You can offer several holiday cocktails at your wedding, but keep in mind if you offer more varieties, you’ll also have to have more ingredients on hand to make them. That adds cost, and takes up space you might not have in your reception bar area.

Pictured: Jim Beam Snowstorm

Sticking to one or two really fabulous cocktail recipes can save you time and money, and give your guests something to remember.

Here are a few holiday cocktail recipes to help you come up with a signature drink to serve to your wedding or party guests.

• Jim Beam Holiday Cocktails~ Including recipes for a Snow Storm, Sleigh Ride, Holiday Sweater, and Mistletoe. These recipes are sure to cause a conversation.
• Sparkling Cranberry Crush has a beautiful red color, and cranberry one of the top flavors of the season.
• More cranberry cocktails from Martha Stewart.
• A roundup of yummy holiday cocktail recipes at the Food Network.

Make sure you remind your guests to drink responsibly.

Image Jim Beam

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The study finds some of the aspects of a traditional wedding are still there. The white bridal gown, music, food, cake and vows are still very traditional, but beyond that many brides are pairing the traditional with the wildly original to fit their own personalities.

Party is replacing reception in wedding terminology, and many grooms are now getting involved in the wedding and reception planning to create a celebration and party that’s uniquely their own.

Some other trends they found in the Brides Magazine survey:

• One third of couples marry outdoors.
• 20% of couples have a friend or relative deputized to perform the ceremony.
• 13% of receptions feature music via i-Pod.
• Over 1/4 of couples plan their weddings around a theme (romance in Paris, Stars and Moons).
• 85% of couples are personalizing at least some aspect of the reception.
• 97% of grooms get involved with the planning.

You can check out the full survey in Brides Magazine on newsstands tomorrow.

Image sxc.hu

Post from: Our One Heart

You can buy a nice card stock to print them on, then use a scrapbook cutter to cut your edges evenly. You can even double or triple layer your place cards to frame them, or give them a more polished look.

Scrapbook embellishments, or die cut shapes can also be added to your place cards fairly easily, or when you’re printing them add a printed border, or decoration with the name.

To print your names with a printer set them up in word, using the make labels function. Pick out a label setting that is the size you’d like to make your place cards then put in your names and print them out on your card stock.

You can then tie them to something, put them on a little stand, add them to your party favor, or a small frame to display them on your table.

Image sxc.hu

Post from: Our One Heart

First up I found these really cute snowflake wedding place cards from Timeless Paper at Etsy. I love the die cut details, and the idea of hooking it onto the glass, very elegant and a little different.

These handmade pop-up white bird placecards from PetrinaCaseStudio are also fabulous, and a very unique idea with a little extra dimension.

Or get back to nature with these snowy pine cone winter wedding place cards from ARemarkYouMade. These would be really cute for a December wedding.

One of my favorites is this chic snowflake printed place card from TheGrouchyChickPea. I love all the intricate details in the snowflake.

I hope one of these place cards helps you find some inspiration for your winter wedding.

Images Etsy

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Today I thought I’d share a few simple ideas you can use to make your fruit the center of attention for your food table. Wedding reception fruit displays can be easier to create than you might think.

This first fruit display just uses the glass building blocks. Of course you’ll want to wash them well before you use them for food, but they will make a beautiful display. When the light hits them just right they’ll sparkle under the fruit.

Even a simple tray of fresh fruit can look stunning if you mix up the colors to make them pop.

A fruit kabob can be another wonderful idea for a fruity wedding centerpiece. Guests can grab their own fruit kabob off of the display to add them to their plate at dinner time.

You can also add fruit with a chocolate fountain to make a beautiful edible display.

Use it right and fruit can be a beautiful part of your wedding reception decorations, as well as a tasty treat for your guests.

Images (c) L Gerlach

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Wedding planners are finding some great ways to incorporate the Love Potion into weddings, from using it for the wedding toast, to incorporating it into cocktail, appetizers, and dessert recipes.

CMSC Spirits president Tina LoBosco concludes, “As a dessert cordial, Love Potion #9®’s bountiful array of passionate and sensual flavors pair perfectly with chocolates, pastries, and – of course – wedding cake.”

Love Potion #9® can be incorporated into any ceremony, and it’s available in 50ml, 375ml and 750ml bottles. Private labeling is available for larger wedding parties, bridal showers, and anniversary celebrations. The beverage is available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Love Potion #9® is currently rolling out and should be available soon nationally.

You can find out more at the Love Potion #9® website.

