A signature wedding drink or cocktail can be a great way for couples to add a personal touch to their reception. Get inspired by these wedding signature drinks.
Last updated March 30, 2024
Weddings and alcohol go together pretty seamlessly. While having a bar at your wedding reception isn’t required, a little libation can certainly liven up the party and give your guests the liquid courage to hit the dance floor. And the best part? You can achieve an awesome array of booze without shelling out major cash on a full-liquor open bar. The key is a signature cocktail.
Expert Advice: if you’re having an alcohol-free wedding, simply turn any of these ideas into mocktails by removing the booze. Check out our article on planning a dry wedding for everything else you need to know.
Keep your guests refreshed and in a festive mood with these unique signature drink ideas that are sure to delight the palate. Check out our favorite wedding-worthy options below.
It’s a boozy take on the favorite childhood summer treat, made of fruit juice like orange juice, lime juice, grapefruit juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, etc.), simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, crushed ice, and your liquor of choice, garnished with fresh fruit.
Try this refreshing fizzy summer wedding drink that goes down easy with prosecco, limoncello, raspberries, and mint sprigs.
Just add sorbet to champagne, sparkling wine, or prosecco, and top with fresh fruit like a lime slice. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Perfect for Southern weddings, this delicious combo is made with brewed tea, lemon juice, sugar, and bourbon.
It’s refreshing, sweet, and savory, with a citrusy kick from grapefruit juice.
A cocktail that screams summer, with blackberry syrup, lemonade, whiskey, and something bubbly.
Put a fruity spin on this easy-to-drink cocktail by adding some fresh fruit.
Muddle lime juice, cucumber, and basil, and add to Prosecco for a refreshing bubbly cocktail that’s not too sweet.
Perfect for warming up winter weddings, use rum or bourbon to complement the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.
Add hibiscus syrup to prosecco, and place a flower in the glass for a picture-worthy finish.
Put a twist on a classic with flavored simple syrup, flowers, and/or berries.
Put a sprig of lavender into a glass of champagne (or sparkling wine) to infuse it with a subtle floral flavor, perfect for spring weddings.
Add some pink to the party by swapping in grapefruit or blood orange juice.
You can’t go wrong with mini rum and cokes served in mini glass bottles with decorative straws.
Take the classic cocktail with gin, lemon, and Champagne, and infuse it with lavender.
Margaritas connote relaxation and are easy to adapt and infuse with various flavors and ingredients.
The kick from this passion fruit and chili cocktail with vodka and rum is one to remember.
Add basil leaves with gin, green chartreuse, and lemon juice for a refreshing spring drink.
Expert Advice: Wondering how to calculate how much alcohol you’ll need for your wedding? Use our Wedding Alcohol Calculator to find out.
Embrace a pop of color with this vodka-infused cocktail topped with blood orange slices and rosemary sprigs.
This 90s-inspired espresso, coffee liqueur, and vodka martini will ensure your crowd dances all night long.
Shower your guests with love (aka vodka, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice, and grenadine with a touch of orange juice).
The classic combination of whiskey, bitters, sugar, and the zest of an orange peel is perfect for your sophisticated soiree.
Ideal for tropical weddings, garnish your Hawaiian version with fresh fruit like pineapples, limes, mint, and a paper umbrella, of course.
Choose your favorite cabernet and add orange, cinnamon, clove, and star anise to create the coziest winter beverage.
The floral notes of the lilac and lavender simple syrup blend beautifully with the hard gin, fresh lemon juice, and egg white.
Combine the bold citrus flavors of orange and lemon with sparkling water topped with fresh basil leaves.
Serve these ice-cold elderflower coolers with refreshing cucumber slices at your sunny seaside affair.
A winter twist on a summer staple, combine Pimm's No. 1 brandy with vanilla, maple syrup, and ginger beer garnished with cinnamon sticks.
The richness of black cherry and whiskey perfectly balances out the tangy kick of the lemon juice.
Sweet peaches, prosecco, ginger syrup, and peach schnapps make up this delightful signature wedding cocktail.
Any summer camp wedding needs a s’mores martini. Savor layers of cream, marshmallow vodka, and chocolate liqueur accented with a graham cracker rim. Or make it simple and skip the garnish.
