The Best Cocktails for Weddings

Cocktails for Weddings are so fun and even more fun when you have the right cocktails to go with your wedding theme. 

Cocktails for weddings can be the best part of the wedding but they don’t have to break the bank!

 

Cocktails for weddings, whether it’s a casual or formal affair the cocktails can be a great complement to the food and decor.  You don’t have to break the bank to offer great cocktails as well as wine with your event.  Just plan accordingly.

Below are some themes and ideas to get you thinking.  From planning a garden party to an elegant sit down event we’ve got some cocktails ideas for all tastes and budgets.

 

Champagne or sparkling wine cocktails are a great start if your looking for cocktails for weddings.  Many sparkling wines and Proseccos can be purchased at under $15 per bottle and less than $10 if you’re buying in volume.  Some just have fruit juice added, like the classic Mimosa, but there are many varieties.  Just a splash of spirits added to them can give them a little extra flavor and well kick!

 

 

Sparkling Cocktails:

 

Champagne Passion –

½ oz Alize® Liqueur, ½ oz Passion Fruit Nectar, (available in the Spanish section of the grocery store) and sparkling wine.  This is light and fruity with a definite beach feel and flavor.

Champagne Tropical –

1 oz Maraschino Liqueur, 1 ½ oz Mango Puree, (made with fresh mangos) and sparkling wine.  This is a sweet and sparkling cocktail that any one will love. 

Sparkling Hibiscus –

Only needs 1 oz Hibiscus simple syrup and sparkling wine.  This light weight cocktail take its name from the hibiscus simple syrup that is made by taking simple syrup and infusing it with dried hibiscus.  (soak a hibiscus tea bag or dried hibiscus in ½ cup of simple syrup)  Not only does it give the cocktail a beautiful pink color but it also gives it a lightly sweet taste.

Bellini –

The classic Champagne cocktail, 2 oz Peach Nectar, 1 oz Peach Schnapps, 1 tsp lemon juice and Champagne or sparkling wine.

Champagne Cocktail –

Sugar cube in the bottom of the glass a dash of bitters then fill the glass with Champagne and add a lemon twist!  So chic and simple.

Champagne Pomegranate –

Champagne cocktail with a kick – 2 oz of Vodka, 1 oz of Pama® Liqueur then fill the glass with Champagne or sparkling wine.  For visual interest you can add a few pomegranate seeds. This one packs a punch.

Citrus 75 –

A twist on the French 75 this cocktail contains, 1 oz Blood Orange Liqueur, dash of Orange Bitters, Champagne or sparkling wine.  When done float a small amount of Gin on top.  Amazing!

Mimosa –

An ounce of orange juice, a ½ oz of Triple Sec or Cointreau® fill with Champagne or sparkling wine and then drop in a cherry, done!

Party Punches:

When you are planning cocktails it may be wise to use economical punches; just make sure to label the bowls so that people know they are getting an alcoholic beverage.  There are fun cocktails that you can make into punches that range from low proof to moderate proof.  For fruit punches make sure that you keep them a little on the lighter side as the amount of alcohol is easily masked by the fruit juice.   Make sure there are plenty of designated drivers if you go with the higher proof options.

Brandy Punch –

See above, with Champagne or Sparkling Wine, Brandy, Port, Maraschino Liqueur, Lime Juice, Pineapple juice with lots of fresh fruit this punch looks a good as it tastes.  Set up the glasses with the fruit already in them and then add a ladle to fill the glasses.  Just beautiful.

Hibiscus Punch – 2 cups Absolut® Hibiscus Vodka, ¼ Cup Hibiscus Simple Syrup, 2 bottle of Prosecco Sparkling wine.  Sliced Lemon, Orange and limes combined with fresh raspberries, blue berries and strawberries.

White Summer Sangria –

1 750 bottle of white wine, ½ cup passion fruit juice, 1 cup lime juice.  Fresh strawberries, peaches, pears, grapes, lemons, limes raspberries and mint finish this sangria off very nicely.

Christmas Citrus –

2.5 cups of Cranberry Vodka, 4.5 cups lemonade, 2.5 cups of cranberry juice and 1 cup Aperol.  Garnish with fresh cranberries.  A beautiful punch that is light and tangy.

Specialty cocktails and open bars:

By picking a few mixers and base spirits you can have a decent open bar or pick a few specialty cocktails that can be premixed and served like Margarita’s, Rum Punches, Cape Cods and all of the Breezes.  If you don’t have the money or desire for a full on bartender mix up pitchers of these cocktails and then just add glasses, garnish and ice.   You should have ice and glasses for 2.5 drinks per guest excluding soft drinks and water.

Setup the glasses in rows with garnishes.  Then label the cocktails in front of each row… The Knot has some great ideas – https://www.theknot.com/content/15-creative-wedding-bar-signs’

 

Limited Bar Cocktails for Weddings:

 

Let your guests know what you have available with a menu by the bar.

Cocktail Menu Blue Coat Gin Martini Belvedere Cape Cod JW Black Scotch and Soda Hemingway Margarita on the Rocks

 

Cocktails for Weddings Limited Bar Setup:

Ingredients would be:

Blue Coat American® Gin

Belvedere® Vodka

Bacardi® White Run

Johnny Walker® Black

Patron® Tequila

Cointreau® liqueur

Dry Vermouth

Wine 

Beer

Sparkling Wine

Soda

Grapefruit Juice

Cranberry Juice

Club Soda

Sweet and Sour

Olives

Limes

From these you ingredients you could also make:

Different kinds of martinis, greyhounds, cosmos…

Then enjoy the honeymoon!