Post from: Our One Heart

When you pick one cocktail to serve you can make the drinks in larger batches, and you don’t have to stock your bar with several different types of alcohol. A couple big bonuses when you’re trying to stick to a budget, and you have so many other things to plan and keep track of on your wedding day.

Today I have a couple cocktail recipes from (ri)1 (pronounced pronounced “rye one”) Whiskey that would work great for a wedding signature drink. (ri)1is a new Ultra-Premium rye whiskey that offers a refined flavor, striking look and new take on cocktail couture. Bottled at 92 proof, (ri)1 features a light, slightly spicy flavor as well as a long, luxurious finish and is the perfect spirit for mixing up a cocktail for that special occasion.

(ri)1 Clove & Oak

1 ½ parts (rī)1 whiskey
½ part Allspice Dram
½ part freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ½ parts cloudy apple cider
½ part simple syrup

In a mixing tin, add spirits, juice and syrup. Fill tin with ice and shake vigorously for at least 6 seconds. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with apple slices.

(ri)1 Gold Standard

1 part (ri)1 whiskey
½ part freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ part house-made clover honey syrup
2 parts Brut Champagne

In a mixing tin, add spirit, juice and syrup. Fill tin with ice and shake vigorously for 6 seconds. Strain into a flute and top with champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.

(ri)1 Apple of My Rye

1 1/2 parts (ri)1 whiskey
1/2 part Lemon Juice
1/2 part Simple Syrup
3 parts Hot Spiced Apple Cider (or hot unfiltered apple juice with Holiday spices added)

In a pint mixing glass, add spirits, juices, and syrup. Give a quick stir with a barspoon, pour into a toddy glass, and top with hot apple cider.

Do you have a favorite cocktail recipe you can use for your signature wedding cocktail?

Just make sure you remind your guests to drink responsibly.

Images and recipes courtesy of (ri)1 Whiskey

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• What is your entertainment budget?
• What type of music do you and your guests enjoy listening to?
• Do you have a favorite band or type of music you’d like to feature at your wedding reception?
• Speak with friends (especially friends who have recently tied the knot) to see if they have any recommendations if you’re not sure who you want to provide the entertainment. They can let you know how their entertainment went, or if they know someone who might be perfect for your wedding.

There are other entertainment options out there too. Maybe we’ll take a look at some of those in the upcoming weeks.

Image (c) L Gerlach

Post from: Our One Heart

Today, I’d like to highlight 5 Brilliant Tips to Maximize Catering on your wedding; accommodating both budget and food choices that your guests will appreciate:

Image: Sofitel Miami

1. Ask caterers and hotels for a whole range of menus for different budgets so you can plan your own menu better. You just might find an opportunity to get choice items to replace the more boring ones and still keep it within your budget.
2. Try trimming from the dessert spread if you need more main courses. Guests are least likely to eat from the former after a full meal.
3. Consider “under-catering”. If you’re expecting 150 wedding guests, cater for a 100 or 120 but if you’re still worried about food running out, order a tray of tasty food that has a lot of carbs.
4. Trade your free honeymoon suite for more food at the wedding reception. A room is still a room, better to keep the guests well fed am I right?
5. At your hotel food-tasting, ask to speak to the chef. You may be able to strike a good deal, like a free upgrade on an entree or main course, with the chef during your little chat.

I hope you find these tips useful!

Post from: Our One Heart

One example is the Cherry Blossoms theme available at the Diamond Hotel.

Image: weddingfactsheet.com

According to Wedding Fact Sheet, this particular wedding theme “portrays the soft side of Japanese pop art and natural elements. The effect is almost Zen-like with the use of pastels and muted hues and a tranquil feel that soothes the soul. For this package, the hotel’s famed Yurakuen Restaurant prepares a banquet, with platter after platter of tasty Japanese dishes that can only astound guests for their pure taste.”

It reminded me of the Anime and Manga inspired wedding cake topper. I think it will go well with the Cherry Blossoms theme — a solid Japanese theme which gives the impression of youthful fun, spring freshness and a relaxing feel. Yea, the wedding theme would be perfect for Spring weddings and will tickle the fancy of couples who are into the whole Japanese inspiration.

Wouldn’t it be adorable to have your bridesmaids wear a single cherry blossom on their hair? Or perhaps have your photo taken under a shower of cherry blossoms? It’ll certainly be different if you end up using cherry blossoms as your core wedding flower over the usual tulips, roses, poppies, etc. Anyway, I hope this helps inspire you to play with pastels and cherry blossoms to create that soothing atmosphere for your own wedding celebration.

Post from: Our One Heart