Signature Cocktails

I’m very detail-oriented, so I love adding that extra special little touch. A little personalization goes a long way. A new trend that I have witnessed among weddings is the idea of a signature cocktail. A signature drink can serve to enhance your wedding theme, colors, and even compliment the bride and groom as a couple. Our venue is very accommodating to the types of drinks and alcohol we want offered at our reception, but it is always a good idea to check with your venue to verify the option of providing a signature cocktail. Some event venue bars are not equipped with knowledgeable bartenders that will be able to accurately make the signature drink, and some venues will not accommodate special requests.

Think a signature cocktail is right for you? How do you choose one?

• You may be surprised to find that you may already have a signature cocktail or drink. Think back to the last time you went to dinner together. Do you like to order the same drink over and over again?
• Color -- Unlike flowers, almost any color can be recreated in liquid form.
• Liquor -- What is your favorite spirit? Use that as a base for the drink.
• Always offer a non-alcoholic version of the signature drink for children are guests who do not drink.
• Personalize it! Change the name to something that relates to you as a couple or after a place that is meaningful in your relationship.

Are you a free-spirited couple? Offering a signature drink is a fun idea that breaks the mold of traditional wedding receptions. Even your signature drink can be non-traditional. Make up your own recipe (try it first!) or use a lesser-known recipe.

My Choice:

The Purple People Eater

2 oz Grape Vodka
1/2 oz Grenadine
1/2 oz Blue Curacao

Shake and strain into tall glass. Garnish with berries.

Choosing Colors

Many couples spend a lot of time debating over a wedding color scheme. Yes, you should choose colors that you like and compliment you as a couple, but a variety of different factors come into play and have to be considered. A few tips and questions:

• Does your color scheme compliment your venue? Things that cannot be changed, such as paint color and carpet, should be taken into account.
• Is your color choice appropriate for the season? Some colors and color shades are more appropriate during a specific season. Pastels, for example, are not the best choice for fall or winter.
• Does your color choice reflect the mood of your event?
• Choose exact hues by visiting a fabric shop or paint store. If you say your dominant color is purple, there are a variety of ways in which that can be interpreted. Eggplant, plum, or wine offer a more specific shade.
• Apply your colors to paper. Envision how they will look on invitations and programs.
• Not all flowers come in a variety of colors and shades. If you are settled on a particular flower, try to plan around the colors of the flower and realize what colors offer more floral options or limitations.
• Tie it all together -- Make your color choice consistent.
• Think of your bridal party! What colors are more flattering than others?

So, what is my color palette?
To be quite honest, our color choice evolved from a conversation in a bar after a friend’s wedding. The best way to get inspired is to attend other weddings. What did they do that you liked? What didn’t you like? This wasn’t really such a significant decision for us. Like many aspects of planning, it is different for every couple. Much of what we have planned has naturally evolved over the course of our relationship. We are very much attuned to each other’s tastes and creative directions.

Although we are getting married in spring, we chose a more dramatic color scheme: eggplant, silver/grey, and black. Below is an inspiration board created using dessy.com.

The inspiration board is a really fun tool that can also be useful in getting your ideas all together to see how they interact and compliment each other.

Dinnerware: What Style Fits You?

Selecting wedding china can be one of the first steps a couple takes in defining their collective style. What seems like a simple decision can actually be somewhat complex. Are you traditional? Contemporary? Vintage? Artistic? What image do you want your china to reflect? Of course, the amount of thought placed into this decision usually relates to the amount of entertaining a couple plans on doing. A more elegant style may be appropriate for hosting special family events, while a modern style may be more appropriate for intimate, casual occasions. Click here for more advice on selecting wedding china.

Apparently, the average couple should register for 10-12 five-piece place settings. However, since we probably will not entertain large groups of people, Alex and I will request 8-10 place settings.

Since I was a child, I have loved the Fiesta Dinnerware collection. Now, it wouldn't technically be considered china, since the collection is made of glazed ceramic. Although the line was introduced in 1936, the art feco style of the collection appears very modern and eclectic. The current collection offers 26 different colors. Since we prefer a more relaxed, contemporary style, we will not register for one particular color. We will mix and match the various shades to create a unique group of colors. Even place settings can be mixed and matched.

Cup of Joe in Cedar Falls, one of my favorite coffee shops,
also serves their food and drink on Fiesta Dinnerware.

For a more formal setting, Alex and I will also inherit pieces of fine china from my dad's vast collection of Farmer's Rose, one of Porsgrund's oldest and best known patterns, made with feldspar porcelain and accented with 24 karat gold. The pattern is based on the rosemaling heritage of the Telemark province in Norway. Out of all of my dad's Norwegian china collections, Farmers Rose has always been my favorite.

In addition to the Farmers Rose, Alex and I have also admired my dad's collection of Kongetinn, literally translated to "Royal Pewter." The pewter line of flatware is designed based on the Viking escapades of King Olav the Holy. The Scandinavian king and his men are featured on the flatware handles.

We also enjoy the Kristin collection from Fjord Design, which is inspired by traditional Norwegian wood carving.