Holiday Spirit with Signature Drinks

Photo: Food & Wine Magazine

Need some inspiration to make your Holiday Party filled with Christmas Spirits?  Look no further than the classic cocktail. 

Food and Wine Magazine has a great guide to classic and not-so-classic cocktails.  Use it as inspiration for your next Holiday party or your Wedding.  A fun way to add pizazz to your Wedding or event is to supply a signature cocktail.

This can be based on the colors of your Event or Wedding or your Theme.  You can even take a classic drink and re-name it based on your theme.


Need some Fall Inspiration? Check out this Sparkling Pomegranate Punch recipe from Food and Wine.


The Flavors of Fall

The fall brings us some fantastic flavors and ingredients.  Some of your favorite childhood flavors are what make up the best drinks for the holidays.

Experiment with all the colors, textures and scents the fall and winter months bring to create a cocktail that is uniquely your own.

Play with ingredients like Eggnog, Apple Cider and Pomegranate Juice. Experiment with familiar cozy scents like Cinnamon and Nutmeg.

Remember balance is key when making your perfect concoction.  Balance flavors like tart and sweet.  Get the Tart from things like cranberries and sweet from things like cider or pomegranate.

Garnish can be just as fun to add and give guests an idea of what's in the drink.  Tossing some Cranberries, pomegranate seeds, cinnamon sticks or even a wedge of lemon can make your drink look professional and festive.

If your traditional iced drink is not what you're in the mood for, heat it up with some spices and your stovetop or crockpot.  Spiced (and spiked) Apple Cider is always a big hit and tastes like  fall in a cup.  Don't forget your mulling spices for the full effect.

For extra fun, name your drink a festive or cute name for your theme. 

Some Holiday Drink Name ideas are:
Santa's Helper
Rudolph Punch
Christmas in July (something tropical?)
Snowstorm
Tis' the Season cider

Some Wedding Drink Name Ideas are:
Spiced Love
Sweetheart Cider
Cozy Cocktail
Pomegranate Passion

Two new ways to "release" some fun at your wedding or event

Photo from: hatomugisan.tumblr.com

We've all seen birdseed, confetti and bubbles after the ceremony, but for something a bit different and very personalized to your color scheme or logo/ monogram, there are two very exciting options for you.

The first is colored bubbles.  Yes, that's right, the bubbles you've learned to love and associate with your childhood can now be color matched to your wedding.  It's called Zubbles and they're brightly colored bubbles that don't stain!

 Imagine having a bubble machine at your reception with colored bubbles in your color theme, or give guests bubbles to blow after your ceremony!  With Zubbles, you can have a magical event that everyone will remember.

image from: serdaroner.blogspot.com

Want something more personalized?  Then flogo's might be right for you. 

What is a flogo?  It's a floating logo that's produced by using helium, soaps and even dye.  Think of it as a giant "soap cloud". 

Use it to promote your company brand, your wedding monogram or even your event theme.  The company claims their soap clouds are much more eco-friendly than balloons and naturally dissolve in the air.

While a cool idea, flogos will run you quite a bit of money to rent for the day.

Snuggle up with this cute idea for a Wedding Favor

I am totally in love with this cute coffee cozy from WaysideViolet on Etsy. I would love to give these as Wedding Favors for my guests. How cute and different would that be!

If you wanted to really give a cute and personalized gift, you could pair it with a porcelain mug that has your wedding monogram on it. Or you could sew in your monogram into the coffee cozy.

This gift works best for fall and winter weddings or weddings with a java / tea theme.

Lace themed wedding

Source: Martha

Love lace and want to incorporate it into your Wedding or Event?  Check out these beautiful ideas for a lacy and lovely event.

To the left you'll see a beautiful way to use those doilies.  Not just for tossing under a stack of cupcakes, doilies can be your best friend when decorating with a lace theme.

Use them to make envelopes, incorporate them into your invitations, even make flowers with them.  The possibilities are endless.

source: oncewed

From: Martha

Make a pretty garland strand, seen here to the right using paper doilies and other odds and ends. 

Don't want to drape the doilies across a ceiling or wall?  Hang them from the ceiling for an ethereal effect on your venue.

Looking for an idea for your table numbers?  Mimic the pretty lacy envelopes, by using this similar idea as above from Martha.

Looking for something exciting for your Cake table?  How about a soft doily covered table?



While this table was custom made, you can do something quite similar and with an even more dramatic effect. 

Source: LynneRutter

What you'll need:
- Purchase two large round pieces of plexiglass or two pieces of real glass.
- Find a bunch of doilies (lace or paper will do)
- Get at least 4 solid acrylic blocks or cylinders about 3" in width and an 1" or two in height
- Purchase some string lights or battery operated candles (tea lights).

Assembly:
-Place your doilies sandwiched between your two pieces of the plexi / glass piece.
- scatter your acrylic blocks/ cylinder on the table in a pattern that is evenly spaced around.
- Lay out your string lights or battery operated tea lights over the table.
- Place your sandwiched doily plexi / glass tabletop on top of the acrylic blocks.

Viola! you have a pretty glowing table scape to place your cake or even your place cards on.

Maid of Honor / Best Man Speech Tips & Sample

Are you about to make a Maid of Honor or Best Man speech and forgot your notes?  Maybe you're a procrastinator and thinking while in the limo to the church "how the heck am I going to say anything halfway good now” ?   Don't panic.  I've got some tips and a speech guide below to help you write a dang good speech well though out before, or even last minute.

Important Tips to Remember

1. Don't get too drunk.  I went to one wedding where the Maid of Honor got trashed before the speech.  It was a complete horror show when she got up and started giving her speech.  Don't make the same mistake.
2. Don't make it long-winded.  Short and sweet speeches are memorable, to the point and won't be the bane of everyone's night
3. Think about your audience.  While all the groomsmen might have thought it was hilarious that the groom threw a block of ice at a homeless man when he was 13, it might horrify your guests and embarrass the groom.  Refrain from telling stories that could embarass or make someone upset.
4. Don't make public any upset or dislike you have for any party.  If say, you hate the groom, don't mention it or be rude or mean in your speech.  Think about what the root of the problem is beforehand.  Are you jealous? Are you actually concerned for the welfare of the Bride because you know something she doesn't?  If you have a real concern, airing these issues at the wedding will be too late and you'll look like a jerk.

Quick Speech Guide to help you build a better Maid of Honor / Best Man Speech

1. How long you and the bride/groom have been friends
Include a couple of funny stories to emphasise the bond.
2. When or how he/she met the bride/groom.
Maybe you were afraid you were going to lose your friend or your friend spent a lot of time with their new S/O
3. How your fears were unfounded, the bride/groom is pretty cool and knows how to share.
4. How far from losing a friend, you have gained another one (bride/groom)
5. Wish everyone well, especially the couple.
6. Thank them both for being great friends.
7. Enjoy the applause.