Our friend Jonathon Pogash, the Cocktail Guru, has some great wedding signature drink ideas he shared with us for you winter brides or for anyone having a holiday party for that matter. Here’s what he had to say when we asked him about signature drinks for winter weddings…
Winter cocktails are on my mind right now. And I always love integrating those winter ingredients into my cocktails, and encouraging brides and grooms to continue serving cocktails, even if their weddings are in the winter months like January or February. It’s really just a matter of getting creative and sourcing out those winter fruits and herbs that go remarkably well in cocktails (pears, apples, cranberries, spices, maple syrup, etc). Serving a warm hot toddy infused with a local whiskey, or peanut butter hot chocolate spiked with your favorite rum is a nice touch.
For some additional inspiration he put together a couple of videos to give you some signature drink ideas and keep scrolling down because he also provided some great signature drink recipes for you to use!
Here are some winter signature drink recipes below. There’s also a non-alcoholic cocktail recipe, which should always be an option for those non-drinking guests.
Winter Rum Punch **can be made in large batch-form**
2 parts Flor de Cana Rum
1 part apple cider
1 part Benedictine or Orange liqueur
1/2 part maple syrup
1/2 part fresh lemon juice or grapefruit juice
Directions: Combine ingredients in a punch bowl. Add ice when ready to serve, and stir well. Ladle into punch glasses.
Garnish: candy canes and freshly grated nutmeg
Cranberry Spice Sparkler (served at Bookmarks Lounge, NYC) 5 fresh cranberries
1 tsp. agave nectar
Splash of fresh lemon juice
1 pinch pumpkin pie spice (store-bought)
4 oz. sparkling wine
Directions: In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the cranberries and pie spice in the agave and fresh lemon juice. Then add ice and sparkling wine and stir briefly to incorporate. Strain into a chilled champagne flute. Top w/ extra splash of sparkling wine.
Garnish: 3 floating cranberries
Spiced Pear Sparkler (served at soon-to-be-opened Harmony Harlem, NYC) 3/4 oz. Pear puree
1/2 oz. clove syrup**
3 oz. Sparkling Wine (Veuve du Vernay)
Directions: Add ingredients to a mixing glass with ice and stir briefly to incorporate. Strain into a chilled champagne flute and top w/ extra splash of sparkling wine.
Garnish: 1 star anise
**clove syrup is made by dissolving 1 cup demerara sugar in 1 cup water, along with 1 tsp. dried cloves. Allow sugar to dissolve, and simmer for 15 mins. Strain out cloves and chill.
Cranberry Spice Sangria (served at The Carnegie Club, NYC)
5 cranberries
1 tsp. agave nectar
1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice
Pinch of pumpkin pie spice
1/2 oz. Brandy
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
2 oz. Malbec wine
Directions: Muddle the cranberries in the lemon and agave. Then add remaining ingredients and shake very well with ice. Strain over new ice into a wine glass.
Garnish: chopped apples and cranberries
Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa (served at Bookmarks Lounge, NYC) 1 oz. Castries Peanut Crème Liqueur
3/4 oz. 10 Cane Rum
1 heaping tsp. gourmet hot cocoa mix (already sweetened)
1 cup steamed milk
Directions: In a hot toddy glass or mug, combine ingredients with milk and stir very well until cocoa is dissolved. Add milk foam on top, if available.
Garnish: mini marshmallows and dusting of cocoa mix
Tea Cider Sparkler (non-alcoholic) 1/2 oz chamomile-cinnamon tea syrup**
Splash of fresh lemon juice
3 oz. Non-alcoholic sparkling cider (Martinelli’s)
Directions: Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice and stir briefly. Strain into chilled champagne flute. Add extra splash of cider on top.
Garnish: chamomile flower and/or lemon peel
**chamomile-cinnamon syrup: dissolve equal parts white sugar and water over heat. Once dissolved, add 1 chamomile tea bag and 3 cinnamon sticks per 1 cup water to mixture. Allow to simmer for 5 mins, then remove tea bag(s). Then continue simmering for approx. 10 more mins. Remove cinnamon sticks and chill.
I just had to see what the Disney Wedding Pavilion was all about. So during a quick overnight trip with my husband to Epcot for the food and wine festival, I had the perfect excuse to go. We hopped a tram early the next morning over to the Grand Floridian Hotel, which is within walking distance to the Disney Wedding Pavilion, to get an insider’s view.
First let me start by saying the Grand Floridian is true to its name. It certainly is grand. Another way to accurately describe it would be extremely child friendly; not surprising considering it is in Disney.
This is a picture of the lobby of the Grand Floridian. It is hard to tell from the picture but it was buzzing with activity. There were families everywhere and there were children gathered around the televisions in the lobby watching Disney cartoons.
To be honest at first I was skeptical. I kept thinking how can you have a wedding in the midst of all the crowds and chaos of the parks? But after a short walk to the Disney Wedding Pavilion it was a completely different atmosphere. It was surprisingly very peaceful. My husband and I were lucky enough to run into two friendly staff members who gave us permission to wander in and around the chapel.
