Drink Up

give wedding day spirits a special touch

“Cheers! Salud! Prost!” We all have a preferred way of drinking to the health of family and friends. What better time to toast life and love than at a wedding? Let’s look at beverage ideas, large and small, adult and kidfriendly, to bolster a day brimming with drink infused merriment.

At the reception, lead with refreshments. During cocktail hour, greet guests with personalized drink glasses doubling as place cards. Try attaching a miniature nametag to paper straws or scrawl names on chalkboardstyle stickers and stick them on rustic mason jars. Another way to individualize the drinking experience: tiny bottles of champagne waiting at each table. Wedding favors for each guest might also be drinkable. If you’re a coffeeloving couple, gift a small bag of coffee grounds labeled “the perfect blend” or “love is brewing.”

To give potables even more personality, ask the bartender to create a signature drink for the bride and groom. Be sure to call the drink something clever, like “Marry Me

abigailmiles.com Martini,” “Something Blue Punch,” or, a play on the couple’s last name. For a bride and groom who don’t agree on beverages, go for His and Her drinks…perhaps pink sangria (“Blushing Bride”) and a blue margarita (“Blue-eyed Groom”). If you’re connoisseurs of a particular type of alcohol, then create an entire focal table dedicated to your spirits of choice. Add a fun touch to the table with handmade signs: “Whiskey for the boys!” or “Eat, drink, and be married!” And if you want things to get really personal (and your venue allows bringing in alcohol), be your own bartender. Pre-mix drinks in mason jars and keep them on ice. Or, if brewing is your thing, brew your own beer. It doesn’t get much more unique than that!

Beyond booze, incorporate nonalcoholic refreshments so that there’s a little something for everyone. Kegs of root beer are fun for the kids. Large jugs of lemonade are not only thirst quenching at a summertime wedding, but they also make for a very pretty picture. When it’s time for dessert or a late night second wind, consider a coffee bar complete with flavor shots and donut pops as stirring straws. In the winter months, a hot cacao bar with all the marshmallow trimmings and peppermint stick trappings leaves a warm, lasting impression.

Want an even more unique-factor? Try soaking fruit in spirits! Popular combinations include champagne soaked berries and tequila-soaked watermelon wedges. Aside from fruit, any gummy candy can also soak up spirits for a yummy treat your guests are sure to be buzzing about long after the boozy gummy-bear buzz has worn off. B

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TIME TO CELEBRATE

IT’S NITTY-GRITTY TIME

LOCATION. Will your wedding ceremony be at the same location as your reception? This option has become more common since it’s convenient and assures more guests at the ceremony. If so, does the property have a separate area for ceremonies? If not, how do they handle the turnaround? Is there an area for cocktails and appetizers in between to bridge the time?

Consider the distance between the ceremony and reception locations. Is it more than a 30-minute drive? That’s asking a lot of your guests. If the distance to your reception is lengthy, if the place is difficult to find, or if the spot is inconvenient (say, located near a baseball stadium on game day), transportation should be provided.

SIZE AND LAYOUT. You’ve already eliminated sites that are too small for your guest list, but you should still make sure your friends and family have plenty of room to mix and mingle, rather than bump shoulders. Will the entire reception take place in one room, or will there be a separate space for cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing? As you look at spaces, think about where to situate the tables, dance floor, DJ, etc.

PRIVACY. Public spaces such as county parks won’t close for your reception. Bear in mind that a wandering local might stumble upon your party! Or if your venue has multiple event spaces (such as a hotel with several ballrooms), find out if there will be another party going on at the same time as yours. Make sure there is enough separation between the event spaces, so the two parties don’t interfere.

PARKING. Confirm there is ample, well-lit, and convenient parking for your guests. If there isn’t, find out if a valet or shuttle service is available.

TECHNICAL DETAILS. Whether you’re planning to have a DJ or live band, ask about possible restrictions on the type, volume, or duration of music. Confirm that there’s adequate power and electrical outlets for speakers, mixers, and amplifiers. Acoustics is another consideration. It’s not uncommon for a venue’s coordinator to invite future brides and grooms to stop by a scheduled wedding to get a feel for sound levels and acoustics. If this is a real concern for you, just ask if you can do a drop-in. Odds are the site coordinator will be welcoming.

ROOM DÉCOR. Sites can range from modern and dramatic to rather neutral. Pay attention to the permanent decorations and fixtures. Do

the flooring, wall color, window treatments, and artwork suit the style and season of your wedding? Is it a room with a view? If photography is of great importance to you, search online for professional photos from weddings staged in the space. Does it photograph well? SERVICES OFFERED. With each site you visit, note what’s included. Whether it’s big things like catering and waitstaff or details like candles and breath mints in the bathroom. Also bear in mind that the included services greatly impact whether a reception site fits within your budget. An affordable venue that doesn’t include any furnishings, for instance, might not be so affordable in the end. Once your reception location and details are locked in, the remaining decisions will flow a bit easier. B Transform your Special Day into a Dream Come True

Your beautiful day on a beautiful bay. With a backdrop only nature can provide. Our staff will be delighted to work with you to create a your unique Door County wedding. Enjoy generous hospitality while celebrating your special union. Make it memorable. Make it yours at the Landmark Resort.

4929 Landmark Dr | Egg Harbor, WI 800-273-7877

thelandmarkresort.com

Celebrate in a venue as unique as the two of you!

The EAA Aviation Museum features indoor and outdoor, one-of-a-kind ceremony and reception spaces with stunning backdrops.

Call 920-426-4800 or email Events@EAA.org for availability.

Visit EAA.org/TieTheKnot for more information.

3000 Poberezny Road Oshkosh, Wisconsin

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TIPS FOR CREATING YOUR OWN wedding website

1. FREE IS THE BEST

Many sites offer free website services.

2. MAKE IT NEED-TO-KNOW + A LITTLE EXTRA

There are 2 reasons to make a wedding website. One is to give guests need-toknow info that may not be included on the invite. The second reason is to add more information that guests will want to know, like suggested attire.

3. DON’T HOLD BACK WHEN

DISPLAYING REGISTRY DETAILS

You can add links directly to your registries.

4. ADD PERSONAL DETAILS

Let visitors get to know you better by giving them a little bit of background on yourself and your soon-to-be spouse.

How you met, your engagement story and include pictures.

5. FAR AWAY FRIENDS & FAMILY

WILL THANK YOU

Post logistical details for guests making travel plans.

6. DON’T FORGET TO PROOFREAD

You don’t want your guests to get lost!