Signature Cocktail Ideas

Who doesn't love a good cocktail? We are always on the mad search for a tasty pretty sip. A few months ago on our blog, we wrote a post about a Signature Wedding Cocktail.  It's one of our most popular and highest viewed posts, thanks y'all! So today we are back with more ideas for a signature cocktail at your wedding.

Served following the ceremony and before the reception, this drink is a good opportunity to tell your guests a story. We love drinks that tell where the couple is from or enjoy traveling to (think Mai Tai or Cape Codder), the Lowcountry (think a sweet tea cocktail), or that remind the bride and groom of a family member.  You can also feel free to just choose a drink that you love -- no story required. Not to mention you can also name it whatever you like so have some fun here!

We loved this Moet Ice Imperial champagne cocktail served over ice with fresh strawberries and spring of mint.  Delish! Perfect for a refreshing and sweet twist on champagne during the spring and summer.  

Sometimes an old school, traditional drink can be "new again" just in the way it's presented.  Like an old fashion, or this Cherry Hooker Brandy Cocktail that was popular in the 50's and 60's.  Served up in a fun glass and garnished with a cherry, this grown up drink looks as good as it tastes. 

Here are some more for y'all to consider! 

1. Tangerine Tango.  Tangerine juice, light rum, ginger simple syrup, mint and club soda. 
2. Blue Ocean.  Blue curacao, vodka, grape juice, simple syrup. Perfect for the beach!
3. Classic Mojito. Need we go on? One couple we knew served this as their signature drink because they shared one on their first date! 
4. Peach Fuzz Daiquiri. Rum, peach juice, club soda.  This makes a beautiful colored drink! 
5. Champagne Julep. Yum! 

Whatever you serve at your wedding, Spencer Special Events always encourages our couples to offer a selection of beverages including non-alcoholic specialty drinks (aka "mocktails") to their guests. Making sure that there is a variety of options to choose from is a top priority. Experiment, Explore, and have fun! 

We hope we have given you a few ideas that spark your interest! Cheers! 

Cocktail Hour Food

Menu planning is a very important piece to our clients and the whole wedding weekend here at Spencer Special Events.  And cocktail hour is honestly one of our favorite parts of the evening!  You are celebrating your nuptials, it is a fun transition from ceremony to reception, and a great way for guests to enjoy your setting while you finish up those pictures! We recommend during this hour have a little fun with your menu, drinks, and design!  When Amanda and Case were married 10 year ago their guests dined on heavy hors d'oeuvres and actions stations throughout the night because that cocktail hour feel was what they wanted for the entire evening! It was incredibly fun.  

We are so fortunate to work with many wonderful caterers in the Lowcountry, one of them being Celebrations Catering and Events.  Executive Chef Andy Borgmeier and his team come up with such innovative twists on classics and present them beautifully.  We spoke with Tracey Mancini, Wedding and Event Specialist for Celebration Catering and Events, for her suggestions and ideas for cocktail hors d'oeuvres this Spring. Here are three great points to consider for your cocktail hour food when planning your Lowcountry wedding menu!

(1) Feature Lowcountry Specialties.   When planning a wedding in the South Carolina Lowcountry, offer your guests a taste of our region.  For a passed hors d'oeuvre, Chef Andy does a unique spin on "shrimp and grits" with a barbecue shrimp on crispy cheese grits cake with andouille sausage served on a sea grass skewer.  Yum - now that's Lowcountry perfection! Celebrations loves using local ingredients to prepare a "shrimp and grits action station" with local shrimp, cheeses, okra, and tasso ham.

Freshly baked buttery cheese biscuits -- warm and flakey - are the perfect way to serve pork tenderloin.  Chef Andy also loves using local crab, shrimp, and ahai tuna.   He creates thick, meaty crab cakes carefully pan seared and not greasy.  Is your mouth watering yet?

(2) An option that pleases all guests.  Spencer Special Events recommends that you provide a few options that will be suitable to all of your guests.  While you might love a good spicy bite and exotic flavors, Grandma Edna might not.  Celebration Catering and Events in particular works to ensure your food is flavorful and interesting, while appealing to many people.   They also suggest providing a vegetarian option to serve.  Tracey recommended a veggie and black eyed pea cake with a cilantro lime creme fraiche. It's out of this world and even guests who are not vegetarians just LOVE this!

(3) Retro Food and classics.  This Spring, there has been a continued surge of requests for "retro" style food.  Chef Andy has been creating elevated sliders with delicious marinated pork and beef, real mini hot dogs, and hand cut french fries served in cool mini baskets.  These options have been popular not only for late night snacks, but during cocktail hour as well.  It seems guests just love small, beautifully presented comfort style food.

As always, Spencer Special Events is here to guide you through the entire planning process.  We absolutely adore working with Tracey and Chef Andy to come up with a menu that speaks to our couples!  We hope you have found today's foodie post useful and sparks some ideas for you to plan your Lowcountry wedding Bon Appétit! 

Photography credits: Landon Jacob Productions 

Signature Drink

The concept of a "signature drink" at a wedding arose several years ago in an effort to offer guests more than the standard beer, wine and even open bar.  But more than that, a good signature drink incorporates a story about the couple and brings a personal touch to your cocktail hour. Over the years, Spencer Special Events has been a part of creating some really unique signature drinks! We think that truly the best ones are the ones that mean something to the couple (and of course taste good!)

This Cape Codder was the perfect addition to Sarah and Ryan's wedding at Belfair in Bluffton, SC.  "Ryan and I loved the idea of a signature cocktail that could be served throughout the weekend," said Sarah.  "The hope was that it would be a drink that everyone could enjoy, all while being color coordinated with all the other wedding details.  Our cocktail was refreshing and was the perfect pink color but most importantly, the name is a nod to summers on The Cape with my family.  It was the perfect New England compliment to our southern destination wedding menu.

We love the idea of a Manhattan for New Yorkers, a good Kentucky Bourbon and ginger ale for our Kentucky folks, and delicious red sangria for south westerners.  So what's your story and how will you tell it in a drink?  At Spencer Special Events, we know it's all about the personal touches and details!

Photos by Nate Henderson