Signature Wedding Cocktails: Pleasing or Pretentious?

Signature Wedding Cocktails: Pleasing or Pretentious?

By Peyton Whittington Published June 2023

Your wedding is the best day of your life...and unfortunately, the most expensive. The venue, catering and floral service costs are all climbing exponentially, but we have a secret weapon when it comes to bar planning: signature cocktails.

You might think that signature wedding cocktails are only a thing for uber-pretentious Pinterest brides, but if you’re looking to save time and money, having a signature cocktail or two is a phenomenal option for your wedding bar. It limits drink choices, speeding up the serving process and saving you some major coin. If that ain’t pleasing, we don’t know what is.

First things first, though: what IS a signature cocktail? Simply put, it’s one single cocktail to be served at your wedding so that your caterer/bartender only has to stock enough ingredients for ONE drink, as opposed to having a full bar with multiple spirit, mixer and garnish options. Having one or two signature cocktails is a great way to serve guests who aren’t beer or wine drinkers and get creative with theming for our brides on a budget.

Many couples have opted for “his and hers” signature cocktails, serving the bride and groom’s respective favorite drinks (Ex. An Old Fashioned for him and a Mule for her). Others have featured a signature cocktail named after the couple’s furry friend, which is one way for newlyweds to involve their beloved pets in their big day. (The author of this article may or may not have had a signature cocktail at her wedding called “Tulip’s Tonic” in honor of her pitbull princess.) But if you’re more of a no-frills couple, keep it simple. You don’t need cheeky cocktail names and drinks with ingredients no one can pronounce to have one or two simple, crowd-pleasing cocktails at your wedding bar.

Go crazy with theming your wedding’s signature cocktail(s) or don’t. Regardless of what you decide, remember to abide by these three golden rules:

  1. If you select two signature cocktails, be sure to choose one with a light spirit and one with a dark spirit. This will make sure guests with different spirit preferences are covered.

  2. Make it a batch cocktail that you can prepare in advance or a single-serve cocktail that is extremely easy to build with limited steps. Remember, cocktail hour is exactly that…an hour. If you have a lot of guests, you’ll need something easy to serve and refill!

  3. Be sure to work with your caterer, planner and venue to see what’s possible when it comes to signature cocktail creation. Some venues have kegerators at their bars, which is a great receptacle for batch cocktails. Some wedding planners can create and source ingredients for your signature cocktails based on your preferences. Ask these questions in advance so you aren’t doing any work that’s already included in your vendor contracts.

If all this has your head spinning, do not fear. Your wedding is the most stressful event you’ll ever plan, but planning your bar doesn’t have to be. Reach out to your local ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Concierge representative for a FREE consultation. Our reps can tell you how much alcohol you’ll need based on your guest count, assist with picking out wine and beer varietals and, of course, help you build a signature cocktail.

But, without further ado, let’s get into some simple, delicious cocktail recipes to give you inspiration for your wedding bar’s signature cocktail.

Rosé Aperol Spritz

The Aperol Spritz is the cocktail “it” girl right now, which makes this light, refreshing drink a great choice for your signature cocktail. Swap the traditional prosecco for rosé and you’ve got yourself a pretty-in-pink twist on this crowd-pleasing classic.

Rosé Aperol Spritz

In a wine glass over fresh ice, add Aperol. Add the rosé prosecco, then top with club soda and garnish with an orange slice.

Bourbon Mint Lemonade

Having a barn wedding? Serve this oh-so-simple bourbon mint lemonade in Mason jars to add a touch of down-home, rustic chic to your cocktail hour.

Bourbon Mint Lemonade

Combine bourbon and lemonade in a pitcher. Pour individually in a glass lined with lemon wheels over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint leaves. Serves 10.

The Perfect Pear

We get it: you want a signature cocktail that’s unlike anything your guests have ever tasted before, but without the complicated assembly. Serve this fruity, but refined drink cocktail that’s non-traditional AND easy to make. Pro tip: since this drink is prosecco-based, it can be used for a Champagne toast as well!

The Perfect Pear

In a glass, add prosecco, liqueur, cranberry juice and pear juice. Garnish with a sage leaf.

Mumm Napa Raspberry Rosé

We know what you’re thinking: a cocktail recipe with a component I have to whip up in a saucepan? I'll sit this one out.

Hear us out, though: the raspberry compote in this recipe is super simple to make and can be prepared ahead of time and stored up to two weeks before your big day. Then, cocktail assembly is as simple as scooping a spoonful of the compote into a glass and topping it off with rosé.

Still not down to make it yourself? Consider getting the compote from a local fruit stand or orchard to give your wedding bar a homey touch and support a small business to boot. Keep in mind that mini jars of homemade or locally made jams, compotes and honeys make lovely wedding favors, too! You might just be able to kill two birds with one stone here.

Mumm Napa Raspberry Rosé

*Raspberry Compote:

For compote: In a saucepan over medium low heat, add raspberries, sugar and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring regularly until the raspberries soften and the liquid reduces slightly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For cocktail: In a glass with fresh ice, add compote and wine. Garnish with a raspberry.

Lillet Rosé Paloma

Step 1: Serve this refreshing paloma, elevated with Lillet Rosé aperitif, with a chips, salsa and guac bar at your cocktail hour. Step 2: Have the best wedding ever.

Lillet Rosé Paloma

For single serving:

For batch (serves 8-10):

  • 1 ½ cup Lillet Rosé

  • 1 ½ cup Olmeca Altos Plata Tequila

  • 10 tablespoons simple syrup

  • 10 tablespoons lemon juice

For single serving: In a shaker with ice, add Lillet Rosé, tequila, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake and strain into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with grapefruit slice, lime wedge and pinch of kosher salt.

