Wedding Favours Canada» Cocktails Wedding Favours

Cocktail Wedding Receptions – by the Wedding Expert

Angela — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:15:20 +0000

It is becoming more and more popular to have a cocktail wedding reception instead of a traditional sit-down meal wedding reception. Most cocktail wedding receptions are held from 5 to 7 pm or from 9 pm to midnight. I am finding more and more couples are now having their wedding ceremony at 7 pm, followed by a cocktail reception, or a champagne and dessert (cake) reception.

The 5 pm to 7 pm receptions tend to be in locations like an art gallery with jazz or classical music. The later cocktail reception from 9 pm or so, tend to have music and dancing for the entire evening.

When having a cocktail wedding reception, it is important to say that on the invitation. Where it says ‘reception to follow’, you would say what type of reception will follow. In this case, it would be ‘cocktail reception to follow’.

Although cocktail receptions are usually less costly than a dinner reception, if you go with a large number of hors d’ouevres, you could exceed a dinner reception in cost. So choose carefully.

Cocktails and Weddings

Stephanie — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:58:59 +0000

These can be samplers of specialty foods, such as blueberry preserves from Maine, Vermont Maple Syrup or more complex arrangements such as smoke salmon samplers if your wedding is in the Northwest. You also should highlight local food if possible in the food you offer during the cocktail party.

Foods offered at the party should be tailored to set a particular theme. Barbeque is always popular in the south, while lobster tail and clams always are a hit in New England. By featuring local food prepared by local restaurateurs, you will build immense good will; in fact, you should use local talent at your wedding as much as possible.

The local theme can be emphasized with the cocktail choices you offer as well. If you live in wine country, having a local vineyard wine sampling is always a hit. Most vineyards also offer samplers of their wine that you can give guests as they move onto the reception. One wedding in Tennessee featured samples of Jack Daniels Whiskey for any guest that wanted one.

Most of all, your cocktail party should be a time to relax and unwind. Make sure that you plan at least a few minutes to make a very brief appearance or to allow your wedding party to mingle. Also, provide plenty of food to keep your guests happy and non alcoholic choices.

By planning your Cocktail Theme Wedding Party carefully, you can use the party as a “bridge” between the wedding and the reception. Best of all, you give your guests something to do besides waiting for you and you provide a great opportunity for both sides of the new union to get to know each other.

How To Create A Wedding On A Budget

Angela — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:09:22 +0000

When you are planning your wedding, your first thought is of fairytale weddings, beautiful settings, and stunning wedding gowns. Then, reality kicks in with the thought of what it will cost. Do you need to give up your dream wedding because of the budget? No. It is possible to create a fairytale wedding, albeit with some alterations, on a small budget.The essentials of a wedding are: 1) the bride and groom, 2) the wedding license, 3) the officiate to perform the wedding, and 4) one or two witnesses (depending upon the legal requirements where you live). The wedding license has a fee of approximately $100 (depending upon where you live), and the officiate will need to be paid (which varies but is usually around $100 for a marriage commissioner, and around $250 if you are having a full service). Prices will vary in the area in which you live, so shop around.

After you have budgeted for these essentials, you will have to consider what kind of wedding you want to have: large or small, budget or lavish, ceremony & reception in the same place or separate, modern or traditional, religious or secular, formal or casual, local or destination, and what season you want your wedding in.

Once you know what style of wedding you are aiming for, then you can plan what you are going to wear in accordance with that choice. If you are planning to have a small wedding in your church, with the reception in the church hall, your wedding dress should reflect that choice. If you are planning a horse drawn carriage, and a more formal reception, your wedding dress will be more flamboyant to reflect that choice. If you are planning a winter wedding, you can choose a wedding dress that is of a heavier material like velvet, and have a fur muff. A summer wedding dress would have cloth more suitable to the hot weather, and for a destination wedding on a beach you might choose a knee-length or mid-calf dress length with glittering flip-flops instead of a full-length gown and high heeled shoes.

When planning your wedding attire, also include bridal jewellery and bridal accessories in your plan. A beautiful headpiece, necklace, and a set of earrings will elevate a simple gown into a more lavish and classic wedding ensemble. The appropriate undergarments, comfortable shoes, and a classic handbag to hold your essentials, round out your wedding attire.

Beyond the essentials of a wedding, there are additional elements that are standard in planning a wedding—but they can be done lavishly or on a budget. The main elements of a wedding are: wedding location, reception location, food/catering, invitation, music, flowers, cake, alcohol, wedding decorations and wedding favours, photography and videography.

