Custom Wedding Cocktails
With Jordan DeCoste of Luke’s Bartending Service
Dear Reader,
We’d like to raise a toast! To who? To you!
Congratulations on your journey to “I Do”! The wedding planning process can be a crazy one, and our team at Brazos Valley Bride is here to help you with all the inspiration and information you need to plan your big day. So sit down, grab your planner and a glass of wine, and let’s talk cocktails.
Signature cocktails have become a staple at many weddings. They add an extra level of personalization and quirkiness to any event. You and your fiancé can feature your favorite drinks, create something custom, or ask guests to send in requests. We asked some of our friends at Luke’s Bartending Service to help us answer some questions about custom cocktail creation. Here’s what they said:
Q // What are some benefits to creating a custom cocktail for your wedding?
A // Having a custom cocktail is a great way to include liquor at your bar without going totally over budget with a “full bar.” The cocktails are also a great way to share a little more of your personal touch with guests on your big day.
Q // What are some questions you ask a couple when creating a signature drink?
A // We want these drinks to represent the couple or their wedding day in some way. A few questions we might ask if they do not know exactly what drinks they are wanting to use would be:
“What is YOUR favorite drink?”
“What are your wedding colors?”
“Do you have any type of theme to your decor?”
“Do you have a fur baby?”
“Do you have any super meaningful/memorable vacation destinations?”
Q // Have you ever had a couple that has requested a signature drink that just didn’t work? What are some things a couple should keep in mind when considering the functionality of a drink?
A // Yes, absolutely. Sometimes a cocktail can have just too many steps to really make sense for a fast-paced event. We want to keep the line flowing during your event, so the easier the cocktail, the better!
Q // What are some of the most popular wedding drinks/flavor combinations?
A // We find that refreshing, light cocktails are usually the biggest hit! Drinks like a Moscow Mule or really any cocktail that includes prosecco/sparkling wine end up being a big crowd pleaser. Of course your staple drinks like whiskey & Coke, vodka soda, or even a frozen margarita are always great options, too!
Q // What is the most unique drink your team has ever crafted for a couple?
A // My favorite unique cocktail to suggest to a couple is not something that I came up with, but something that I think is super fun and just perfect for a wedding. It is called “Something Blue” and it really is the most beautiful shade of blue and so, so simple for the bartender to make on the spot or pre-make in batches beforehand for larger events.
BRAZOS VALLEY BRIDE’S cocktail picks
Blushing Kiss Martini
Ingredients:
2 parts Gin
1 part St. Germain
1 part grapefruit juice
grapefruit wedge
1 sprig of thyme
Directions:
Shake all ingredients with ice and pour through a fine strainer into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with grapefruit wedge and thyme sprig into glass. **Optional: Rim glass with grapefruit wedge and stir drink with thyme for an extra kick.
Ginger & Bitters Cocktail
Ingredients:
1 large slice crystallized ginger
4 splashes bitters
1/2 cup Prosecco
Directions:
Julienne ginger and transfer to a glass. Add bitters and Prosecco. Stir just before serving.
White Russian
Ingredients:
1 part vodka
1 part coffee liqueur
1 part heavy cream
Directions:
Stir together and pour over ice.
*Feature image credit to All Heart Photography
