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I saw the best wedding cocktail book at my local bookstore the other day, The Bubbly Brideâ„¢ - Your Ultimate Wedding Cocktail Guide by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen. It’s the perfect book for those couples thinking about having their very own signature wedding cocktail. Natalie Bovis-Nelsen, aka “The Liquid Muse”, is a beverage consultant and mixologist. She’s also creator and editor of TheLiquidMuse.com, which “highlights global beverage trends and bridges the gap between cocktail culture and the savvy consumer”, with lots of cocktail recipes featured there as well.
The Bubbly Bride covers everything from bubbly basics to low-calorie and specialty cocktail ideas. This brand new book provides over 70 cocktail recipes and a ton of advice on how to create a personalized concoction for your special events.
Well, it sure has been a booze-centric week on WedShare Daily, and I wouldn’t want to break the run, so here’s a little something tasty to end the week with. If you’re looking for the perfect signature drink for your big day, or happen to find yourself at a Halloween party this weekend where you’d like to try something new, give this iPhone app a test drive.
Drinks Free is a totally free app, and it contains recipes for more than 5,800 different drinks, all categorized and searchable wherever you happen to be. Save your favorites so that the recipes are always just a tap away. Another cool feature is the random drink button, which will give you a random drink recipe every time you push it; you’re sure to find some drinks you’ve never even heard of, and–who knows–one of them may just be that perfect signature drink you’re looking for!
Have a great Halloween weekend, everyone!
Photo Credit: Screenshot from Webworks and Applications, Inc.
To continue with the theme on Halloween wine and spirits for an October 31 wedding, I’ve searched for my favorite Halloween-themed martini recipes. Choose one or two as your signature drink for a fabulous and fun Halloween wedding. These all sounds so yummy, I’m going to have to try one of these for our Halloween party!
Cocktail
½ oz. HPNOTIQ
1 oz. super premium vodka
2 oz. lychee juice
Eyeball
1 canned grade AA lychee in syrup, drained
1/4 teaspoon cherry, strawberry or raspberry preserves
1 blueberry
Preparation
The Martini
Shake Hpnotiq, vodka, and lychee juice with ice, strain into a martini glass.
Lychee Eyeball
Dry the lychee and fill with preserves. Place blueberry, blossomed end facing out, into cavity and skewer.
Dra-Kahlúa {Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Kahlúa TheNibble.com}
Ingredients
1-1/2 part Kahlúa
1/2 part cognac
1/2 part triple sec
3/4 part fresh lemon juice
1/2 part simple syrup
Blood orange wedge for garnish (blood oranges have a dramatic red interior)
Preparation
Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled, half sugar-rimmed martini glass and garnish with a blood orange wedge.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz. Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka
1/4 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
1/4 oz. Half-and-Half
1/4 oz. Simple Syrup
1/4 oz. Shavings of White Chocolate
Preparation
Fill shaker with ice. Add Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, half-and-half, and simple syrup. Shake. Strain into chilled martini glass rimmed with white chocolate. Garnish with white chocolate shavings.
Blood Orange Lychee Martini {Photo & Recipe via Glam.com}
Ingredients
Stirrings Blood Orange Martini Rimmer
1 part Stirrings Blood Orange Martini Mixer
1 part vodka
Splash of lychee juice
1 lychee
1 large date
Blood orange wedge or plastic spider (optional)
Preparation
Rim a martini glass with Stirrings Blood Orange Martini Rimmer (optional). Combine the mixer, vodka, and lychee juice in an ice-filled cocktail shaker, shake and strain into the martini glass. To make the eyeball, stuff the lychee with the date and drop it into bottom of glass. Garnish with a fresh blood orange wedge and plastic spider.
Kahlúa Cryptini {Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Kahlúa via TheNibble.com}
Ingredients
1 part Kahlúa
2-1/2 parts vanilla vodka
1/4 part sambuca
Espresso beans for garnish
Chocolate “shoelace licorice†for garnish (optional)
Drink rimmer for garnish—or try pulverized espresso beans mixed with party sugar (optional)
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three espresso beans.
Vampire Kiss Martini {Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Finlandia Vodka via Cocktails.About.com}
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Finlandia Vodka
1 1/2 oz Korbel Champagne
3/4 oz Chambord
Red sugar for rimming
Preparation
Rim the glass with red sugar (use food coloring) or drop in a set of wax vampire teeth for a real surprise. Pour vodka and half of the Chambord in a martini glass. Top with Champagne. Pour the remaining Chambord over the back of a spoon to make it float.
Ingredients
1 part coconut cream
1 part tangerine flavored mixer (suggested, Stirrings Tangerini)
1 part banana liqueur
Splash of white rum
Preparation
Chill ingredients in fridge or freezer. Once cooled, pour the first three ingredients, in the order listed above, slowly over the back side of a spoon into a martini glass. Top with a splash of white rum.
Kahlúa Black Cat {Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Kahlúa via DrinkOfTheWeek.com}
Ingredients
1 oz. Kahlúa
2 1/2 oz. vanilla vodka
1/4 oz. sambuca
Espresso beans for garnish
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and stir until chilled. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with three espresso beans.
