If you’re looking for a fun way to add a personal touch to your big day while highlighting the season’s rich flavors, signature cocktails are just what you need! They elevate your bar menu and can even be a refreshing way to honor a family member or furry friend.
Infuse your signature cocktails with some personality by opting for partner pairings or naming your drinks something creative. You could also add an illustration to the bar signage or cocktail napkins, and incorporate your wedding theme and color scheme. Use fresh, seasonal ingredients for crafted cocktails your wedding guests will remember.
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Here are some of our all-time favorite concoctions broken down by season. We highly recommend taste-testing them together while you’re knee-deep in wedding planning. Are you having a dry celebration? Check out these recipes anyway to create your own inspired mocktails.
Winter Elixirs
Spread those magical winter vibes with cocktails that are equally festive and cozy. Think intense flavors like cocoa, gingerbread, peppermint, and eggnog to get that holiday and new year cheer going as you sip along.
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Bourbon Milk Punch
This creamy and delicious New Orleans brunch favorite makes a great addition to any festive wedding. Originating in the late 1680s, this cold cocktail will give guests a nostalgic treat with a boozy milkshake that combines bourbon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Top it off with a dash of nutmeg or garnish with star anise.
Hot Toddy
There is a reason a hot toddy is one of winter’s classic drinks. The timeless cocktail soothes the soul and makes for a great slow sipper as temperatures drop. Ask your bartenders to turn up the sweetness with a spoonful of honey or opt for more tartness with an extra squeeze of lemon. Personalize it with your spirit of choice: whiskey, brandy, or dark rum.
Peppermint Moscow Mule
Peppermint Schnapps combines ginger beer, vodka, lime, mint, and candy canes in this fresh winter cocktail. Perfect for a holiday wedding, this nontraditional mule will instantly lift guests’ spirits. If you’re into naming your signature drinks, consider “Mint-to-Be” or “Merry Mint” for this one.
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S’mores Kahlua
The best part of childhood campfires is now updated for adulthood with this signature cocktail that features chocolate bitters, a graham cracker rim, and a roasted marshmallow topper. One sip, and you’ll wonder how you never realized what a perfect enhancement Kahlua makes to an already great palette of flavors. Complete it with a sign that says “S’more Love” or “Let’s Get Toasted!”
Boozy Mint Hot Cocoa
Nothing says winter quite like a cup of hot cocoa, and we can’t think of a better way to warm up your wedding guests than this. Enriched with crème de menthe and finished with mint leaves and whipped cream, this boozy version gives a fresh spin on classic hot cocoa.
Spring Mixes
Spring is a time of blossoming love and new beginnings; what better way to celebrate your wedding day than with a signature cocktail that reflects this special season? Here are some of our favorite drink recipes that capture the whimsicalness of the season with fresh flavors like berries, herbs, and florals.
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Raspberry Peach Champagne
Give your guests a cocktail worthy of a toast with this champagne blend. Mixed with peach vodka and raspberry syrup, it’s the perfect modern bubbly to kick off your reception. Tie it into your spring wedding with edible flowers and fresh raspberries. Not on a champagne budget? Don’t worry; skip it and opt for prosecco instead.
Spiked Rose Lemonade
There’s nothing more refreshing than a tall glass of lemonade. Keep wedding guests hydrated and in good spirits with this spiked version that kicks this classic beverage up a notch. Rose water, berry syrup, and Instagram-worthy rose petal ice cubes make this a cocktail to remember.
St. Germain Spritzer
This vibrant-hued cocktail comes together with four simple ingredients, starring St. Germain’s elderflower liqueur. The sweet, floral notes garnished with fresh cherries or apricot slices are an excellent choice as the weather starts to warm. It’s a delicious and stunning signature drink that’ll have guests sipping and socializing in no time.
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Strawberry Mint Julep
Perfect for an outdoor spring wedding, this Strawberry Mint Julep will get the party started Kentucky Derby-style. With an air of refined sweetness, fresh strawberries, and mint leaves, this signature cocktail is a win all around. Pair it with a light shrimp appetizer or spring salad mix.
Blueberry Lavender Sangria
Breathe in that subtle scent of lavender as you sip on this refreshing cocktail that radiates springtime. This sophisticated sangria will add an unexpected touch of elegance to your special day. For brides on a budget, you’ll be happy to know this cocktail can easily be made in a batch ahead of time and alternatively served in pitchers at your reception tables.