Top this holiday vodka, ginger beer, lime, and cranberry juice cocktail with fresh cranberries or rosemary.
Rich Mexican hot chocolate spiked with tequila and cayenne will warm your guests up with heat and flavor.
Expert Advice: Learn the ins and outs of purchasing alcohol for your wedding in our guide on how to purchase alcohol for your reception.
Kick off your tropical destination wedding with on-theme piña coladas that’ll get your guests in the island vibe.
Serve these blooming floral drinks infused with lavender, elderflower, hibiscus, and rose for your garden ceremony.
You only need hot water, whiskey, honey, and lemon to create a classic hot toddy for your winter celebration.
The sweetness of fresh strawberries complements the earthiness of tequila and the zing of fresh lime juice.
Lift their holiday spirits with this tasty peppermint schnapps drink adorned with a red and white candy cane-crushed rim.
Transport your guests to the coasts of Italy with bright orange bubbly made with prosecco, soda water, and Aperol.
Dessert lovers will swoon over this chocolatey masterpiece with Irish cream liqueur, amaretto, and heavy cream.
Bursting with lemon flavor, this Italian-inspired spritz with limoncello, prosecco, and club soda will refresh your guests on a hot summer day.
With rose water, simple syrup, lemon, and gin, garnish this gorgeous springtime cocktail with edible pink rose petals.
Complement your autumn wedding with an orange cocktail spiced with allspice, cloves, and cinnamon.
Sprinkled with nutmeg, this nostalgic eggnog martini will remind them of their childhood.
This refreshing tequila mixer with orange juice and grenadine will look magical against the summer sunset.
Muddle simple syrup, fresh fruit, herbs, and whiskey to create a fruity cocktail that’ll deliver a punch of flavor.
Mix Kahlúa (or any coffee liquer), vodka, and heavy cream to make this rich and creamy wedding signature drink.
For a sparkly New Year’s Eve option, combine fresh grapefruit juice, honey syrup, vodka, and club soda with a twinkling sugar rim.
Pumpkin pie lovers will savor this fall-themed martini with pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla vodka, and aged rum.
This icy concoction of honeydew, lime juice, and agave nectar is subtly sweet, while the tequila adds a kick the crowd will love.
Your wedding is an expression of you and your partner as a couple, so you want to nod to that in your drinks. According to Zola’s First Look Report, 84% of couples report they will be serving signature cocktails at their wedding in 2024. Here are more tips on making yours uniquely special.
Consider incorporating small details that reflect you and your partner when deciding on a signature drink recipe—for example, flavors or ingredients from where you met, where you grew up, where your families are from, or things that you’re both fans of: think travel destinations, foods, movies, or books. You could even use your first date as inspiration for the signature wedding drink!
Expert advice: Don’t stress if you and your spouse have opposing alcohol preferences—just serve two signature cocktails!
Your signature wedding cocktail lets you add an unexpected pop of color to your reception space. So, when you’re exploring ideas for your personalized beverage(s), we recommend going for a vibrant cocktail that compliments your wedding’s color palette and adds to the overall impact of the reception décor.
Think about the state, city, or region where you’re saying “I do,” and let your signature wedding drink nod to the local culture. For example, a New Orleans wedding begs for a hurricane, a Cape Cod wedding needs a cape codder, and what’s a Southern wedding without mint juleps? Think about what liquors, spirits, and flavors are local to the area, and let your booze-infused imagination run wild.
Once you have decided on the style of drink you want to include at your reception, don’t forget to give it a test run. Nobody wants a jug of bitter jungle juice served on their big day. Ahead of your wedding, invite friends over to make and taste your signature drink to ensure the ingredients come together as you expect. (We can be there in 10.)
Signature cocktails help set the mood. They’re a creative—and delicious—way to share a little bit of your personality and preferences with guests. Also, adding a mocktail to the menu is considerate, especially if you have a lot of guests under 21 attending. And don’t forget to give your signature cocktails a fun name (cheesy is okay, too!).
Need help finding a bartender or bar service for your wedding? Search Zola’s vendor marketplace to find wedding vendors in your location.
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