Disney thought of everything when they designed the Wedding Pavilion. They lined up the aisle and the window behind the alter perfectly with Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom. They also lined up the photo location outside the pavilion with the castle. Inside they have a waiting area for the groom and grooms men and a waiting/dressing area for the bride and bridesmaids is right across from the chapel. They even built in remote control cameras at various locations around the chapel so the ceremony could be filmed from every angle. When it comes down to it, you can count on Disney to do things first-class.
I think this would be a lovely idea for a destination wedding especially if many of your guests have children.
Finally, if you haven’t seen it, Cinderella’s Castle at Disney World is lit up for the holidays. I had to include a picture of it!
Happy Thanksgiving to ALL of you!! I’m not sure if my love for all things autumn is due to the fact that I was born in the fall or because I grew up in what I consider to be the Autumn capital of the world, New England.
So this post is in honor of this glorious season.
I once made a Thanksgiving centerpiece that reminds me much of these wedding bouquets. Luckily we lived by a beautifully wooded area which was bursting in color. My little boy and I took a long walk collecting branches full of yellow, red, an orange leaves. We also found some trees with gorgeous orange berries and clipped some branches from it. I filled the bottom of the vase with cranberries (I think I got this tip from Martha) and water. It really turned out beautiful and we ended up sending it home with our guests as a gift. It is a wonderful way to keep those little guys who are home from school, and want to “help”, busy and feeling very much a part of the celebration.
If your having a fall wedding take advantage of the seasons foliage! Include the oranges, greens, and browns. I love how the color of the bridesmaid dresses above blend with the beautiful bouquets. Maybe include centerpieces with berries like the one shown here. The best part is, as I mentioned, these are not difficult to make which might save you some money!
Well, as promised here are the Wedding Day tips from Kimara Ahnert and I went a step further and requested a sample of her products and they arrived yesterday! I received the Chamomile Eye Makeup Remover Pads which I used last night and they are everything they claim to be. One pad easily removed all my make-up and they are gentle enough for even my very sensitive eyes.I also received the White Pencil. This is Kimara’s secret to bigger and brighter looking eyes, she suggests you apply to the inside lower rim of the eye for added brightness and definition. So, I tried that too, and she is right, it was INSTANT brightness (I love my “job”). This tip is also included in the how to’s for “taking a foolproof picture.” I have a few more items to try like the Powdered Rice Paper Blotters which by the way are included in her Bridal Beauty Essentials Kit shown above. I personally think this would make a great gift for a bride-to-be. However I am very interested in the Holiday Shimmer Duo I just may have to order this kit, all in the name of research, of course.
Wedding Day Tips:
Lipstick so it’s KISSPROOF: First blend a layer of foundation onto your lips, then apply lipliner in a color that resembles your lipstick, apply lipstick, then apply a lipsealer on top to set.
Always use a little more makeup (not excessive) than you usually would on a normal day. For example you could, apply a little more blush or use bronzer, line your top eye lid with a liquid smudgeproof liner, apply false lashes or use more than just one swipe of mascara. I always recommend a test run of any new or different makeup before the big day, as this will create less stress on the actual day of the wedding.
If you have a dark complexion then you will need to select a makeup color palette that includes deeper, richer colors. To avoid an ashy look avoid foundations that are too light for your skin tone and that also have too many blue and red undertones.
When you have fair skin you will want to avoid colors that are too dark, as they will make your skin look even paler then it already is. Your best colors are going to be soft, natural, earth tones. Pastel colors also look beautiful on fair skin.
When you have medium skin tone select roses and tawnys . This skin tone also looks nice in jewel tones
Here is one more of Kimara’s great tips for taking a foolproof picture that I wanted to share:
To maximize your smile, brush lips with a toothbrush to exfoliate and create a fuller pout. Then line lips outside of the natural lip-line, fill with your favorite lipstick and dab a pearlized gloss to the center of the lip for added “VaVoom”
You may remember I was stuck out in the Mojave Desert for three years, and although it felt like I was living in the middle of nowhere, it did come with some advantages. For instance, Los Angeles was just an hour and a half away, which made it the perfect choice for our frequent weekend getaways. And boy, did we find every excuse to take a quick trip to LA to indulge in the “finer things in life!” You can check out some of my posts from the past about Valerie’s Salon in Beverly Hills or Kate Somerville’s salon, where I saw Paris Hilton (btw, she is beautiful even without makeup).
Okay, enough about the past, it is time to start looking to the future. I am living on the east coast now and I’m on a mission to find ALL the luxury it has to offer, and where better to start than, “The Big Apple.”
