Here at The Treasury on the Plaza, one of our favorite parts of hosting a couple’s wedding is getting creative with their wedding bar! One of the areas where couples can express themselves the most is through their wedding signature drinks. Serving a signature cocktail is an easy way to elevate your reception, delight your guests, and show off your personality.
In this article, we’ll be sharing some tips for selecting the best signature cocktails for your event.
Hannah and Jarred chose an Old Fashioned and Spicy Margarita for their wedding signature cocktails | Photo: Walls of Jerico
First, Select Your Perfect Bar Package
Wedding signature drinks are fun, but they are typically only one small part of your wedding bar. Most couples choose to offer at least beer and wine to go along with their signature cocktails, but offering a full bar selection with liquor and mixers will ensure that all of your bases are covered.
At The Treasury on the Plaza we offer three different levels of full bar packages that include beer, wine, liquor, and a selection of mixers. You can go with the basics, or choose top-shelf options that are sure to impress your guests! Don’t see your favorite brands in the packages? Our team is happy to look into available options and customize the perfect bar package to suit your needs!
Kayla and Korey’s wedding bar was fully stocked with beer, wine, liquor, and two signature drinks! | Photo: Savannah Michelle Photography
Tips For Selecting the Best Signature Drinks
You’ve put a lot of thought into planning out every detail of your special day, and your wedding signature drinks deserve just as much care and attention as your decor or menu. However, there are a lot of options to choose from, which can feel overwhelming.
Here are a few things to keep in mind to help make the process of deciding on your signature drinks a little easier:
Be Creative
Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event that is often months or even years in the making. Why pick a drink that everyone has seen (or tasted) a hundred times?
Instead, think outside the box and consider some of the more unique flavor combinations. Even if you have your heart set on a particular cocktail, there’s undoubtedly a way to put a unique twist on it that will surprise and delight your guests.
For example, if you love a margarita, you could add a fun twist by adding your favorite fresh fruit for an extra touch of sweetness, or go in the opposite direction and give it a spicy kick. You could even go a step further by offering a customizable margarita bar where guests can create their own version of the perfect margarita.
Pick Your Favorite Flavors
This may sound obvious, but your wedding’s signature cocktail should be something that you’ll actually enjoy drinking. Don’t feel the need to offer an Aperol Spritz or Espresso Martini just because they’re trendy!
Instead, make a short list of the flavors, liquors, and types of drinks that the two of you enjoy and use that to inspire your selection.
The bartending team at The Treasury on the Plaza mixed up the perfect cocktails for Kayla and Korey’s wedding | Photo: Savannah Michelle Photography
Offer More Than One Signature Drink Option
If you and your significant other have different tastes, don’t feel the pressure to decide on one signature drink option. Here at The Treasury on the Plaza, most couples choose 2-3 signature drinks for their wedding. “His & Hers” (or “His and His” or “Hers and Hers!”) options allow you both to choose a favorite.
Many couples go one step further and create a third signature drink. This could be a combination of your favorite flavors to represent your union, or you could use it as an opportunity to honor your fur babies!
Elsa and Joe’s signature drinks were inspired by their dogs, Harry and Doc Holiday. | Photo: Sydney Marie Co.
Consider a Mocktail Option
Why not choose to offer mocktail options on your wedding bar? We love that this allows those who are not drinking alcohol to join in on the fun at the bar. Thankfully, there are a ton of delicious flavor options that are so good that no one will even miss the alcohol!
At The Treasury on the Plaza, we have a customizable mocktail bar that has several concoctions available for you to choose from. If you don’t see the perfect mix, you can customize your own mocktails during your bar tasting! These mocktails are sure to lend an air of sophistication to any wedding bar.
How To Choose Your Wedding Signature Drinks
Even with the tips above in mind, it can be difficult to narrow down your signature drink options. After all, mixologists are constantly coming up with new, innovative flavors and you don’t want to miss out.
Fortunately, this also means you have plenty of room to express your creativity!
Here is a list of things to consider to inspire your wedding signature drink.
1. Your Love Story
Look back over your relationship to see if anything sparks your imagination. Did you go to a Cuban restaurant on your first date? Your signature drink could be a Cuba Libre or rum runner. If you met in New York City, you could choose a Manhattan!
Steph and Ryan’s signature drinks perfectly captured their love. | Photo: Angelita Esparar
2. Wedding Theme
If your wedding has a unique theme, your wedding signature cocktail is a great opportunity to create an immersive experience that your guests will never forget.
For example, no Gatsby-themed wedding is complete without a 1920s-inspired drink. (We make a great French 75!)
3. Season
Remember, your drink options are just as much a part of your reception menu as dinner and dessert, so let the flavors of the season inspire your signature cocktail, too.
For spring, you could choose a fruity cocktail garnished with flowers. For summer, a refreshing margarita or mojito will have your guests feeling the vacation vibes. Drinks with warm spices or fruits like apple or cranberry are the ideal choice for a fall wedding, while a peppermint espresso martini is a fun and delicious option for winter.
A margarita (especially one in a fun color!) can be the perfect representation of the summer season. | Photo: Walls of Jerico
4. Location
If you’re planning a destination wedding, pay homage to your host city with a specialty cocktail inspired by the region.
The St. Augustine Distillery is a popular stop for tourists in town. If you’re hosting your wedding in the Oldest City, consider incorporating one of their popular spirits into a drink, like a Florida Mule with St. Augustine Distillery Florida Cane Vodka.
To celebrate St. Augustine’s history as a Spanish colony, you could also offer sangria as one of your signature drinks. This rich, fruit-heavy drink is available in both white and red varieties, so it can be paired with any entrée.
Lindsey and Rory offered both a red and white sangria on their specialty bar. | Photo: Brittany Brock Photography
5. Your Favorite Trip or Honeymoon Destination
Do you have a favorite trip that you’ve taken together while dating? What about the romantic spot where your fiancé proposed? If you’re going somewhere special on your honeymoon, you can even take inspiration from that.
No matter where you’re travels take you, odds are, there’s a local drink that place is known for. For example, Italians are famous for a Negroni, and no trip to Ireland would be complete without a little Irish Whiskey. You’re just a sip away from being transported to a far-flung destination.
Are you planning a travel-themed wedding like Courtney and Steven? Pick signature drinks inspired by flavors from your favorite places around the globe. | Photo: Sarah & Ben Photography
The Treasury’s Customized Bar Tasting
Don’t worry if you still can’t decide on a drink (much less two!).
Couples hosting their wedding at The Treasury on the Plaza can take advantage of our complimentary, customized bar tastings.
During your tasting, you’ll meet with an event manager and one of our elite bartenders to taste-test different options and finalize your bar package. You can craft the perfect signature cocktail from the ingredients included in your package, or upgrade your bar options with more unique ingredients—such as fresh fruits, spices, edible glitter, cotton candy, and more.
Bar Tastings are often one of the most fun parts of the planning process for both our couples and The Treasury team! | Photo: Walls of Jerico
For even more signature drink inspiration and information about bars at The Treasury on the Plaza, make sure to check out our Wedding & Event Bars Playlist on Youtube!
Eat, Drink, and Be Married!
For couples who find themselves overwhelmed by the details of planning a wedding, choosing a signature drink often comes as a much-needed break. After all, who doesn’t love taste-testing a selection of their favorite beverages?
At The Treasury on the Plaza, we are always looking for ways to infuse your event with luxury and personality. From wedding signature drinks to signage and beyond, our professional team has the expertise, knowledge, and connections to help you plan the wedding of your dreams.
Schedule a tour today so we can get a head start on planning your big day!
