10 Summer Wedding Cocktails

Summer weddings are fun and exciting. It’s the time of year that pulls more people to enjoy the great outdoors, the beach, resorts, and more.

Even though the summer weather can make you feel hot and uncomfortable, serving wedding cocktails can help keep you and the guests cool and refreshed as they enjoy the occasion.

So today, I’m sharing a round-up of cocktails you should consider to keep you cool and refreshed for summer weddings.

10 Summer Wedding Cocktails

The fresh fruit in these summer cocktail recipes bring a cool and refreshing taste, making them all perfect for your big day in the warmer months. 

Sangria

Ingredients

3 oz Wine (red or white) - 72 calories

2 oz Apple Cider - 35 calories

¼ Apple, medium - 24 calories

¼ cup Cranberries, whole - 12 calories

Instructions

1. Dice apple, wash cranberries.

2. Combine all ingredients in a glass or pitcher (if you’re making multiple servings at once) and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

3. Note: No apple cider? Use apple juice. 

4. Note: I’m using a green apple here, and white wine.

Red White & Blue Cocktail

Ingredients

4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories

2 oz Cranberry Juice Cocktail - 30 calories

⅛ cup Blueberries, fresh - 9 calories

Instructions

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

2. 0.125 cups = 1/8 cup (2 Tbsp).

3. This is for those over 21 years old.

Mimosa

Ingredients

4 oz Prosecco (champagne, cava) - 90 calories

2 oz Orange juice - 28 calories

Instructions

1. Combine orange juice and prosecco.

2. This drink is for those over 21 years.

Bubbly Margarita

Ingredients

1 oz Tequila - 69 calories

1 oz Orange juice - 14 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. Add in ice to fill the cup.

Adult Root Beer Float

Ingredients

• 4 ounces vanilla ice cream (¼ pint)

• 8 ounces root beer IBC recommended (¾ bottle)

• 1½ ounces vanilla vodka Smirnoff recommended (1 shot)

Instructions

1. Place 2-3 scoops of vanilla ice cream into a tall glass.

2. Fill halfway up with root beer.

3. Pour 1 shot of vanilla vodka, and then top with root beer to fill to the top of the glass.

Bourbon-Peach Cocktail

(photo from Mom4real.com)

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.

Mojito

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

(photo from Missinthekitchen.com)

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.

Lime Basil Spritzer

(photo from stetted.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 Cucumber

• 2 Limes

• ½ cup simple syrup

• 8 Basil Leaves

• Prosecco

Instructions:

1. To make the cucumber basil-infused lime juice for Prosecco, squeeze lime juice into a glass. 

2. Add cucumber slices and basil leaves. 

3. Stir and refrigerate for a few hours. 

4. Mix with Prosecco and enjoy.

Paloma Cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 ounces grapefruit juice

• 1/2 ounce lime juice

• 2 ounces tequila blanco

• 1/2 tablespoon honey simple syrup

• 1–2 ounces sparkling mineral water

• Salt and sugar for the rim

• Garnish: Fresh grapefruit and fresh bay leaves

• Ice

Instructions

1. Make honey simple syrup: Mix one part honey with one part water in a small pot over medium-low heat. (for example, 1/4 cup honey and 1/4 cup water, or make a bigger batch.) Optional: Add a couple of bay leaves and let this infuse for 3o minutes or overnight.

2. Rim- Mix one part salt and one part sugar for the rim. Place on a plate or shallow bowl. Rub the rim of the glass with grapefruit or lime wedge, then dip in the salt/sugar mixture to coat. Fill with ice.

3. Cocktail- Place ice in a shaker. Add the grapefruit juice, lime juice, tequila and simple syrup. Shake to combine.  Pour into the ice-filled glass and top with sparkling mineral water.

4. Garnish with a grapefruit slice and a fresh bay leaf. Enjoy!

How To Choose A Signature Cocktail

Consider the theme

Your signature cocktail should reflect the overall theme of the event (or at least be inspired by it) through color, name, flavor, or theme, etc.

Decide on a base liquor

Some of the most versatile types of alcohol to use for mixing in cocktails are rum, vodka, or whiskey.

Choose your drink mixers 

For the perfect signature cocktail, you’ll want to have a good balance of sweetness, sourness, and bitterness to enhance the flavor profile. After you choose the alcohol, it all comes down to the mixers! Many signature cocktails use simple syrups, soda (tonic, soda water, etc.), and bring in fresh fruit and garnish to incorporate other layers of flavor. For drink mixers for wedding, you’ll want to explore this roundup of ideas.

Think about seasonal ingredients

Having a summer wedding soiree’? Think about adding citrus like the fresh fruit or even lemon juice or orange juice. A fall wedding? Perhaps serving up drinks with a kick of spice. Winter wedding? Top things off with a garnish like mint leaves or rosemary.

Put a new twist to an old classic

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. One of the easiest ways to make signature wedding cocktails is to start with adding a new twist to drinks that are already crowd pleasers. For summer wedding cocktails, add your own spin to classic drinks like margaritas, mojito, or daiquiri, or piña coladas all of which offer everything you could expect for great summer cocktails for your big day.

Name your signature drinks

The name of the drink is what will entice others to try it. You’ll want to pick a name that is simple, catchy, and original. If you need help coming up with names, you can always resort to asking some close friends and family. While some may be intimidated by this part, at the end of the day, just have fun with it. 

What do you think? Have you ever had a custom cocktail that stood out to you? I’m curious what you’ve tried. What makes the best wedding cocktails in your opinion?

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