Wine and Your Wedding

If you have a venue that lets you bring your own wine don't forget to figure in the cost of the corkage fee. Some venues charge as much as $10-20 dollars per bottle! While this seems steep, don't forget to figure in the cost differential. So if you figure the venue markup for wine, possibly as much as 60% of the cost, you can save yourself some money buying a $15 bottle of wine and paying the corkage fee. So don't be shy about asking what their corkage fee is before making this important decision. Also consider asking your store for a discount for buying in bulk and/or the convenience of returning any wine not opened after the wedding. Depending on where you live you may be able to buy from an adjoining state and save by avoiding sales tax or paying a lower tax. Don't throw away money just because you're uncomfortable asking, this could save you money you'd rather spend elsewhere!

Also for some reason most wines venues choose are domestic, and you can usually get a better buy by purchasing an imported wine of a similar quality. Chilean Sauvignon Blanc or some nice Sicilian vintages are available for as little as $10. Often a comparable domestic wine is going to cost you 5-10 dollars more.

Refreshing Fruit Teas

Get a Sampler of E-Natural Fruit Tea

These natural fruit teas come by the case (24 bottles/case) and it offers you a chance to have tastes of a variety of teas.  These refreshing teas are great for an outdoor wedding.  Photo from: http://www.itoen.com/lemon/index.cfm?sp=product&id=282, please note the varieties of teas changes with availablity, so ask before you order.  $36.00/case of 24.  Bottles are 16.9 fluid ounces, and the case has six of each variety.

Signature Wedding Tea

If you are having a wedding in a park or a venue that doesn't allow you to serve alcohol, or you choose to have an alcohol free wedding, try serving this great tea blend. You can find tins of it available at http://www.harney.com/. Or elect to hand tins of Wedding Tea out as favors to each couple at your wedding. This elegant tea is a special blend created for your special event. Mutan White tea, with a touch of lemon-vanilla to taste, pink rosebuds and petals blended together to please and refresh your guests. Serve iced in a pretty pitcher or larger urn.

Better Half Premium Drink Mixes

                Photo courtesy of  http://www.betterhalfmix.com/

This mix uses real fruit juices instead of substituting sugar.  Better Half Premium Cocktail Mix is diabetic friendly, gluten free and low in calories and carbs but still contains more real fruit juice than any traditional cocktail mix! This remarkable mix was born when two brothers from Texas were looking for a healthy, better tasting mix alternative to the sugar filled fakes currently on the market. Frustrated and determined to change the status quo, they concocted the first batch of Better Half to create margaritas for a party. Their guests urged the guys to share their blended cocktail mix with health-conscience party-goers everywhere. The rest is history.  Better Half Premium Cocktain Mix is available online, their website is http://www.betterhalfmix.com/.

Looking for Non-Alcoholic Drinks for Your Wedding?

Photo courtesy of http://www.lorina.com/

Why not try Lorina Sparkling Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Orangeade, Blueberry Lemonade or French Berry? Just put it on ice and enjoy! If you visit their web site you'll find their non-alcoholic drink recipes at: http://www.lorina.com/.

Make Some Raspberry Limeade

This bright dark pink drink will be refreshing even on the hottest of days!

Raspberry Limeade


1 c fresh or frozen raspberries

1/3 – 1/2 c simple syrup*

3 juicy limes, juiced

5 c cold water



Puree the raspberries and put juice into a pitcher. Discard seeds. Add in lime juice and simple syrup and cold water. Stir and taste making any adjustments to sweetener or lime juice. Serve over ice.

* Simple syrup is an equal mixture of water and white sugar combined over heat to make a syrup. It’s simple! I usually take 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar and mix them over medium-high heat until it just starts to boil. Once it completely melted, remove from heat and cool. I store it in a jar in the fridge to use for all kinds of drinks.

Recipe and photo courtesy of: everybodylikessandwiches.com

Chiara Drink Coolers

(Courtesy of NapaStyle.com)

Half the fun of serving ice-cold lemonade or non-alcoholic tropical punch is seeing it. This elevated square glass dispenser showcases colorful fruit-filled concoctions to full effect. An elevated base is hollow, so you can keep fresh lemons, oranges or extra ice underneath. The spigots are stainless steel, so you can even use them for olive oil. Thick, smooth-finished glass. Hand wash. Imported. Small 7 x 7 x 19" h. (holds 1¾ gallons). Large, 7 x 7 x 26½" h. (holds 3 gallons).  $199.00 - $299.00