The majority of weddings take place in a church, synagogue, or mosque. Each has it’s own traditions with costs associated with those traditions. If you were finding that the costs are too high for your budget, a viable option would be to have your religious leader perform the ceremony outside the church at another location. When this occurs, many of the usual traditions are put aside because those traditions are attached to the location. A simple wedding ceremony can take place where you are having your reception, without the pomp, ceremony and cost of a wedding that takes place in your place of worship. Be honest and candid with your religious leader when discussing your wedding budget. They will often accommodate your needs and your budget, and still give you that “dream” wedding ceremony you’ve always wanted.

If you are on a tight budget, you might opt for a cocktail party for a reception instead of a full sit down dinner. For example, if you had your wedding ceremony at 1 pm, your 3 pm reception can easily include hors d’oeuvres, champagne cocktails, and music at a fraction of the cost of a full meal. Get creative and have the cocktail reception at your local botanical gardens or some other garden site. This can be quite elegant with a small quartet playing classical music in one corner of the garden, and champagne, wine and hors d’oeuvres being served as guests slowly walk through the gardens. Strategically placed seating with small tables would make this a very comfortable and elegant affair at a fraction of the cost of a full sit down dinner.

With a little imagination, you can take the essential elements that make up a wedding, and recreate them in a way that reflects your personal style without spending more money that you want to.

Cocktails Wedding Favours – A Colorful Blend of Mementos For Your Guests!

Stephanie — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:46:04 +0000

Bridal couples who picked up a festive and colorful theme may have wanted a sort of night life gimmick atmosphere to their wedding reception. Summer night socializing at the beach or party bar ambience are some of the suggestions to get your party livelier and close to the guests’ interest, not to mention, match up with the location of the reception.

Social events such as this kind of themed wedding could be more relating with mixes of cocktail drinks that are now powdered and packed. Since it’s a ready-to-drink mix, you will not have to worry whether your guests would get a good drink or not, of course it’s tried and tasted, rather tested, so you are sure, they will love it! And since it’s packed, you can have it customized according to your preferred theme!

It’s so fun to share some cocktail wedding favours, you can design labels for the packing and choose the kind of mix that you think will match with the kind of people receiving it. If you want to incorporate a carefree, relaxing, laid-back lifestyle and a taste of paradise, then a tropical theme will be perfect! Share the enjoyment as you give out relaxing Caribbean delight with smooth sips of margarita, piña colada, long island iced tea and other tropical cocktail flavors. These kinds of drink can be personalized having the sachets contained on colorful pouches with some beach accessories. Another way is to case it in mini cocktail shakers for a more cosmopolitan feel! Shakers are sold on specialty shops and other kitchenware stores.

On the contrary, some outrageous couples would love a wilder retreat! Bring the taste of New York night clubs and Las Vegas glamour nights as you choose a metropolitan theme for your nuptial. Your cocktail wedding favours will then include martini, zombie, flavored colas, mojito and many more. Like the cosmopolitan theme, you can have your cocktail powder mix handy in sachets and personalize the labels when ordering online or do-it-yourself at home! Another way to place that personal touch is to provide customized recipes of these drinks presented in thin albums that will look like scrapbook. These will add on excitement as they mix and make their own drinks! One more packaging idea you can use is to put powder mix sachets in wide-mouth shot glass or cocktail glasses. Accessorize it with colored ribbons and pieces of glittered foils inside. Don’t forget to top off the brim with artificial fruit slices to further express the cocktail feel!

Aside from ready-mix cocktail powders, you can also buy some essential ingredients to make up a drink, together with these ingredients, include recipes of drink menu that they can make it themselves so they can bring the party home! A lot of syrups are available to mix up with other liquids to make up your own drink. Here are some of them and what refreshments they make out of:

Almond Cordial is milky-white syrup that’s perfect for mixing sweet cocktails like the Polynesian Mai Tai.
Simple syrup is used in various common mixed drinks like the Long Island Iced Tea, Mint Julep, and Planter’s Punch.
Red Passion Fruit Cordial Syrup is deep red, non-alcoholic cocktail syrup that has a basic cherry passion fruit flavor. This is used in many cocktail recipes like a Hurricane or a Tonga Punch. This syrup is also good for flavoring coffee and desserts topping.
Falernum Cocktail Mixer is a Caribbean favorite has flavors of lime, almond and ginger. Used in many rum-based drinks, it is also great with gin, vodka and bourbon.
Orange Flower Water is a fragrant distillation of orange blossoms used to spice up mixed drinks. With this, you can make the New Orleans Fizz, Ramos Fizz and Orange Flower Cocktail.
These ingredients are all available in long neck bottles which you can accessorize in different ways. A simple yet special treat for all drink lovers who wish to share the special moment with, these cocktail wedding favours will definitely be a part of a romantic and thrilling experience!