Ghostly-Skyy {Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Skyy Infusions Vodka via DrinkOfTheWeek.com}
Ingredients
2 oz. SKYY Vodka
1 tbsp. light cream
½ oz. amaretto
Preparation
Combine all ingredients and shake with cracked ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz. SKYY Infusions Raspberry
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
2 oz. Pomegranate Juice
Squeeze of Fresh Lemon Juice
Raspberry Syrup
Preparation
Draw a spider web on the inside of a chilled martini glass with raspberry syrup. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and strain into chilled martini glass. Garnish with plastic spider.
Jager After Dark {Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Jägermeister via Blisstree.com}
Ingredients
2 parts Tommy Bahama Golden Sunâ„¢ Rum
1 part premium orange liqueur
1 part espresso
1/2 part simple syrup
1 pinch grated nutmeg
Cocoa powder for garnish
Preparation
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a martini glass. Sprinkle cocoa powder on top.
Ingredients
2 oz VeeV Acai Spirit
1 oz acai juice
1/2 oz fresh lime juice
Top with fresh champagne
Lime wedge for garnish
Preparation
Combine VeeV, Acai juice and fresh lime with fresh ice in a cocktail shaker and shake. Strain into a chilled martini glass and top with champagne. Serve with a fresh lime wedge.
ReaperAle Brewing Company offers some wickedly tasty selections
Crystal posted some Halloween-themed wines yesterday…so I thought I’d add some balance to things with a beer version. I’ve mentioned before that if you’re providing beer at your wedding and want to really treat your guests–especially the beer enthusiasts among them–toss in craft or microbrew selections. There are plenty of options out there, and some delightfully dark ones for weddings or pre-wedding parties that happen to fall around this holiday.
The selections I’ve chosen for today’s post not only fit the season with their themed labels, but are–more importantly–quality beers and nice examples of their respective styles. You should be able to find most or all at a local specialty beverage retailer like Beverages and More.
So have your guests relax. Sit a spell. And enjoy some brew!
If you’re having a Halloween-themed wedding, check out these wicked inspired wine bottles, perfect for your reception tables. I love these wine labels; there are many to choose from, but these are my favorites! Cost Plus World Market, BevMo, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market are some of the best places to find these specialty wine bottles. These are also perfect for a Halloween party or your pre-wedding parties if they happen to fall around this time of the year. Have fun with these; I’m sure your guests will enjoy having a sip!
{Photo Credits: Skeleton Hands Toasting by ElkCreekVineyards.com, Armida Winery Poizin Zinfandel by Armida.com, R Wines Evil Cabernet Sauvignon via BevMo.com, Bogle Winery Phantom by BogleWinery.com, Vampire Vineyards Paso Robles, California - Dracula Syrah, Vampire Merlot and TrueBlood Syrah via WickedWinesOnline.com, Elk Creek Vineyards Ghostly White - Sweet Mellow White, Bone Dry Red Cabernet and Ghostly White Chardonnay by ElkCreekVineyards.com, Ghost Pines Wine by GhostPines.com, M.D. Phillips Seven Deadly Zins via BevMo.com, Romania Werewolf Pinot Grigio via HopsAndGrapesOnline.com, Cabernet Sauvignon Casillero del Diablo via WorldMarket.com, 2008 Eye of the Toad Rosé by ToadHollow.com, Skeleton Cellars Decorative Skull Wine Bottle via ZGallerie.com}
Here are some really cute cupcake wrappers or liners that would be the perfect addition to cupcakes for your fall inspired wedding. These cupcake wrappers can be used to wrap a simple cupcake as a wedding favor or used in a dessert station at your wedding. They are so pretty and fairly inexpensive–about a dollar apiece–for the fabulous look they provide to any cupcake. It can be a great DIY project if you or someone you know is willing to bake the cupcakes for your event. Or, you can store-buy your favorites and add these wrappers for the cutest looking autumn wedding cupcakes ever!
When it comes to wedding favors, I personally prefer the edible variety. There are so many possibilities, and guests love nothing more than something yummy that they can munch or imbibe. What better thank-you gift to present them with? Edible favors can be very inexpensive, especially if they are homemade by you or someone you know, which personalizes them even more. You can get quite creative in the packaging and labeling of your homemade or store-bought edible goodies. Some examples of edible favors for your fall wedding are homemade cookies, cupcakes, breads, or mini pies. Check out the great Cookie of the Day section on Martha Stewart’s website for great ideas, recipes and how-to’s.
If you or someone you know does their own homemade craft beer, wine, cider, or other drink that you can bottle and seal with a customized label for your wedding day, they make great personalized wedding favors. You can also put a custom label on canned jams, honey jars, syrup bottles, hot sauces, fresh fruit, or any other of your favorite homegrown/homemade–or even store-bought–items. Be creative and give them a personal touch.
Here are some of my favorite autumn edible favors for your fall wedding. Enjoy!
