Your wedding cocktail hour may not be high on of your planning list, but it’s your chance to get creative and let your personalities shine as you set the tone for your reception.

When choosing cocktails, choose drinks with no more than four elements and use fresh-squeezed juices, seasonal herbs, and home-made syrups. For your signature cocktail, you can match it to your color scheme or let it reflect your personalities (as a couple or individual). This can be as simple as a fruit syrup at the bottom of a glass to which guests can add the water, soft drink, wine or spirit of their choice. Have some garnishes that guests can add to create their perfect drink.

Cocktail marriages

The latest trend for cocktails has grown from the ‘his’ and ‘her’ drink selections to the symbolic two cocktails becoming one. Here are three recipes for you to name and to try:

Drink 1

Groom’s drink

2 oz. rye whiskey

2 1/2 oz. homemade sour mix

Ice

Maraschino cherry, for garnish

Combine both ingredients in a shaker with ice. Shake vigorously for up to a minute or until frothy. Strain over ice into a glass and garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Bride’s drink

1 cup malbec

1/2 oz. brandy

1/2 oz. orange liqueur

2 oz. pink grapefruit juice

2 oz. pineapple juice

Ice

Fresh fruit, for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a shaker full of ice, then shake well. Strain into a wine glass full of ice and garnish with fresh fruit slices.

The married couple’s drink

Fill a tall glass with ice and begin to pour in the whiskey sour, leaving about an inch of room at the top. Next, slowly pour red sangria to layer on top of the whiskey sour. Do not mix. Garnish with cherries.

Drink 2

Groom’s drink

1.5 oz. St-Germain elderflower liquor

5 oz. brut champagne

Pour elderflower liquor into bottom of champagne flute. Fill the remainder of the glass with the brut champagne of your choice.

Bride’s drink

1 pink lemon

1/2 oz. simple syrup

2 oz. Hendrick’s gin

Ice

Club soda

Lemon, for garnish

Combine the juice of one pink lemon, simple syrup and gin in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake to combine and strain over ice into a glass. Top with club soda. Serve with a lemon wheel.

The married couple’s drink

In a stemmed champagne flute gently pour equal parts of both drinks. Allow to settle and garnish with sage and a lemon twist.

Drink 3

Groom’s drink:

Session IPA or seasonal pale ale

Bride’s drink:

1.5 oz. vodka

2 oz. peach nectar

1 oz. orange juice

Ice

Club soda

Combine vodka, peach nectar and orange juice in a shaker with ice. Shake to combine, strain over ice and top with club soda.

The married couple’s drink

Slowly pour equal parts beer and Peach Belle into a large stemless wine glass full of ice. Garnish with a slice of fresh peach.