Summer Spritzes
Let wedding guests cool off with thirst-quenching signature cocktails bursting with flavor. Incorporate seasonal fruits like watermelon, pineapple, prickly pear, and coconut, and summer favorites like margaritas, froses, and mojitos. Whether you’re having a destination wedding or not, these drinks are sure to bring plenty of vacation vibes your way.
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Watermelon Frosé
There’s just something about watermelon that screams summer. It’s the perfect fruit to beat the heat, so why not put that chill energy into a glass?! Think frozen rosé mixed with cubed watermelon in a blender. Add a twist of lime or mint leaves, and you have a summer signature cocktail any guest would love. Check with your caterer beforehand to ensure they can handle frozen drinks.
Coconut Margarita
This smooth coconut cocktail gives all those breezy summer feels. Made with coconut milk, tequila blanco, triple sec, and coconut water, it’s just what you need for an outdoor cocktail hour. Transport guests to paradise as they sip on this refreshing margarita.
Blood Orange Pisco Sour
Pisco sours are our favorite South American drink. Mix lime juice, simple syrup, egg whites, and pisco. Then add the bold flavor of freshly squeezed blood oranges for a vibrant summer cocktail that’s anything but boring. This recipe also works with other summer fruits like guava, passionfruit, or pineapple so you can customize it to your favorite.
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Tropical Negroni
Put a summer spin on a traditional negroni by adding tropical pineapple and strawberry to vermouth and Campari. Skip the gin and mix this cocktail with white rum or tequila for the perfect beach wedding refresher. Are you having a destination wedding or luau-theme? Serve this signature drink in a hollowed-out pineapple to really wow your guests.
Prickly Pear Mojito
If you aren’t familiar with prickly pears, this next cocktail is the perfect introduction to one of the all-time greatest cactus fruits. This candy-tasting, neon-pink fruit is so juicy and delicious. Mix prickly pear syrup into a classic mojito to create a unique signature cocktail that will delight your guests’ taste buds. It’s perfect for a Southwestern or Mexican fiesta-themed summer wedding.
Fall Libations
Fall is prime wedding time for a reason; it’s hard not to love the warm colors and inviting atmosphere. This makes it one of the best seasons for cozy drinks filled with spices, apple cider, maple syrup, and of course, some pumpkin pie. Watch the colorful leaves fall outside your window as you pour yourself a glass.
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Hot Pumpkin Pie Cocktail
Pumpkin is one of the first things that come to mind once the autumn air turns crisp. Skip the pumpkin spice latte and try this cocktail with pumpkin pie vodka instead. Add whipped cream and a cinnamon stick to have guests gobbling up this hot drink on your big day.
Sparkling Fig Cocktail
Figs are the perfect festive fruit, and when you pair it with champagne, you’re looking at a classic combination that will knock your guests’ socks off. This light, sparkling drink adds just the right amount of sweetness that’s not overpowering. Top it off with sliced figs or fresh herbs as a finishing touch.
Hot Buttered Rum
Consider this cocktail the drink equivalent of comfort food. This hearty drink mixes aromatic vanilla with spices like clove, cinnamon, and brown sugar for a velvety combination that will leave you feeling the season’s warmth. It is perfect for a late fall wedding as the chilly weather approaches.
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Apple Old Fashioned
Spruce up this old favorite with crisp apple and warm honey flavors. Keep it hot in a temperature-proof glass for a signature drink that is as sophisticated as it is satisfying. Your guests will love sipping their old fashioned around a cozy fireplace or lounge seating.
Rosemary Vodka Gimlet
This simple cocktail made with rosemary syrup, lime juice, and vodka looks as good as it tastes. A sprig of natural rosemary adds a fragrant touch and keeps festive spirits high. We love this as a signature cocktail for weddings near Thanksgiving or a couple obsessed with their herb garden.
No matter which recipe you choose or if you create your own concoction, we are sure your signature drinks will add a unique, memorable touch to your wedding day. These seasonal flavors make for the perfect drinks to encourage guests to mingle and get to know each other better. Share your signature cocktails, wedding stories, and more with us @theringboxes.
