FOOD + DRINK
“ A summer wedding is a great moment to move beyond traditional drinks like Champagne, beer and standard cocktails. The season naturally supports lighter, more creative and refreshing options.”
- William Lewis, owner of The First Furlong
There are certain things synonymous with a wedding, and the Champagne reception is one of them. When we think of weddings, we think of raising a glass of bubbles to the happy couple – but is fizz starting to fizzle out when it comes to wedding receptions?
There will always be a place for sparkling wine at a wedding – after all, it’ s a drink that’ s renowned for being celebratory. But, that doesn’ t mean it has to be the default drink you pick for your wedding day.
Now that summer’ s here, wedding dining and drinks are having a refresh. In food, couples switch out heavy, hearty dishes for lighter, simpler dishes, so why shouldn’ t beverages follow suit? What if, instead of the traditional beer and wine offering, you opted for something with a seasonal twist?
Swapping out fizz doesn’ t need to be complicated. In fact, many alternatives are quick to make and can look even more aesthetically pleasing in photos. Plus, some even contain fresh fruit – nutritious and delicious, it’ s the perfect recipe …
Switch to Spritz
“ Spritz-style drinks such as Elderflower or Aperol are light, bubbly cocktails that are hugely popular for summer weddings because they’ re refreshing and easy to sip” explains William Lewis, owner of mobile bar The First Furlong.
The word‘ cocktail’ might sound complex, but these drinks actually have very few ingredients so they’ re easy to make and are great crowd-pleasers too. Aperol Spritz is officially the UK’ s favourite cocktail, and it’ s thought a lot of that comes down to its vibrant orange hue. Basically, it looks great in photos so if you want to get some cool drink shots, this cocktail is the way to go.
Pass the Pimm’ s
Pimm’ s is another classic favourite that screams summer – and it’ s another great alternative to fizz for your reception.
“ One of our favourites at The First Furlong is what we like to call‘ Posh Pimm’ s” says William.“ Made from just two simple ingredients – damson gin liqueur, lengthened with Fever-Tree White Grape & Apricot Soda – it’ s served over ice and finished with a fresh fruit garnish. It’ s also extremely quick to make, making it ideal for serving large numbers of guests without slowing down the bar. The result is a light, refreshing drink that feels both elegant and effortless.”
Make Mine a Margarita
Once a 1970s favourite, the margarita has had a major comeback – and it’ s become a top choice for weddings too. Thanks to its simplicity( it’ s just tequila, lime juice and orange liquor) it’ s easy to mix up, can be elevated using garnishes, can be served frozen( perfect for a hot summer wedding) and can even be spiced up with chilli salt or jalapenos. It’ s probably no surprise that the margarita is now the world’ s most popular cocktail – and we reckon it’ ll be in-demand at weddings too.
Finesse Your Fizz
If you can’ t imagine having your drinks reception without a flute of fizz in hand, then swap standard Prosecco for something more elevated.“ Prosecco is still hugely popular, but rather than serving it on its own, couples are increasingly adding a twist – such as Bellinis, spritzes, or fruit garnishes – to make welcome drinks feel more personal,” says William. wedinkent. co. uk • 125