A cocktail hour is a perfect segue from the formal part of your wedding reception to the more relaxed second half. Your guests have a chance to grab some food, relax and mingle with other guests. Often your guests will know each other but may not have seen each other in a while. Without the ability to catch up at the ceremony, the cocktail hour is the time for catch-ups before everyone takes their seats for dinner. So, coming up with some great cocktails is something you definitely need to do when you’re wedding planning.

Serving cocktails, rather than just simple beer and wine, can make your whole wedding (from the wedding reception to the wedding party) more memorable. There’s something about having a cocktail in your hand that makes wherever you are feel more special. It’s also a chance for you and the groom to show off your personality. You can go classic (such as Aperol Spritz), tropical vibes (such as Mai Tai), or something fresh (such as Mojito). There are so many options! You can also pick drinks that have a color similar to your wedding colors, so your cocktails are wedding themed!

You definitely want your guests to unwind and feel comfortable at your wedding. But not too much. Make sure there are plenty of hors d'oeuvres served as well offering your guests non-alcoholic options and water. You could also make a non-alcoholic punch that will allow your guests to feel like they’re partaking in the cocktails, without having alcohol. This is also a great idea if there are going to be a lot of children at your wedding so that they feel included. You can make a simple fruit punch or something brightly colored that matches the decor of your wedding, so even your non-alcoholic drinks are wedding themed.

But for now, here are some of the best wedding cocktails, that will make your wedding planning much easier.

Best Wedding Cocktails

Red White & Blue Cocktail

I love this brightly colored cocktail! You’ll want to have access to fresh blueberries rather than frozen and you can do the technical parts on the day (knowing when to do which part of food and drink prep is also important for wedding planning). If red or blue will be a part of your wedding colors, this drink is a great way to make your drinks wedding-themed.

129 calories

Ingredients

4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories
2 oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail - 30 calories
⅛ cup Blueberries, fresh - 8.75 calories

Instructions

Combine juice and prosecco.
Spear blueberries on toothpick, add to drink.

Holiday Cocktail

Adding fresh herbs to your cocktail is great for those that don’t like it too sweet.

210 calories

Ingredients

4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories
8 oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail - 120 calories
1 Rosemary, sprig - 0 calories

Instructions

Combine juice and prosecco.
Add in rosemary sprig.

Champagne and Fruit

If you want to keep things nice and simple, but to add a personal touch, this is the way to go. You can add a sprig of lavender, a toothpick with a few berries or a slice of pear. Look at what fruits are grown near your wedding location. Even winter weddings can usually find a garnish that is local and in season. Or go the opposite and bring in some tropical flavors to your cozy space!

This can also be an easy one to serve as you’re not having to make individual cocktails. Bar staff can add the fruit to glasses and have them waiting to add the champagne as your guests arrive after the ceremony. Don’t pour the champagne too early otherwise it’ll get warm.

You can even add a bit of Aperol and soda water to your champagne and fruit, and make it an elevated version of Aperol Spritz!

Moscow Mule

These stunning-looking drinks are surprisingly simple to make, and they’re always a crowd-pleaser. They’re great for fall and winter weddings, but they can work for any season.

Traditionally they’re served in a copper mug which takes on the iciness of the drink. They’re made out of vodka and ice and topped with ginger beer and ginger bitters.

Also, don’t forget to add garnish to your drinks.

This is part of what helps to set a signature wedding cocktail apart from other drinks. For your Moscow Mule, add garnish with mint and a wedge of lime. Refreshing!

Tom Collins

Having a summer wedding? Your guests will love this refreshing summer option. Made with gin, lemon juice, sugar, and sparkling water. You can then top with a slice of lemon and even a cherry. Being gin-based, you might think this is a British drink but it’s actually an American classic! And the perfect drink you cool your guests down on a balmy afternoon.

Bourbon-Peach Cocktail

Looking for a drink with some Southern charm? You can’t go past this as your signature drink. Packed with two Southern classics, peaches and bourbon this cocktail will give your guests a mouthful of southern hospitality.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons bourbon
1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoons Demerara Simple Syrup
1 tablespoon peach schnapps
2 tablespoons club soda
3 to 4 dashes Peychaud's bitters (optional)
Garnishes: a peach slice, a lemon slice, and a fresh mint sprig

Instructions

Combine first 4 ingredients in a cocktail shaker; fill with ice.
Cover with lid, and shake vigorously until thoroughly chilled (about 30 seconds).
Strain bourbon mixture into a 10-oz. glass filled with ice; top with club soda and, if desired, bitters.

Parisian Daiquiri

Looking for something elegant and restrained? You can’t go past this delicious recipe. Elder flower is such a beautiful delicate flavor, I could image this at a beautiful spring wedding. Spring is when the elder flower is harvested so it seems fitting to be drinking it then. To add even more attention to detail, add some elder flower to your bouquet and the groom’s button hole flowers.

Ingredients

1 tsp Sugar
1 ½ oz BACARDÍ® Carta Blanca Superior Rum
¾ oz ST GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur
¾ oz fresh lime juice

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Shake until cold.
Fine strain into a coupette glass.

