#SignatureSaturdays :: Raspberry Twist & Green Apple Lemonade

Spring is upon us, so I'm feeling the fruity and flowery flavors! Smirnoff shares fab cocktail recipes on their social media, and that's where I found these two spring worthy fruity cocktails! Check out their Instagram at @smirnoffus for more amazing cocktail ideas! (must be 21 or over)

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Green Apple Lemonade
1.5 oz Smirnoff Green Apple
4 oz lemonade
Garnish with apple slices
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Raspberry Twist
1.5 oz Smirnoff Raspberry
0.25 oz fresh lemon juice
2 dashes of bitters
1 oz lemon-lime soda
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Planning Tips :: Tips for an Outdoor Summer Wedding

Frozen Drinks & Lighter Food
Choose cool refreshing food for the cocktail hour, appetizers and even dinner options. Frozen beverages can serve as your signature cocktail and keep guests cooled down at the same time. Even cold bottled water provided at an outdoor ceremony is a refreshing chill for your guests on a hot day!

Extreme Cuisine Catering

Opt for Light Fabrics & Skip the Train
Take the heat into consideration when selecting your dress (and brdesmaids dresses and gentlemen's suits). Choose something light that breathes to ensure everyone is comfortable. Also, forego the long train if your ceremony will be outdoors. It will only gather grass stains and other unsightly debris..

David Loi Studios

Keep Your Guests Cool & Protected
If you're having an outdoor summer wedding, make plans to keep your guests cool while they enjoy your outdoor affair. Hand held paper fans (these can even double as ceremony programs), hand held battery powered fans, rented A/C units or misting fans, bottled water, parasols & umbrellas, sunscreen, bug spray....keep your location in mind and keep your guests comfortable. There are many options available so get creative! At one of our June weddings there was a bucket of iced down popsicles at the ceremony, and an ice cream truck parked outside the reception for the guests! Everyone absolutely loved it!

Penguin Perry's Ice Cream Sandwich Truck

Keep the Cake Cool
If you're having an outdoor reception, be sure to have a plan arranged to keep your cake cool until it's needed for photos, cutting and serving. A cake will quickly melt and wilt in extreme temps, so make sure to keep it safe from the heat! Look into naked cakes with minimum frosting for outdoor soirees.

Michell Events

#SignatureSaturdays :: Let-Freedom-Rita!

"Let-Freedom-Rita" this 4th of July!

To make the rim, combine 1/2 sugar, 1/2 salt, a few drops of blue food coloring and mix. Wet the edge of the glass and roll in rim mix to coat the rim.

Drop a few fresh raspberries in the bottom of the glass and add one shot grenadine, fill the glass with ice, pour two shots Milagro silver tequila gently over the ice, then pour lemonade gently over that nearly filling the glass, top it off with one shot Blue Curacao liqueur and fresh blueberries. Cheers!

Cocktail from @Cockeyed_Cocktails on Instagram.

Check out their page for more cocktails!

#SignatureSaturday :: Deep Eddy Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer with Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka

1 oz. Deep Eddy Lemon Vodka
2 oz. Iced Tea
Lemon Slice for Garnish
Mint Garnish Optional

Arnold Palmer with Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka

1 oz. Deep Eddy Sweet Tea Vodka
2 oz. Fresh Lemonade
Lemon Slice for Garnish
Mint Garnish Optional

Cocktail from Deep Eddy Vodka on Instagram

#SignatureSaturdays :: Lemonade Punch

1.5 oz Smirnoff Raspberry
3 oz Lemonade
Garnish with fresh raspberries, peaches and mint leaves


Cocktail from @javiontherocks

#SignatureSaturday :: Bootleg Cocktail

1) Blend together limeade concentrate, lemonade concentrate, and fresh mint (like a lot) to create your “bootleg mix”.

2) Fill a glass with ice, add vodka, throw a generous dollop of that bootleg mix in, top with club soda & garnish with a lime!

3) Pretend you’re in paradise & thank me later!

Instagram post from @reallifebyrebeccalynn

#SignatureSaturday :: Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade

I ran across this beverage on Instagram and had to share for #signaturesaturday - Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade! This drink is lovely, and perfect cocktail for serving in a mason jar! Thanks for sharing, @bottleswithbrynne!

- 2 oz Bulleit Bourbon
- 2 oz Lemon Juice
- 1 oz Blackberry Purée (Strained)
- 1 oz Simple Syrup
- Dash aromatic bitters
- Dash of sparkling wine
- Mint to garnish
- Blackberries to garnish
- Lemon slices to garnish

Enjoy!!

Source: @bottleswithbrynne

5 Ways to Greet Guests in Style

Greet your guests with an unexpected surprise as they arrive at your ceremony or reception. A small special touch will go a long way! You want your guests to feel comfortable, welcomed, and appreciated, so add a special touch that they will remember!

Greet them with a cocktail or mocktail. If you're having an outdoor summer wedding, set up a cute table with mason jars of iced lemonade and straws. If you're having a more elegant indoor affair, greet them with a white gloved server and a silver tray of champagne flutes containing a special champagne cocktail created specifically for your wedding.

 

Photo by Steven Mastroianni

Provide interactive entertainment. Photo and video booths make for great entertainment and give your guests something to do during your cocktail hour. You can incorporate your guest book with the photo booth, so when guests arrive they can take a photo and put in the book as they sign. You can even provide props that go with the theme of your wedding! A caricature artist is always a great form of entertainment. Even those who don't want their own photo drawn enjoy watching the artist draw others. A strolling magician is another great idea to keep guests of all ages entertained. 

 Photo by Boothographers

Have games and icebreakers available. It usually happens that there are guests at the wedding who don't know everyone, so create a fun game of ice breaker questions about your and your groom-to-be that will get your guests talking. It will be an entertaining conversation starter! Games like cornhole and horseshoes are great for outdoor events. You can also provide a few casino games, whether it's renting a roulette table or simply putting dice on the cocktail tables.

Photo from RootWeddings.com

Hire live musicians. Whether you have a harpist or a string trio for your ceremony, or a jazz trio for your cocktail hour, live musicians create a festive ambiance for your wedding. We've had tropical themed weddings with steel drummers, trumpet fanfare as guests arrive, and even bagpipers! Make it different than the normal unnoticeable background music and your guests will be sure to take notice.

Photo by Michéll Events

Provide a "sugar rush" to get the party started. Candy stations and buffets are very popular with children and adults alike! The candy buffet can be designed in your wedding colors to add to the decor of the room, and providing take home bags for the guests will create an interactive favor station for everyone to participate in. Provide scoops and tongs, label each different candy with a sign , and get creative with the setup using jars, bowls and vases.....your guests will enjoy the pre-party boost!

Photo by Michéll Events

DIY :: Free Backyard Party Templates

Here are some fabulous free templates to use for your backyard spring/summer party or shower! Stir sticks, colorful banners and lemonade labels!

Click here for the Stir Sticks Template 

Style Me Pretty

Click here for the Banner Template
Martha Stewart Weddings

Click here for the Lemonade Labels Template
Marry You Me