For batch: In a pitcher, add Lillet Rosé, tequila, simple syrup and lemon juice. Stir to combine. Pour into individual glasses with fresh ice. Garnish with grapefruit slice, lime wedge and pinch of kosher salt.

Clean Verano Spritz

You may not have considered it, but a non-alcoholic mocktail might be a perfect fit for your signature cocktail menu if you have a lot of friends and family who don’t drink or rarely drink (OR if the opposite is true and you’re looking to pace your guests who do love to indulge).

The non-alcoholic spirits world has leveled up majorly in the past couple of years (read more about that here), and it’s now possible to make a mocktail that is grown-up and sophisticated instead of cloyingly sweet and embarrassing to have in hand. Some of your guests might not even be able to tell that it’s non-alcoholic!

Including elevated non-alcoholic beverage options is definitely going the extra mile, but we know your guests will appreciate it.

Clean Verano Spritz

For single serving:

For batch (serves 4):

  • 1 cup CleanCo Clean T Blanco Tequila Alternative

  • 1 ½ cups Fever Tree Sparkling Pink Grapefruit

  • Grapefruit slices

For single serving: In a wine glass, add CleanCo Clean T and sparkling pink grapefruit. Layer ice and grapefruit slices.

For batch: In a pitcher, add CleanCo Clean T, sparkling pink grapefruit and ice. Stir and set in refrigerator to chill for at least an hour. Pour into individual glasses over fresh ice and garnish with grapefruit slice.

French Twist

For the couple who’s pouring cognac in each other’s glasses at the end of a long day but doesn’t want to spend an arm and a leg stocking their wedding bar with the finest, the French Twist is the perfect signature cocktail. It’s bubbly, citrusy and will guarantee all your guests are on the dance floor by the end of the night.

French Twist

For single serving:

For batch (serves 8-10):

  • 1 ¾ cups Courvoisier VSOP Cognac

  • 1/2 cup Charles Regnier Triple Sec

  • 3/4 cup simple syrup

  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice

  • 3 cups club soda

  • Lemon wheels

For single serving: In a shaker with ice, add cognac, triple sec, simple syrup and lemon juice. Shake and strain into a glass with fresh ice. Top with club soda and garnish with lemon twist.

For batch: In a pitcher with ice, add cognac, triple sec, simple syrup and lemon juice. Stir until chilled. Add soda water and lemon wheels just before serving.

Pinhooked On You

You might be looking at this ingredients list and wondering how all of them fit together. One word: beautifully. Treat yourself and your guests to a signature cocktail that is rich, fruity, refreshing, smooth and totally unique.

Pinhooked On You

For single serving:

For batch (serves 50-60):

  • 3, 750mL bottles Pinhook Flagship Bourbon

  • 1, 750mL bottle Hiram Walker Crème de Cassis

  • 3 ounces Peychaud’s Bitters

  • 4, 750 mL bottles Hi! Prosecco, chilled

  • 6 packs strawberries

For single serving: In a Champagne flute, add bourbon, cassis and bitters. Top with prosecco and garnish with orange twist and strawberry.

For batch: In a large pitcher, add bourbon, cassis and bitters. Pour 1 ounce of mix into Champagne flute and top with prosecco. Garnish with a strawberry.

Rosa Sangria

If it’s simplicity you’re after, sangria will always be a smart choice for your wedding bar. Throw some delicious fruit, wine and flavored vodka in a glass or punch bowl and call it a day.

Rosa Sangria

In a wine glass, add strawberries, raspberries, pineapple cubes and ice. Add wine and vodka.

Love Seed & Cider

For the health-conscious, all-natural bride, this cocktail uses all fresh juices and tequila infused with natural orange flavor. Plus, dried/dehydrated orange slices are stunning cocktail garnishes that can be prepped and stored ahead of time. Watch our how-to here!

Love Seed & Cider

For single serving:

For batch (serves 8-10):

  • 1 ¾ cup 21SEEDS Valencia Orange Tequila

  • 2 ½ cups apple cider

  • 5 tablespoons fresh orange juice

  • 5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

  • 5 tablespoons simple syrup

  • Dried orange slices

  • Cinnamon sticks

For single serving: In a shaker, add tequila, apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. Dry shake then add ice and shake again. Strain into a glass with fresh ice. Garnish with dried orange slice and cinnamon stick.

For batch: In a pitcher, add tequila, apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, simple syrup and ice. Stir to chill. Serve in individual glasses over fresh ice with dried orange slice and cinnamon stick.

Chambord French Spritz

Love the simplicity of the Aperol Spritz, but not a fan of the eponymous aperitif’s bitter aftertaste? Give this Chambord-based spritz a go for a light, fruity bevvie your guests will love.

Chambord French Spritz

In a wine glass with ice, add liqueur and prosecco. Top with club soda. Gently stir to combine and garnish with raspberries and mint.

Blushing Bride

If this cocktail’s adorable name didn’t catch your eye, the star-studded ingredients list surely will. A colorful, intriguing blend of Empress purple gin, honey, lime, orange blossom water and rosé, this cocktail is for the aesthetic-minded bride. Be sure to decide on a wedding hashtag, because you’ll want to see your guests’ pics of this gorgeous drink.

Blushing Bride

In a shaker with ice, add gin, honey syrup, lime juice and orange blossom water. Shake and strain into a glass. Top with sparkling rosé and garnish with edible flowers.

Ready to cross something off your wedding planning to-do list? Head to your local ABC Fine Wine & Spirits or shop online at abcfws.com to get everything you need to build a signature cocktail that will have your wedding guests talking for years to come.

Interested in learning more? Visit our ABC Blog page.