Happy Hour: Signature Cocktails

A great way to cut back the costs of a wedding reception is to offer guests wine, beer, champagne, and one signature cocktail instead of a full bar. Signature cocktails have become quite popular within the last few years and more and more couples have decided to create their very own specialty drink. There are several ways to go about creating your big day's cocktail. Start by either choosing a drink color (green, blue, red, clear, etc), a liquor base (vodka, rum, gin, etc), or a cocktail type (frozen, shaken, stirred, etc). Once you have made these decisions, build your drink from there. Like every other aspect of the party, consider the season and style of the event. If you are having a beach bash with orange and hot pink as your accent colors, a raspberry mojito is a great cocktail option.
Change the name to feature your personalities or particular place memorable to you as a couple (the park where you had your first kiss, the restaurant where he proposed, etc). After you've figured out the name and components of the drink, decide the best way to serve the signature. Will bartenders be mixing up fresh batches all night or is it easier for guests to serve themselves out of large pitchers set on the tables? Stay with the tone of your wedding - if it's more formal, waiters passing around the drinks on trays is chic and if it's more informal, large punch bowls on the tables would be fabulous. To help you create your signature cocktail, check out the wedding section at Stirrings - they have cool downloadable, personalized garnish labels. Oh and if you are a fabulous and single (!) girl like me, and are planning a party in the future, why not fashion your very own cocktail? Party-Sugartini anyone?