning light or as an all night, all-out party?

Breakfast or Brunch Reception

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If you are getting married bright and early in the morning, then you will want to have a breakfast or brunch reception.  Traditionally, the menu would include breakfast classics like quiche, frittata, and eggs benedict.  It's great to have stations set up where guests can get food like omelets and French toast made to order.  For a touch of elegance, consider adding smoked salmon, caviar, or a carving station with ham, turkey or roast beef.  Spice things up with Bloody Mary's, Bellinis and Mimosas.  

And don't forget the coffee!

This type of reception is inexpensive; people will drink considerably less alcohol, and the types of food served are typically cheaper as well.  If you want to get a jump start on your honeymoon, a bunch reception fits in perfectly for you to leave the same day.

But consider your guests, especially those who live two hours away.  They'll have to get up very early to make it to your wedding.  Also, you will not have as long to get ready in the morning.

A different take on the breakfast/brunch reception may be to consider a cocktail-style brunch.  Have your caterer reinvent breakfast classics into hors d'ouevres such as mini-eggs benedict, bite sized French toast, and scrambled egg bites topped with caviar.  Keep those Mimosas and Bellini's flowing!

Buffet Reception

Cocktail receptions can be elegant and stylish.  They allow your guests to really mingle with each other.  They are a bit more relaxed than a sit-down meal and often feel like a great party.  The cocktail reception is a fairly formal affair. It is the perfect type of reception to be held in an art gallery, a studio loft, an outdoor terrace, or a landscaped garden.  Hot and cold hors d'oeuvres may be served to your guests by waitstaff or set out on buffet tables.  The wedding cake is cute immediately after the wedding ceremony to allow your guests the opportunity to enjoy along with their champagne and other food.  

The cocktail reception is a nice choice if your venue is small. It will allow you to have more people.  They are also typically shorter than a sit-down meal.  They will allow you and your groom time to really circulate and enjoy the party.  They are also perfect for the couple who is looking to have an elegant affair without going over their budget.  

You may expect a cocktail reception to be less expensive but that is not always the case.  Your guests will likely drink more than at a dinner reception.  Also, since it will not be seated, some guests may have trouble seeing events like the first dance and cake cutting.

Dinner Wedding Reception

The most formal type of wedding reception is a sit-down buffet dinner. It allows you time to really celebrate your wedding, treat your guests, and still have everyone up on the dance floor. It will begin with a cocktail hour, then proceed to an adjoining room for dinner, and followed by dancing, cake cutting, and more. More planning comes into play for a dinner reception because it consists of many courses. The dinner reception allows your guests to feel like you went all out for your reception. It will not feel rushed or hurried.

But typically this is the most expensive type of wedding reception. On average, 40% of your entire wedding budget will be on catering your wedding reception. So a lot of thought needs to go into the type of reception, venue, and choice of menu. The time of day and location will narrow your options on the kind of reception and the site that best fits with your wedding plans.

Saving on Your Reception Without Sacrificing

Here are some money-saving tips to keep in mind when planning your wedding reception.

•  Keep the guest list small and intimate.
• Get married on a Friday or Sunday. Many venues will book for half the price.
• Pay for only one venue. Have the ceremony and reception at the same location.
• Supply your alcohol from a liquor wholesaler. You will need to check with the venue to be sure this is allowed.
• Order one small decorated wedding cake for display and a large sheet cake to cut and serve.
• Serve your wedding cake as the dessert.