Fancy Gelatin Shots
Photo: Christina Holmes
If you thought jelly shots were only meant for college dorms, guess again. These bite-size gelatin libations are all grown up. We arranged (from left) jellied mango lemon drops, cherry acai slings, guava sidecars, and banana coladas on a simple tray, but you can also serve them on a bed of berries, shredded coconut, or sliced fruit. Pass them as a hands-free alternative to a signature drink during cocktail hour or have your caterer distribute them on the dance floor.
Give the farmhouse staple an epicurean upgrade by sliding Sugared Cranberries onto stir sticks (why should martini olives have all the fun?). To cater to drinkers young and old, offer a nonalcoholic batch and one with some extra kick, thanks to a nip of bourbon or dark rum.
A cocktail hour is even more celebratory with signature drinks dedicated to the bride and groom. Serve the Golden Groom and Blushing Bride in highball and martini glasses; stamped napkins let guests know the names of each drink.
This warm wintry cocktail not only fits the theme of a snowy wedding, it fits a crisp color palette as well.
Revelers can make your signature drink at home when you print its recipe on napkins from The Stationery Studio. Still searching for the right libation? Try our Sweet Pear, a wintry mix of peach nectar, bourbon, and sage.
Greet guests arriving for a chilly-weather wedding with a warm cocktail, such as this spiced cranberry drink fortified with port. A cinnamon stick is a flavorful stirrer.
Give bubbly a boost with jewel-like cranberry-, pomegranate-, and apricot-infused sugar cubes. Working in batches, soak cubes in a bowl of fruit concentrate or puree until completely saturated. Remove with a fork, and place on a wire rack (don't let them touch); let dry overnight. Present cubes at a Champagne bar, or serve them in passed drinks. The sweet, tangy taste will keep guests sipping long after the toasts.
Made with citrus-flavored vodka and triple sec, these Citrus Martinis celebrate winter, when citrus fruits are at their peak -- although their color and light flavor would make them refreshing in the summer as well. Vibrant candied clementines (available at Italian markets) give guests a hint of the drink's flavor, while the garnish provides a sweet contrast to the pleasingly tart liquor. Beaded picks match the bright hue of the fruit; use orange scalloped note cards as coasters.
The name of this classic drink makes it quite fitting for a wedding. A mix of apple brandy, Benedictine (an herb-and-spice-based spirit originally made by monks), and lemon juice, it is flavorful and delicious.
Tiny roses add an elegant detail to your Champagne toast. To make the garnishes, insert a toothpick into the base of each blossom at an angle of a little less than 45 degrees. Cut the stems cleanly about 1 inch shorter than the length of the toothpick; you may have to adjust length depending on the weight of the bloom. Place each toothpick just inside of a rim, letting the roses balance delicately on top.
Start Over
Visit other Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia sites:
© 2011 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.



Comments