Grapefruit Sunrise Cocktail

I love the way a cocktail filled with grapefruit juice adds a bright splash of color to your wedding! Try this one to see what I mean. It’s another crowd-pleaser! Make sure that this shade of orange will complement the other colors of your wedding decor. It’s the little extras like that, that may not be noticeable on their own but add up to make your wedding day feel extra special.

Grapefruit can be quite a tart flavor, so I would strongly suggest trying these out to make sure they’re to your taste before your big day!

Cranberry Juice Punch

Don’t want to make individual cocktails for each guest? That’s okay! A punch is a great way to still get the cocktail experience without having a waiter have to whip out the shaker 100 times! You can make it earlier in the day, without adding the ice cubes so it doesn’t get watered down. Keep it chilled and then serve, adding the ice to cool it down. This is a great recipe from Betty Crocker.

Ingredients

1 can (6 ounces) frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed
1 bottle (32 ounces) cranberry juice cocktail, chilled
2 cans (12 ounces each) ginger ale, chilled

Instructions

Make lemonade as directed on can in large pitcher.
Stir in cranberry juice cocktail and enough ice to chill.
Just before serving, stir in ginger ale.

Spiked Apple Cider Cocktails

Love a cider more than you love a cocktail? That’s okay! You can make a spiked apple cider cocktail as your signature drink. This is perfect for fall weddings, with crisp apple and cinnamon flavors.

Ingredients

1/4 gallon apple cider
1/2 cup dark rum
1/2 cup cinnamon schnapps
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cut into large chunks
1/2 lemon, juiced

Instructions

Mix together the cider, rum, and schnapps in a large pitcher.
Add the apples to a small bowl and toss them with the lemon juice.
Thread the diced apples onto skewers.
Pour the spiked cider into glasses filled with ice, then garnish with an apple skewer and serve.

Mojito

One of the best classic cocktails, and something that should definitely be on your wedding bar menu. If you’re getting married anywhere warm and tropical, this is a great choice and the perfect refresher. Plus, it’s a crowd-pleaser. This is definitely one of my favorite refreshing drinks during summer. Another great thing about it is that the non-alcoholic version of it is just as delicious, so you can have both versions, so your guests that don’t drink alcohol can enjoy it too.

Just like with a Mai Tai, the base of this drink is white rum, but the rest of the ingredients aren’t that similar.

Since Mojitos are usually transparent (white-is) with some green in them, if white and green are your wedding colors, this is the perfect drink to make your cocktails wedding-themed.
Try this simple recipe from BBC if you’re not sure where to start. If you want, increase the amount of soda water you use in each to make them weaker without taking away the specialness of your signature cocktails! You’ll need a lot of mint on hand for these ones, so make sure you stock up.

Ingredients

Juice of 1 lime
1 tsp granulated sugar
Small handful mint leaves, plus extra sprig to serve
60ml white rum
Soda water, to taste

Instructions

Muddle the lime juice, sugar and mint leaves in a small jug, crushing the mint as you go – you can use the end of a rolling pin for this.
Pour into a tall glass and add a handful of ice.
Pour over the rum, stirring with a long-handled spoon.
Top up with soda water, garnish with mint and serve.

Sparkling Wine + Coconut Water Fruit Punch

Check with your venue about what sort of alcohol they allow on-site. Some venues may not be okay with hard liquor, so a sparkling wine cocktail is could be the perfect way to bring a little bit of extra sparkle to your day without the hassle of spirits. Can’t afford, or don’t want to spend a lot of money on, champagne? A sparkling wine cocktail will still give your guest that fizziness without the price tag. Those that prefer the taste of champagne will most likely not notice the difference once it’s mixed into a cocktail either.

It’s also much simpler for your bar staff to prepare. Simply pour and add garnish. If you have a large wedding, they will struggle to blend margaritas for everyone!
Want to help the hangovers? Why not create a cocktail with coconut water, an electrolyte-laden hangover cure! This recipe is sure to impress. It makes 3 cups, perfect to try with your bridesmaids and then double the recipe as needed. You can make one alcoholic and one non-alcoholic if you prefer, but make sure you make them very distinguishable from each other! Different fruit or a different color so people (especially children) know which is which.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups coconut water, flavored or plain
1 cup+ champagne or white wine*
1/2 cup+ orange juice
1/4 cup to 2 cups+ fruit, frozen or fresh
splash grenadine, optional
1 drop pink or red food coloring, optional

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl or pitcher, stir to combine, chill in the refrigerator before serving.

*If you do not drink alcohol, you can use non-alcoholic wine or champagne, white grape juice, or simply omit and adjust proportions of other ingredients to taste.

For all cocktails, you can make mocktail versions of them, for kids or people who don’t drink alcohol. You can usually just omit the alcohol content, or replace it with some juice or coconut water, depending on the recipe. You can even have a separate mocktail wedding bar, so all of your loved ones have something to drink.