Bottle Your Own Infused Water

Planning an outdoor wedding for next summer? Looking for a cool way for your guests to quench their thirst that's non-alcoholic? How about some infused water?  This idea is courtesy of the great entertaining site Cupcakes and Cashmere, head over to see the rest of the fabulous ideas for entertaining your guests.

This infused water is easy to make--just add some lemon, mint, orange or other flavor to the water, let it steep, and bottle it!

Bottles can be obtained at Sur La Table.  Then make some simple tags and voila! Gourmet infused water to put on each table at your wedding.  Guests can choose their favorite flavor and enjoy a cool drink.

Have Your Ever Tried An Italian Margarita?

If you love Margaritas but want an Italian slant on one, try Italian Margaritas.  You can find the recipe on  Mrs. Cummings web site.  As you can see from her photo below she is "The Cocktail Queen!"

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Cummings Rx (link below)

As a lover of all things amaretto I just couldn't resist sharing her idea for a twist on the traditional margarita. 

Head over to Mrs. Cummings Rx, her web site, where you'll find the recipe for Italian Margarita's as well as other creative options for signature drinks for your wedding.  Try her Muchacha Rosado or Mango Mojito.  As you explore her site you're sure to find a use for every bottle in your home bar! (And some you don't have but will run out to purchase just to try out her recipes!)

Van Gogh Vodka Styles Signature Drinks

Van Gogh Vodkas help brides design and style signature drinks for their wedding that taste and look good.  Their varieties of flavors, colors and uses all make Van Gogh Vodkas the go to product for wedding signature drinks.

Shaken News Daily reported that as if Van Gogh Vodka wasn't popular enough before, it's new spokesperson, Cooking Chanel celebrity chef Nadia G is sure to up the brand visability. Nadia will create signature cocktails and provide her unique knowledge of flavors and food to the “world of the young, dynamic women who comprise the brand’s key consumer constituency.” Van Gogh Vodka’s flavor portfolio currently features 19 different flavors, and new extensions Rich Dark Chocolate and Cool Peach are expected to launch this fall.

Looking for something blue? Try Van Gogh's Summer Breeze.

Van Gogh Summer Breeze

2 oz Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry
1 oz Agave Nectar
1 oz Sauvignon Blanc
Blueberries for Garnish

How about the rich taste of chocolate truffles? Van Gogh's Dutch Chocolate Vodka is a masterpiece!


Triple Chocolate Truffle

2 oz Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate

½ oz Chocolate Liqueur

½ Creme de Cacao

½ Cream

Or are you a bride who loves pink and is looking for a tropical drink? How about making a Cool Breeze using Van Gogh's Coconut Vodka.

Cool Breeze

2½ Van Gogh Coconut

½ oz orange juice

½ oz cranberry juice

For more dink recipes visit Van Gogh's web site and click on their various flavors of vodka for recipes for the most dedicated consumer.

Fragoli Liqueuer--Handpicked Wild Strawberry Liqueur Perfect for Weddings

Fall in love with Fragoli, a liqueur made with handpicked wild strawberries! Perfect for a signature drink for a wedding or wedding shower or to serve as an option at the bar at your wedding.  Fragoli offers ideas for drinks made from their liqueur on their web page and on their facebook page.  Love those pieces of strawberries floating in my drink!

Butter Beer? You Put WHAT in Your Beer?

Having a autumn or Thanksgiving wedding? Butter Beer from 15 Romolo is a perfect signature cocktail! What? You've never had Butter Beer? Give it a try this weekend. Serve Butter Beer as your signature drink at your wedding.  It's pumpkin butter gives it a flavor that's perfect for fall weddings. 

Butter Beer is a combination of Black Bottle Scotch, pumpkin butter, hot water, Port Brewing Company's Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout foam (mix stout with ½ tsp. fruit pectin in whipped-cream canister). Combine Black Bottle scotch and pumpkin butter in a heated mug. Then add hot water, swirl, and top with foam. Recipe and photo courtesy of Daily Candy and 15 Romolo.

News: Champagne Demand Rises & So Do Prices

As the demand for champagne around the world increases, prices in the United States are set to move up, and brides from coast to coast scramble to either increase their budget or find a substitute to serve at their wedding.

 Increased demand for the bubbly from Brazil, Russia, India and China has put global Champagne supply under pressure right as the holiday season approaches.  Champagne brands are on now on allocation with in the run-up to the crucial holiday selling season, with hikes in prices scheduled for 2012.  

Emerging markets are showing increases, "with a 111% growth in the Mideast-Africa region since 2001, along with 150% growth in Asia-Pacific and a whopping 430% advance in Russia."

Jim Clerkin, president and CEO of Moët Hennessy USA, told Shanken News Daily that the "Champagne region is limited to 34,000 hectares and production of 320 million bottles,” he added. “It simply can’t go beyond that capacity." On allocation are brands "including the popular Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, Veuve Clicquot Rosé, Moët & Chandon Imperial Rosé and Nectar Imperial Rosé. Now that Champagne reserves are topped out, I will have more allocation issues next year.”

Clerkin cited sharp rises in the production costs of Champagne, grape costs rising by 97% in U.S. dollar terms from 2001 to 2010; vineyard land more than doubling in price during that period. Due to these factors Moët Hennessy will be increasing prices in its Champagne portfolio during the first half of 2012.

While other markets have allowed prices to rise consistently, the U.S. has not, so 2012 will see a significant rise in prices with the biggest hike on Moët & Chandon Imperial, which will see a double-digit percentage rise. Other brands in that portfolio will see single-digit percentage increases.  The precise level of hikes in prices is expected to be announced by Moët Hennessy USA in about four weeks.

Clerkin said "for the first time in 50 years, Champagne sales have rebounded strongly without overall economic recovery.” Luxuries have rebounded before other sectors.

So if you're a bride, consider pre-ordering at 2011 prices or substituting another sparkling wine for Champagne. 

Information from:
The Wine Spectator
Shanken News Daily

A Juice Bar at Your Wedding?

Having an afternoon wedding? Brunch wedding? Or just an alcohol-free wedding? Pretty juices lined up on a juice bar are both decorative and delicious.  Go sleek or a little more ornate, good, fresh juice is the key.

Choose from a variety of juices or smoothies, and don't forget, the presentation is almost as important as taste! A table full of assorted fruits vegetables and special add-ons will give your guests with their own personal Jamba Juice. Serve Orange juice, cranberry juice, grapefruit (either pink or regular), carrot juice, veggie combos, pineapple juice and more!

Then add some pretty straws from Etsy.com or make your own.  Add wedding slogans on the little flags and use straws in your wedding colors or just a pretty accent color. 

Photos: Brilliant Event Planning; The Wedding Bee; Etsy.com