Being Valentine’s Day, I thought this was the perfect time to chat about the cocktails I created for one of my very best friend’s weddings (hi Kels!). Kelsey was a super breezy bride (we came to refer to her as chillzilla), and her requests were few. Her fiancé, Joe, liked bourbon, and Kelsey wanted something with gin or vodka; other than that, it was up to me.
Dreaming up these wedding cocktails actually inspired the process I went through for my own wedding—and I even ended up stealing one of them! It was just too good. Seasonal ingredients played a big role, along with a couple special details (a maraschino cherry and a splash of champagne) that made them wedding-worthy.
They photographed beautifully and it was so fun to hear feedback directly from the guests about how much they loved them!
Here’s a great shot (below) from Kelsey and Joe’s wedding day, photographed by the fantastic Tanveer Badal, that just really makes me glow with pride that these turned out so great. Cheers to the happiest of days ahead in your life together, you two!
The Sortlandia
makes 1 cocktail
- 1.5 oz bourbon
- 2 oz pomegranate juice
- .75 oz lime juice
- .75 maraschino liqueur
- Luxardo maraschino cherries
Combine the first four ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake until very cold. Strain into a rocks glass with fresh ice. Top with a cherry!
The RAHNdezvous
makes 1 cocktail
- 1.5 oz vodka
- 1.5 oz lime juice
- 1 oz rosemary simple syrup
- Splash of champagne
Combine the first three ingredients in a shaker filled with ice. Shake until very cold. Strain into a coupe glass. Top with a splash of champagne.