{ideas | signature wedding cocktails to keep you cool}

Signature wedding cocktails are a fun way to personalize your wedding. It's also a good way to work around your budget if you're not able to do a full hosted bar.You can save on the drink tab by offering wine, beer, champagne, and just the signature cocktail, rather than a full bar.With the warm and sticky summer months upon us, I thought I should post some of my favorite signature wedding cocktails to keep you all cool.

Summer Fruit Sangria (courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Ingredients:

• 6 cups assorted fruits (such as mango, pineapple, cantaloupe, and apricot), sliced or cut into chunks
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced peeled fresh ginger
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh basil or mint leaves
• 1/2 cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
• 1 bottle crisp white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• Ice

Directions:

1. In a large bowl or pitcher, combine fruit, ginger, basil or mint, and orange liqueur. Mash gently with the back of a wooden spoon until basil is bruised and fruit releases juices. Add wine and lemon juice and stir to combine. Refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 1 day). To serve, fill eight glasses with ice and top with sangria.

Marital Bliss Cocktail (courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Ingredients:

• 2 parts gin (we used Hendrick's)
• 1/2 part St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur
• 1/2 part fresh lime juice
• 4 parts soda water to top off
• Lime slice or wedge for garnish
• Mint sprig, for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine gin, liqueur, and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice, and shake. Pour over ice in glass. Add soda water, and stir. Garnish with lime and mint.

Ciroc Lola (courtesy of Delish)

Ingredients:

• 1 ounce(s) Cîroc Vodka
• 1 1/2 ounce(s) pomegranate juice
• 1 teaspoon(s) elderflower liqueur
• 1  splash champagne
• 1  orchid blossom

Directions:

1. Stir all the ingredients over ice to chilled and strain into a pre-chilled cocktail glass.
2. Top with splash of champagne and garnish with a Sonya orchid or, if unavailable, another food-grade edible flower.

Cranberry Kiss (courtesy of Delish)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 ounce(s) Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum
• 2 ounce(s) collins mix
• 2 ounce(s) cranberry juice
• 1 wedge(s) lemon

Directions:

1. Add Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum, collins mix, and cranberry juice to ice-filled highball glass and stir.
2. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Smirnoff Lemon Drop Martini (courtesy of Delish)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 ounce(s) Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
• 1/4 ounce(s) triple sec
• 3/4 ounce(s) lemon juice

Directions:

1. In a shaker with ice, add Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka, triple sec, and lemon juice.
2. Shake well.