There's nothing more cosmopolitan than an event with a signature drink. Picking a decadent cocktail for your wedding day is a small step to elevate the party and let your guests know you've put thought and care into every small detail!

1/ The Look

If you go through the whole process of picking your perfect cocktail, you'll probably want it to look good in photos! Consider your wedding theme, colour scheme and venue when deciding on what you'll serve and how you'll serve it. You might go crazy for a Moscow mule, but it's not the best choice for a light summer garden wedding. Be creative with the presentation! Stemware plays a significant role in the presentation of a cocktail; if you want to give your drinks a dynamic aesthetic, start the search for decadent glasses that compliment the vibe of your venue.

Sanaz Photography

2/ The Taste

This is obvious: this is something made to be consumed, so it must taste good. What you might have to consider, though, is the flavour profile of the food you're serving, the weather outside and the drink limit. Warm and spicy rum-based drinks work perfectly for a cool Autumn night but would be pretty overpowering for a warm summer day; conversely, if your meal is rich and exquisite, then serving a heavy, creamy drink like a white Russian runs the risk of ruining your guest's appetite before the reception dinner.

Madison Emily Hare Photography

3/ The Preparation

Remember that your bartender will make quite a few of these drinks for your guests. If you've only hired one bartender for the whole event, concocting a drink that requires five steps of preparation will significantly slow down the speed of service and increase the pressure on the bartender as orders pile up! Discuss beforehand the preparations that can be done in advance, and research products you can buy yourself to save yourself the hassle later.

Johnny Miller

4/ The Party

If your wedding guest list is comprised of primarily non-drinkers, parents with children or a whole convent of nuns, then be realistic about the amount of booze you'll need on the day; you don't want to drop a wad of cash on decadent cocktails if only a quarter of your guests will partake in them! Before you start putting down deposits for a fleet of bartenders or signing the contract with your venue for an alcohol-less event, do a little reconnaissance into your guests to determine the ideal balance. If your friends are mad partiers but your family are a little more reserved, then take note of this and keep the cocktail hour slightly watered so your nanny doesn't have to babysit your drunk bridal party throughout the dinner.

Samm Blake Wedding

5/ The Options

Not everybody likes cocktails, and some people don't even like alcohol. You need to give your guests other drink options so the mood around your signature drink doesn't sour. A really great option is to avoid the open bar before the dinner and have cocktails, water, and champagne as " free-to-grab" drinks for the guests.

Heidi O Photo

- Gráinne