Signature Cocktails - A Special Touch That Can Help Make Your Wedding Your Own

Cocktails have made a huge and extremely welcome comeback over the past few years. Thanks to the creative genius of mixologists the world over, couples can arrange to have a unique cocktail drink served before dinner, during the meal, or at the dance party. With proper thought and preparation, this cocktail can even add to whole atmosphere of your wedding by incorporating your color scheme or other elements associated with your theme.

Signature cocktails are a fun way to add to your reception, even playing on your theme or wedding color choices.

So where do you start? The first step is to find a mixologist. This is the person who is going to create your unique and special drink. He or she is going to come up with the recipe that will be passed on to the bartenders, who in turn will create the drink for your guests. Many venues have a mixologist on staff, an expert who is specially trained to come up with a drink for all occasions. When initially talking with them, give them as much information about your wedding as possible. Let them know about your theme, your colors, and details about the food that will be served. Be sure to let them know about any preferences you may have. For example, if you’re having a winter wedding, you may want to choose to have a heated drink, such as a special coffee or even a hot toddy to warm guests. Tropical weddings tend to feature rum drinks mixed with fruit juices and garnished with an umbrella. With the right information, these talented individuals can come up with a personalized concoction that will add to the flavour of your wedding, even choosing a name for the drink that will reflect the theme of your wedding.

Probably the most common bases used for cocktails are either vodka or rum. Both are extremely popular and can be easily mixed with fruit juices to create decadent drinks. Extremely versatile, and with numerous flavours and variations to choose from, either of these are great choices as the basis for your signature drink!

Another popular choice is champagne, or sparkling wine. A splash of cranberry juice or pomegranate juice adds a touch of color and a dash of elegance. You may even want to look at getting edible flowers that can be added to the glass for a truly decorative touch. (For ordering information, check out www.wildhibiscus.com.)

Edible flowers in bubbling champagne or other sparkling wines mystify guests and are a definite conversation starter! – Photo courtesy of Wild Hibiscus

I would tend to avoid liquors such as gin, scotch, or port as they are an acquired taste. However, if they add to the theme of your wedding, go for it!

Especially with the increasing interest in juice bars, you may want to choose to have a non-alcoholic drink, using a combination of fruit juices to create a combination perfect for your guests of all ages.

Whether based on an old favourite that matches your theme, or an entirely new invention, signature cocktails are a great way to add some fun to your wedding celebration. They can be as unique and personal as the two of you with countless options available. I would encourage you to have some fun, lift your glasses in a toast, and let the party begin!

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.

Photobooths – A Fun & Fabulous Reception Idea

Looking for a fun idea for your wedding reception celebration? I know that the ceremony is important, but let’s face it, you also want to host a party afterward that will keep your guests smiling and dancing long into the night. Good parties just don’t happen. You have to provide the stimulus to make it happen, and one way to get things started is to have a Photobooth. I’ve done a few weddings now where a Photobooth has been brought in, and each time it has been a tremendous success and a great addition to the wedding celebration.

Photobooths add fun to any reception. - Photo courtesy of LaVie Photography

What is a Photobooth? How does it work at a wedding? To begin with, there are two types. The first one is the kind you find in shopping centres – a booth that one or more people pile into and the booth takes 4 – 6 consecutive shots of you in various poses. In this case, you rent the booth and it shows up at your wedding (usually during cocktails or during the dance – you choice). Your guests climb in to get their photo taken, get a printed sheet to take home as a souvenir and you get a DVD copy afterwards of all the photos taken throughout the night.

Actual rented photobooths print off a page of photos that guests can take home as favours. - Photo courtesy of The Photobooth Co. (Calgary)

The second type is where your photographer actually sets up in a corner, often with a playful backdrop, and guests can come by and get their photo snapped. The pictures are much better quality, but guests usually don’t have the option of taking them home right away (unless your photographer brings his own printer to your event).

Some photographers are willing to set up an area and snap photos during the reception. The photos are usually better quality, but just as much fun! - Photo courtesy of Snap Weddings

Both options work best if you bring along a variety of props, costume pieces, or even a blackboard and chalk for guests to write on. It gives your guests permission to be a bit silly and you get some fun shots of everyone to keep as souvenirs. More often than not, your guests will be having so much fun that you may have to extend the hours on the Photobooth to keep things going.

Some ideas/variations for using a Photobooth:

Props make it more fun. – Photo courtesy of Snap Weddings

• Visit the local Dollar store and get a variety of props and costumes that guests can use and play with during their photos.
• Ask guests to cut one photo out, glue it in a guest book and write a personalized message to you.
• Create a fun scene or backdrop for the photobooth area. This could include picture frame openings, an actual set with fixed props, or almost anything you could image to “set the stage”.
• Bring a small blackboard or whiteboard and writing instrument so people can write messages to go with their photos.

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Cathy MacRae is a certified wedding and event planner, and owner of Creative Weddings and Occasions and Del Sol Destination Weddings. Located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, she plans wedding for couples in and around the Calgary and Banff area, who want a wedding that is a unique and personal reflection of them. She is also a destination wedding specialist, working with couples who desire to wed in various picturesque dream locations throughout the world. For more information about planning your own wedding or for advice from Cathy, please contact her at info@creativeweddingsandoccasions.com.