As you plan out your summer wedding, it’s a great idea to include refreshing drinks for your guests during the cocktail hour. There is always a lot of standing around in the sunshine, time to relax and moments to celebrate which all call for revitalizing drinks. Even if you’re hosting your wedding indoors, your guests will need hydration.

Creating a signature drink for your wedding can help set the tone, extend your theme and create a truly memorable moment. You can almost think of it as a thank you to your guests for coming along to your celebration and being with you on your special day.

Wedding planning can get overwhelming. That’s when creating a wedding cocktail can add some fun as you test out various different summer cocktails. Enjoy yourself with some girlfriends and a few rounds of taste testing to see what will work best for your style of wedding and your personal preferences. 

It can also be a great way to showcase your own personality. You can pick a signature drink that’s sharp and spicy, or refreshing and fruity. You can embrace your location with Mexican themed cocktails or southern style iced tea.  

Here are a few of my favorite signature drinks perfect for a summer wedding. I’ve included mostly alcoholic drinks, but I couldn’t go past adding an iced tea to the list!

Summer Signature Drinks for Wedding

Moscow Mule

Traditionally served in a copper mug, a Moscow Mule makes a great signature cocktail for your wedding. It’s refreshing with the lime but not too sweet, using ginger beer instead of a different, sweeter soda.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ fluid ounces vodka

• ½ fluid ounce lime juice

• Ice cubes

• ½ cup ginger beer

• 1 lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

1. Add lime juice and vodka to a mug or glass.

2. Top with ice cubes and ginger beer.

3. Stir.

4. Top with a lime wedge as garnish.

Bubbly Margarita

Signature drinks can be a twist on a classic, like this bubbly margarita. Rather than having to get a blender out for each batch, this recipe allows you to have the deliciousness of this classic without the hassle. 

83 calories

Ingredients

• 1 oz Tequila - 69 calories

• 1 oz Orange juice - 13.75 calories

• ¼ cup Seltzer - 0 calories

• 2 Tbsp Lime, juice - 0 calories

Instructions

1. Juice limes in a small bowl (or use lime juice from a bottle).

2. In a cup, add tequila, orange juice, seltzer, and lime juice.

3. Mix with a spoon.

4. Crush ice and fill up the cup.

Mimosa

If you’re looking for something refreshing as well as with a little kick, you can’t go past a mimosa. It’s great as it doesn’t require a cocktail shaker, your wait staff can just pour and serve to keep the good times flowing.

118 calories

Ingredients

• 4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories

• 2 oz Orange juice - 27.5 calories

Instructions

1. Combine orange juice and prosecco.

2. This drink is for those over 21 years.

Iced Tea

You also want to ensure you have non-alcoholic options for children and those that are choosing to not drink. Or just as an alternative for in between alcoholic beverages. Iced tea is a classic that you can make using the below recipe or add more fresh fruit to change the flavor. 

Ingredients

• 6 tea bags

• 2 tbsp golden caster sugar

• 1 tbsp honey, plus extra to serve

• 2 lemons, 1 juiced, 1 sliced

• 1 orange, sliced

• Mint leaves

• Ice

Instructions

1. Combine the tea bags, sugar and honey with 1.5 liters of water. Leave it to infuse for 10 minutes then throw out the tea bags. Place in the fridge until it’s time to serve.

2. Before serving, add the fresh lemon juice, lemon slices, orange slices and mint leaves. Stir. Add ice to the jug.

3. Fill tall glasses with ice and pour over the iced tea, then serve with extra honey to taste.

Holiday Cocktail

It might sound surprising to use rosemary in a cocktail, but you’ll be seriously impressed by the subtle earthy flavor it brings to your drink.

210 calories

Ingredients

• 4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories

• 8 oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail - 120 calories

• 1 Rosemary, sprig - 0 calories

Instructions

1. Combine juice and prosecco. Add in rosemary sprig.

2. This is for those over 21 years.

Strawberry Basil Paloma

What exactly is a Paloma? It’s a refreshing twist on a margarita, without too much sweetness. I like this version as it switches out the lime juice for grapefruit juice. But is there anything more summery than strawberries and basil? It’ll make for a memorable cocktail your guests will love. If you’ve got a pink, red or green theme going on, this perfect drink is a great way to extend that through your event further. Little details like matching your drink to your overall decor help set your wedding apart.

Sparkling Peach Basil Sangria

One of the tough parts of having a signature cocktail is having to individually shake each cocktail. Sangria helps you out with this. Instead, you can make this delicious sangria recipe in advance. By making your simple syrup with herbs days before, you’re going to have an incredibly delicate infusion in your drinks. Then combine it with sparkling white wine and vodka on the morning of your wedding or have your waitstaff do it as your guests are coming through after the ceremony. Either way, it’ll make a refreshing hit perfect for a summer wedding.

Pineapple Summer Cocktail

Okay, so this one takes a little more admin as you do need to make it in batches, but it’s with a blender instead of an individual cocktail shaker so your waitstaff can roll out a few drinks at a time. Instead of just adding a little pineapple juice to a cocktail, this one goes all-in with actual pineapple. If you’re anything like me, you’ll love that big hit of fresh pineapple on a hot summer day. It doesn’t use sugar syrup which is nice if you’re avoiding processed sugar. If you know your pineapple is super sweet, you can cut the honey back too to reduce the sweetness. You can always make a batch to test out with your bridal party before the big day!

Whiskey Sour

What’s better on a hot summer day than a blend of citrus flavors in a classic cocktail guests will love? The whiskey sour makes for the perfect drink to add to your wedding menu. It’s traditionally made with whisky or bourbon whiskey, fresh lemon juice, sugar, and a dash of egg white (optional). 

48 calories

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 oz (3 parts) Bourbon whiskey

• 1 dash egg white

• 1 oz (2 parts) Fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 oz (1 part) Gomme syrup

Instructions: 

1. Shake with ice. 

2. Strain into ice-filled old-fashioned glass to serve "on the rocks."

3. Serve shaken; on the rocks with either of the following garnishes: Lemon rind, Maraschino cherry, Orange slice, Sugared glass

Tom Collins Cocktail

Tom Collins is the cocktail of all cocktails. If you didn’t know, this classic drink was named after Jerry Thomas, "the father of American mixology" back in the 1800s. Think gin and sparkling lemonade served in a Collins glass over ice – the perfect drink for a hot summer day.

122 calories

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 oz (3 parts) Old Tom Gin

• 1/2 oz (1 part) sugar syrup

• 1 oz (2 parts) freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 2 oz (4 parts) carbonated water (or club soda)

Preparation: 

1. Mix the gin, syrup, lemon juice in a tall glass with ice, top up with soda water

2. Serve on the rocks; poured over ice with the following garnishes: Lemon slice and Maraschino cherry

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