I was recently contacted by Kimara Ahnert’s Makeup Studio in New York City, and it looks AMAZING! They say it is like walking into a lavish home which exudes warmth and comfort. It sure doesn’t sound like the standard make-up counter. Kimara’s Studio handles the makeup for over 300 weddings per year! I understand they also provide make-up lessons if you want to learn how to do it yourself. Kimara also has custom designed a professional make-up and skin care line and has a long list of celebrity clients including Catherine Zeta Jones, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tinsley Mortimer, Amanda Peet, Vendela, Brooke Shields, Tara Reid, Marlo Thomas, Patricia Neal, Marla Maples, Jordana Brewster, Melanie Griffith, Alexandra von Furstenberg, Christie Brinkley, Daphne Rubin Vega, Emme, Isabella Rossellini and Tipper Gore. I highly recommend you browse her website and be sure to take a look at the wedding album; the brides look flawless and not overdone. I’m planning a trip to NYC early next year and I’ll make sure to include a visit to check it out.
Kimara is featured in the December issue of O, The Oprah Magazine in an editorial titled “Pretty, Quick.” She provides makeup tips for giving eyes a lift and she was also kind enough to share 5 wedding day tips with me which I will post soon!
What a wonderful way to say THANK YOU to our troops!!
I am writing this post with immense gratitude to all the organizations that came together for Weddings for Warriors on Veteran’s Day in Savannah Ga. This was an event, spearheaded by the Savannah Weddings and Tourism Council, to provide free wedding ceremonies to active duty military.
And as part of their ongoing partnership with Operation Homefront designer Alfred Angelo donated the beautiful bridal gowns for the event. Now I’m not sure if any of you know this but I was active duty Air force for eight years so I speak from experience. And I am pretty certain the service women (although, wear their uniform with great pride) didn’t mind trading it in for a little while to wear one of your beautiful gowns. So special thanks to Alfred Angelo because I am sure you helped create some “pretty” amazing memories.
And in addition Alfred Angelo announced a Military Discount for service women and brides of service men in June 2009. Military brides will be offered a 15% discount on any Alfred Angelo bridal gown purchased at an Alfred Angelo-owned flagship bridal store. As an extra bonus, military brides can also take advantage of $25 off bridesmaid gowns at the time of their bridal gown purchase. A valid military ID is necessary for all purchases.
There’s a really big wedding invitation sale coming up at Urbanity that will last only 2 days. If you use Coupon Code:DEAL09 on November 17th and 18th 2009 you will get 50% off of any order over $75! This sale is only available on those 2 days!
This sale covers any of their products, not just wedding invitations…
• Holiday Photo Cards
• Personalized stationery for friends and neighbors
• Christmas invitations for your upcoming soireé
• Fun note cards for stocking stuffers
Here are some of my favorite invitations from Urbanity. They have a bunch of unique designs for every occasion. And, remember the message in a bottle invitation by Urbanity was name one of Oprah’s favorites too!
The unique wineglass invitation is one that you print at home. I think it would make a great bachelorette party invitation or even a bridal shower invitation.
I added a few of these to the Our Wedding Plus Wedding Invitations Page if you want more information or you can click one of these links below…
Those personalized wedding M&M’s are sure popular! Personalized Wedding M&M’s are a very unique way to personalize your wedding and they make great Wedding Favors. To find out more about these unique wedding M&M’s and how you can use them as wedding favors, check out my recent post Personalized Wedding M&M’s.
The good news is My M&M’s is having a sale on Personalized Wedding M&M’s. But you have to act quick! The sale ends December 12th 2009! See the links below. Just click on them to take advantage of this sale!
Does everyone remember the movie 27 Dresses? Poor Katherine Heigl got stuck with all those hideous bridesmaid dresses which were impossible to ever envision wearing again. Well, having been a maid of honor three times and a bridesmaid once I happen to know a little about the subject. The best advice I can give every bride is to be kind and considerate of their bridesmaids. Choose gowns that not only flatter their figures but also something they like, and can RE-USE! Here’s a few bridesmaid dresses from Vera Wang’s “Maid to Order” collection
Vera’s bridesmaid dress collection is a Win-Win for the bride and the bridesmaid! And the best part is these gowns are not only gorgeous, they are affordable. Just remember they are “maid- to- order” so they require up to nine weeks for delivery. Check them out at Vera Wang’s website… Shop VeraWang.com
Vera Wang has become as famous as her celebrity clients. We all know Vera Wang has designed bridal gowns for Ivanka Trump, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, and of course the Vera Wang Bridal Gown in the Sex in the City photo shoot scene, just to name a few. But did you also know it is possible for even us non-celebrities to make the trip down the aisle in one of her luxurious designs? Many of her dresses range from $2,000 to $7,000 which is not to far off of what many middle-class brides spend on their gowns.
I highly encourage you to visit her website, if nothing else but for inspiration. She has impeccable taste and she offers advice which any bride will find helpful.
And of course here’s my top pick, the Vera Wang Devon. You can find it on her website! Shop VeraWang.com
I think this would be a lovely idea for a destination wedding especially if many of your guests have children.
Those personalized wedding M&M’s are sure popular! Personalized Wedding M&M’s are a very unique way to personalize your wedding and they make great 
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