Every couple wants their wedding to be a unique and memorable celebration. They want the decor and details to truly reflect their personalities and love story.
Of course, choosing a color palette and design that feels like you is important. Another great way to personalize your wedding is by serving a meal that you love (for example, if you love sushi, why not include a sushi bar?).
Just like your color palette and preference for dinner, your wedding bar is an opportunity to personalize your day! From the selection of drinks to the presentation and decor of the bar area, couples can showcase their personality and style through this aspect of the celebration. One of the most fun ways to showcase your personalities is with signature drinks!
What is a Signature Drink and Should You Have One at Your Wedding?
A signature drink is the go-to or recommended beverage being served at your wedding bar. Most often, signature drinks are liquor-based, but they can truly be anything — whether it’s your standard order on a night out or a drink with special meaning to you as a couple- like a special trip you took to Italy or what you were drinking the night you got engaged.
By offering a signature drink at your wedding bar, it’s a chance to showcase your personalities or a special inside joke, or in Jamie and Caitlyn’s case- their jobs. She is a gynecologist and he is a dentist, so they made their signature drinks a nod to their professions!
At a wedding, it’s common to offer two- three signature drinks, one to represent each of the couple and sometimes your beloved pet.
Additionally, a signature drink doesn’t necessarily mean you make up your own cocktail. You can absolutely add more flavor to standard cocktails, such as a Blackberry Old Fashioned or a Mango Margarita (usually flavor enhancements are doable, just be sure to check with your bar service on whether this would be an additional charge!), but you can also pick a classic favorite. It doesn’t need to be fancy- we’ve seen a Corona as a signature drink or even a mocktail!
Do You Need a Creative Name for Your Signature Drink?
You don’t need to, but, it’s most fun to rename the drink! For example, a margarita can become an “Maggie-rita” or something as simple as a nod to Beyonce and naming a drink “Drunk in Love”.
Ultimately, renaming your signature drink with something cute or unique can be a great conversation starter for your guests, plus, it’s memorable!
If you’re not feeling anything silly or punny here are some cute ideas for names:
- About Thyme
- French Kiss
- Love Potion
- Lover’s Lemonade
- Marry Me Mule
- Marry Me Margarita
- Main Squeeze
- Mint to Be
How Do You Choose the Signature Drink to Serve at Your Wedding?
Here are a few crowd favorites we’ve seen over the years:
If there’s one place your wedding guests visit the most throughout the night, it’s the bar. Your choice of signature drinks is the perfect opportunity to showcase something unique about the two of you or your relationship.
When choosing your signature drink, consider these three things:
1). Reflect on your story: Incorporate your personalities and interests. Incorporate elements that are meaningful to you, such as favorite flavors, places you’ve traveled, family traditions, shared experiences or your pets. This personal touch adds depth and authenticity to the drinks, making them truly reflective of you.
Does your grandma make the best mojito you’ve ever had? Recreate it! Dreaming of that Aperol spritz from your trip to Italy? Incorporate that in your wedding day! Not into alcohol? Make one of your drinks a signature mocktail!
2). Presentation matters: The look of your signature drink should not only match the flavor profile, but the story you’re telling. From the glassware to the garnish, every detail contributes to the overall aesthetic appeal.
For example, if you’re naming your signature drinks after your pets, consider adding a picture of them to every cup with personalized edible drink toppers, custom cocktail napkins, or a tiny image of them attached to the rim of the glass by a mini clothespin. You don’t NEED to have drink accessory, but that is a fun DIY item that we actually recommend!
3). Consider the season: Take inspiration from the season and theme of your wedding. Choose ingredients and flavors that compliment the time of year and the overall aesthetic of your wedding. For example, opt for a fun citrusy drink, like an Orange Crush, for a summer wedding or cozy spiced drink, like a Maple Bourbon drink for fall.
At the end of the day, your wedding is about having fun and celebrating love and your signature drink doesn’t need a cute name or to be fancy. Just choose a drink you enjoy and actually want to be sippin’ on your wedding day!
Photos by: Madeline Serio Photography, Gabrielle Rose Photography, and Cat Deline Photography