These stylish monogrammed melamine plates can be the perfect bridesmaids’ gifts or a great table setting for a personalized bridal shower. Order them in bulk and keep them afterwards for the many future entertainment parties you’ll have after you tie the knot! Add them to your wish list on your wedding website’s registry page and have your guests buy you a set of your choice for everyday personalized kitchenware. These plates can be classy, bold, whimsical, or just plain fun! Customize your plate pattern color in many variations, along with your choice of text and typestyle. You can add your monogram, an initial, or a full name of your choice; up to three lines of copy. The plates are 10 inches round, made from high quality melamine, and are food-safe and dishwasher safe (not microwave-safe).
If you are having a wedding with a small guest list, these beautiful monogrammed plates are a creative way to incorporate your initials on your wedding day. Each monogrammed melamine plate range in price from $22 to $26 each, depending on the website. At www.LaPlates.com each plate is $22, and at www.MyCleanPlateClub.com, plates are $22 each as well, but if you buy them in bulk quantities of 4, 6, or 8, you get them at the discounted price of $16.50 each…one of the lowest deals I’ve seen for these personalized party plates. Also check out the personalized and popular plate designs at Boatman Geller’s site.
These bold plates can also make a green statement, as melamine–an organic compound–is used to create melamine resin, a very lightweight but durable plastic that’s BPA-Free (Bisphenol-A Free), so they’re better for the environment than disposable plates. Now you can replace paper or Styrofoam at your next social event with your very own personalized monogrammed plates! I’m sure you’ll be able to find a style that will match your personal tastes.
For many people, a wedding just isn’t a wedding without that glass of bubbly with which to toast your future. They’ll also be looking forward to sipping celebratory drinks over the hors d’oeuvres and along with their meals.
The booze can add up to some serious bucks, but you definitely want your guests to have a good time. So what are your options? And how much alcohol should you be planning for?
Open Bar
Expensive. Lavish. Generous. guests will love it…maybe too much, in fact. Count on a higher potential for tipsy or outright drunk guests with all this unchecked freedom. Also, expect an increase in the number of unfinished drinks that people will abandon, misplace, or forget about. Guests will certainly enjoy the ability to order as much of anything they want with an open bar, but this option will hit your pocketbook the hardest.
If you like the generous statement that an open bar provides but either just can’t fit it into the budget or are worried about the potential abuse, consider offering an open bar during the cocktail hour only. Provide a limited bar (below) for the rest of the reception.
Limited Bar
Limit your alcohol to beer and wine, along with champagne during the toasts and perhaps also the cocktail hour. Traditional mixed drinks like a champagne punch, displayed and served as a fountain, can be another inexpensive addition or even the sole choice of complimentary alcohol if you’re on an especially tight budget.
A side note: an all-cash bar is tacky; people shouldn’t have to pay for anything at your wedding reception, including alcohol. But a cash bar for mixed drinks along with complimentary beer and wine can be an acceptable compromise.
Oh, and one other thing. Everyone always focuses on the wine, but here’s a word on beer: if you’re limiting your options to beer and wine, why not treat your guests to a variety of microbrews or craft beers rather than just the same one or two tired labels seen everywhere else? It’s a small touch, but a nice one, and beer enthusiasts will be impressed and appreciative.
Specialty Drinks
This works especially best for early receptions like luncheons or brunches. Here you’d limit the alcohol you provide throughout your reception to champagne and one or two mixed drinks that go well with your theme, season, or time of day. Bloody marys or mimosas (champagne and OJ) work great for early receptions, for example, while margaritas and pina coladas would be a hit during a summer reception. The key here is that the amount of alcohol you use is far less, and you don’t have to go for the top shelf stuff, so you’ll save more.
Online Planning Tools Check out the online wine and liquor calculator, available from Time, Inc’s Real Simple website, to get a great estimate on how much booze to buy, based on your event preferences. Just plug in the options and let it provide you with a detailed shopping list including how much of what you should expect to shell out for:
Real Simple's Online Wine and Liquor Calculator: select your event preferences and click "Get Results" to see an estimate of how much booze you should expect to buy.
And if wine will be the showcase drink, Real Simple also has a food and wine pairing guide to suggest the best wine to serve with your meal. Sadly, no such online tool here for craft beers.
As Leslie Sbrocco, author of "The Simple & Savvy Wine Guide" puts it: "There are no wrong matches. But there can be magical matches".
Photo credits: All screenshots from RealSimple.com by Time, Inc.
How much fun would it be to have your very own ice cream cart for your wedding day! Treat your guests to something really special by renting these fun ice cream carts or trucks just for your wedding. Have at least three different flavors to be sure you’ll please the diversity of your guests’ palates. And order enough ice cream for everyone to have potential seconds! As the ice cream truck or cart pulls up to your wedding reception site, you’ll bring instant fond and nostalgic childhood memories to all the adults…and plenty of happy smiles to the little ones. Ice cream trucks and ice cream carts make such cute wedding photos, too: check out some of my favorite finds below.
Ice cream carts are an instant hit among guests of all ages, perfect for hot summer wedding days as an additional treat alongside the wedding cake for dessert. Available rental cart options may vary in each area, and can range from classic to vintage to festive, so choose according to your wedding style. Don’t be afraid to ask your local street ice cream cart for rates if you like their goods, as most of them will be happy to do special events on the side.
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