38 Signature Wedding Cocktail Ideas to Make Your Day Memorable
Customized spritzes, margs, martinis and more!
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You’ve thoughtfully planned out everything for your special day: the food, flowers, music… but don’t sleep on serving a signature wedding cocktail! It’s your chance to put your personal spin on a tasty drink, let guests wet their whistles and rev up the merry-making for the event. If you work with the venue's staff to whip up a batch in advance, that could help cut down on the bar tab and save you a significant sum of money, to boot. These signature wedding cocktail ideas will give you plenty of inspo tailor-made for your special day — whether it’s a small, intimate gathering or a big, bustling bash.
Which cocktail to choose is really up to you! Maybe it's meaningful to you, like the drink you ordered on your first date? Or you can opt for a tipple based on your favorite spirit, such as tequila (a round of watermelon margs, anyone?). If you’re a fan of a certain flavor, for example, coffee, say, “Hello!” to the espresso martini. It could even be a bespoke bevvy to match the venue, for example, a refreshing mint julep or Pimm’s cup hits just right for a garden party.
Along with a recipe for each drink, you’ll find plenty of tips for customizing with garnishes, glassware and more. So get ready to scroll through (and sip) your way to that perfect potent potable!
Hugo Spritz
Make the drink of the summer the drink of your special day. It's fizzy, light, refreshing and — most importantly — everyone loves it.
Get the Hugo Spritz recipe.
Blue Wave Mocktails
Here's that "something blue" for your wedding: a pitcher drink as electric as the Caribbean Sea. Serve it as a non-alcoholic version or spike it with vodka or gin.
Get the Blue Wave Mocktails recipe.
RELATED: 25 Best Mocktail Recipes for a Deliciously Booze-Free Gathering
Tropical Frosé
Headed to the islands for your honeymoon? Get hyped for those sultry climes with this bright, tropical spin on frosé.
Get the Tropical Frosé recipe.
Ginger-Sage Rye Cocktail
The flavors in this rye cocktail are perfect for a fall wedding. The sage sprig not only makes an elegant garnish for the drink, but it can also be a motif carried throughout the wedding — from the boutonnieres and floral arrangements to the color of bridesmaid dresses (a lovely sage green).
Get the Ginger-Sage Rye Cocktail recipe.
RELATED: 35 Best Fall Cocktails That Will Keep You Warm All Season Long
Cherry Bomb Fizz
What's a wedding without bubbles? Blah, that's what. Think of this flute of cherry-accented sparkling wine as an elevated Dirty Shirley.
Get the Cherry Bomb Fizz recipe.
Aperol Spritz Granita
Aperol Spritz but make it slushy. Guests will be obsessed with this fun, frozen take on the quintessential Italian aperitivo.
Get the Aperol Spritz Granita recipe.
Espresso Martini
Your wedding day is going to be a long one. What better way to keep everyone fueled to dance the night away?
Get the Espresso Martini recipe.
Garden Party Mocktails
If you're looking for a porch pounder you can crush all night long without the next-day hangover, look no further. This cucumber-lime spritz shines on its own sans alcohol, but it also loves a splash of gin.
Get the Garden Party Mocktails recipe.
Thyme Plum Moscow Mule
Gingery and easy to drink, Moscow Mules are an undisputed crowd fave. Give yours a special touch with fresh plum and thyme — and let guests keep the copper mugs as a wedding favor.
Get the Thyme Plum Moscow Mule recipe.
Classic Daiquiri
Sipping on Ernest Hemingway's favorite cocktail from beautiful coupes is a surefire way to set an elegant mood at your event.
Get the Classic Daiquiri recipe.
Big-Batch Watermelon Margaritas
You know what really hits at a summer wedding? Pitchers of margarita juiced up with fresh watermelon puree. Make the glasses extra cute with heart-shaped melon slices for the garnish.
Get the Big-Batch Watermelon Margaritas recipe.
RELATED: 15 Delicious Watermelon Cocktails to Enjoy All Summer Long
French 75
Name a better way to toast your nuptials than with a cocktail created in the city of love...we'll wait.
To make the Parisian drink: In a shaker filled with ice, shake 2 oz gin, ¾ oz lemon juice and ½ oz simple syrup. Strain into a chilled flute and top with 2 oz chilled sparkling wine. Serve with a lemon twist.
Ginger Bee Sting
This gingery-lemon cocktail mixed up by Lauren Conrad gets a touch of honey. It's even sweeter served in pretty vintage glassware.
Get the Ginger Bee Sting recipe.
Blood Orange Spritz
This custom cocktail will appeal to fans of the Aperol spritz and mimosas — so, basically, everyone! The fresh blood orange juice makes it wow-worthy.
Get the Blood Orange Spritz recipe.
Pimm's Cup
Make the signature cocktail of Wimbledon the signature cocktail of your wedding. It's a light, effervescent aperitif you can customize with your favorite fruit and veg.
Get the Pimm's Cup recipe.
Cosmopolitan
Guests will feel oh-so-sophisticated like the characters in Sex & the City, the HBO show that popularized this cranberry-vodka martini.
Get the Cosmopolitan recipe.
Negroni
Make it Negroni o'clock all night long at your wedding with this stiff drink that gets a bracing dose of Campari.
Get the Negroni recipe.
Berry Bellini Party Ice
Ice cubes made with lemonade and pureed strawberries are a fun way to zhuzh up prosecco. Personalize the cubes with your favorite fruit and shapes.
Get the Berry Bellini Party Ice recipe.
Strawberry Meyer Lemon Spritz
Plain ole lemonade gets some thrilling upgrades: strawberries, sparkling wine and Meyer lemon, which gives the cocktail a lovely aroma.
Get the Strawberry Meyer Lemon Spritz recipe.
Cherry Sidecar
Garnish this sweet-sour sipper with brandied cherries to make it extra special for your wedding guests.
Get the Cherry Sidecar recipe.
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