Wedding Wednesdays: Get Creative with Cocktails

Who doesn't love a good cocktail? Especially when the setting is all about love anyways. Get creative with these Spring-y cocktails for your bridal shower, bachelorette party, or even the big day! Love is in the air and in your glass with these tasty treats. Cheers!

Pretty Pops

Sparkling wine or champagne, the secret ingredient in these homemade frozen fruit treats, adds a little effervescence that makes them extra-special. Serve them in tall, stemless glasses filled with champagne to infuse a little strawberry flavor into the drink. The frozen pops also serve as giant ice cubes to keep you and your guests cool on a hot day.

Sparkling Strawberry-Grapefruit Pops
Makes 6 ice pops

Ingredients
1.5 cups fresh strawberries, chopped (or 3 shots of strawberry puree), plus extra slices for garnish
7.5 oz. (or 5 shots) champagne or sparkling wine
3.75 oz. (or 2.5 shots) pink grapefruit juice
3.75 oz. (or 2.5 shots) simple syrup

Recipe
Blend the strawberries in blender until smooth. In a pitcher, stir the fresh strawberry puree, champagne, grapefruit juice and simple syrup together. Pour into prepared molds, add sliced fresh strawberries, and freeze until solid (at least 6 hours).

Bubbly Bar

First of all, we love the idea of these lemon-stoppers! They are the perfect touch for a springtime gathering. Set the bar or bar cart with bottles of champagne, carafes of fresh juices, and berry and citrus peel garnishes. Guests will love mixing up their own take on a mimosa or bellini. Since it's kind of like an open bar, set something up for guests who prefer not to indulge. Fill a beverage dispenser with refreshing cucumber-mint water and you won't have to keep refilling glasses throughout the day.

The Blushing Bride

Just the perfect name for a cocktail at one of these love filled events. We recommend serving it in an elegant stemmed coupe for a little Gatsby appeal. Be sure to keep it chilled with square cubes that fit well in the glass!

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients
2 oz. passion-fruit nectar
3 oz. champagne
1/2 tsp. grenadine
Handful of raspberries (or any berries in season)

Recipe
Pour chilled passion-fruit nectar in a coupe glass or flute. Carefully add chilled champagne and grenadine; don't stir, but allow to blend. Add an oversize ice cube and a raspberry garnish.

Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice

If you want to heat things up a little, we recommend this fabulous cocktail. Mix rose sparkling wine, bitters and this unexpected garnish: jalapeno slices! Also glassware with textured lines really creates a slightly offbeat but stylish vibe, just like the cocktail. The balance of flavors is just right, so even if you're not a spice fan, you'll be surprised by how drinkable it is. It may be best to let guests control the spice by adding the jalapeno slices themselves.

Makes 1 drink

Ingredients
2 oz. pink lemonade
2 dashes Meyer lemon bitters
3 oz. rose sparkling wine
1 fresh jalapeno, sliced

Recipe
Pour the pink lemonade over ice. Add the Meyer lemon bitters and top off with sparkling rose. Garnish with a slice of fresh jalapeno for a hint of heat.

We're so ready for these springtime cocktails! Hope they inspire you to devour the details of the cocktails at your bridal shower, bachelorette party, or the big day itself! Cheers!