Your signature cocktail- one of the fun details to decide on when planning your wedding at West Hills. The specialty drink is served a half hour before the cocktail hour begins (or ceremony if you are getting married on-site). A well-picked signature cocktail can be a great way to express yourselves as a couple and make festivities, well, more festive.
But keep in mind, even though it might be your happy hour usual, I’m not so sure your grandfather is going to enjoy sipping on your Very Pink Raspberry Cosmopolitan garnished with hot pink sugar. (…but hey, if he does, I’m not one to judge!) I usually recommend couples to pick a “his and hers” or “sweet and dry” so you will have something for everyone’s palette. Or, pick something that runs in the middle of the road, such as a bourbon and apple cider based drink- this combination balances out the tart and sweet flavors.
Consider the crowd as well. Are the majority of your guest wine sippers? There are many different sangria recipe’s out there. More of a hard liquor crowd? Vodka is usually your best bet. Its clean, clear and mixes with almost anything.
If you want to get extra festive, seasonal signature cocktails can be a lot of fun. Whether your wedding is in the spring, summer, winter or fall, there are a ton of recipes tailored to each season.
A wonderful summer cocktail is the John Daly with iced tea, lemonade and vodka. This one is extra refreshing on those dog days of summer.
Don’t even get me started with fall cocktails… there are SO many to choose from! Autumn Colors is a popular crowd-pleaser couples tend to choose with vodka, pomegranate liqueur, sweet iced tea and grated orange zest.
Glassware can also play a role. Pick a drink that goes nicely in a mason jar if you want to complement your rustic themed wedding. Going a bit more classy? A champagne glass or martini glass will do.
Try to steer clear of choosing a drink that is super elaborate (calls for a few muddled items, has multiple garnishes, requires 10 different juices…. you get my gist). I’m sure the drink will look amazing, but it might not be worth the line at the bar because of all the different time consuming steps it takes to create your concoction. Do yourself a favor and try your best to keep the recipe fairly simple.
And remember, tailor the spirits to reflect your spirit. So if you just can’t find anything that trumps your hot pink sugar rimmed cosmo, by all means, go for it. After all, its your day!
