One of the hot trends for weddings is to serve your guests signature wedding drinks. These could be your favorites as a couple, drinks that match your wedding theme and/or colors {like the inspiration board below}, or even drinks each of you like {offered as his and hers}. Today I have a lemon yellow cocktail recipe to share with you along with the perfectly coordinated wedding inspiration board featuring all handmade items.

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Courvoisier Sidecar

Ingredients:
2 parts Courvoisier® VSOP cognac
1/2 part lemon juice
1/5 part sugar syrup
1/2 orange liqueur

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and shake hard for a short time.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

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Handmade Wedding Shopping Resources:
grey vintage inspired dress by Fleet Collection | love birds wedding cake topper by A Sweet Reverie | yellow and silver grey beaded necklace by Kim Smith Jewelry Designs | grey and yellow brooch bouquet by Sol Bijou | grey and yellow flower scrolls wedding invitation by Creative by Me Invites | yellow leaf garland by Penny Line | flower girl dress from Juju's Tutus, photo by Diana Elizabeth Photography | personalized Cosmetic Bag by Sandra Smith Handmade | yellow heart fabric bunting by Atomic Ant Design

soft grey vintage inspired dress | perfect for bridesmaids | from Fleet Collection on etsy www.etsy.com/shop/FleetCollection | as seen on www.brendasweddingblog.com

grey and yellow love birds wedding cake topper | from Sweet Reverie on etsy www.etsy.com/shop/asweetreverie | as seen on www.brendasweddingblog.com

This morning we're starting the day off with a great guest blog from Ross who works at a London based mobile bar company.  He's here to tell us about a great way to make your wedding unique by carrying the wedding theme you’re exploring (or have already chosen) right through to the drinks. He writes . . . "I like consistency; it really adds an extra touch to offer a special cocktail that matches the colour scheme, décor or feeling you’re trying to create." And, now here's Ross with more . . .

Classic Mojito, Shade Hotel Wedding

Holding your wedding in the city gives you the possibility of having an urban glamour theme. I envision a modern and clean décor at a restaurant or hotel with lots of light, and then serving Lechee Martinis as an option. You could also go with my personal favourite the Comopolitian; its name and sweet taste give it a glam feeling. There’s always the Classic Mojito made with white rum, sugar, lime juice, sparkling water and mint. It has a clean taste with a mint and lime garish, making it look fresh with an upscale allure. 

Sunflower Centerpiece, Fig Sidecar, Bulleit Manhattan

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi to an autumn romance theme. I love the idea of designing a decor with the colours of the changing leaves: deep reds, pumpkin oranges and earthy browns. The sunflower centerpieces will go nicely with the Bulleit Manhattan you can serve. This cocktail is a perfect blend of bourbon whiskey and sweet vermouth with a maraschino cherry at the bottom. The Fig Sidecar is a beautiful red that will match your theme and has a seasonal flavour. Make things romantic with Love in a Glass, it’s not a cheap option as the original recipe includes GreyGoose Vodka; however, there are always substitutes. It also includes two liqueurs making it both delicious and its name will go well with the intimate atmosphere you're planning.

Vintage Dress, Martini, Vintage Shabby Chic Cake

Imagine having a vintage chic wedding and offering your guests old time classics with an added element of sophistication. I picture a dress with lace and short, white gloves, and a reception with soft colours and a black and white wedding cake. Serving a Tom Collins could be your something old, as it’s been around at least since 1876. You could also choose the smooth taste of a Gin Rickey, first created by a bartender in Washington, DC. There’s always the classic Dirty Martini, which has been popular for seventy years and for good reason. Made with gin, vermouth and garnished with a lemon (or olive), the dirty martini has a clean look to it that will match the elegant theme you're creating. 

Then there’s the wedding theme that never gets old: tropical beach. This can be done in part by choosing a destination wedding in a warm climate; or it can be created with decorations that include seashells, starfish and sand. I would go with classics like the Alabama Slammer or Paradise as they are colourful and fun. If you want to go a bit fancier, I wouldn’t go with a Pina Colada (too cliché), but go with the Bahama Mama Sunrise or Hawaiian Island Sunset instead. 

Just remember that whichever drink you choose to match your themed wedding, it’s bound to wow your friends and family as they celebrate the union with you and your partner. 

Ross works for www.hirethebarman.co.uk, a London based mobile bar company. At weekends he tries to escape the city and loves going surfing on the dramatic Welsh coast.

A fun little round-up for the first Friday in June as we gear up for lots of summer weddings. There's sure to be lots of congratulations and toasting, so here's just a few of the latest choices for weddings drinks . . .

2013 Samuel Adams Brewlywed Ale : Housed in a beautiful corked bottle, this beer is a distinct and complex brew. It offers layers of flavor including fruit and honeysuckle notes from the Belgian yeast, sweetness from malt and citrus character from hops. Samuel Adams is inviting all brides, grooms, couples, recently engaged and recently married (or anyone looking for a unique, beyond-the-registry gift) to line up to purchase one of only 500 cases of Samuel Adams Brewlywed Ale that is available for purchase on just one day {$14.99 per bottle}. This one day event will be on Wednesday, June 26th at the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston from 9am to 1 pm {attendees can begin lining up at 7am}.

Barrymore Wines : This wine was created by actress Drew Barrymore and the first offering for this new label is a Pinot Grigio that was inspired by her love of Italian culture. It's a straw yellow, full-bodied wine with hints of fresh apricot and lively citrus flavors. A portion of the proceeds from the purchase of this wine will benefit Barrymore related charities {retails for $19.99}.

VOGA Italia's "Baby Sparkling" wine : These personal sized, mini sparkling wine is perfect for favors and comes in chic packaging. The bottles retail for $5.99 and you can simply tie a ribbon and thank you tag that coordinates with your party colors. 

LeSUTRA Sparkling Liqueur : This sparkling liqueur infused with premium vodka is a fun alternative to champagne and prices at less than $20 a bottle. It uses a white wine base and four natural sparkling flavors that include Grape, Strawberry, Blueberry and Peach. The LeSUTRA bottle features a fleur-de-lis print and vibrant colors to pair perfectly with popular wedding schemes. The flavors can even be mixed together to create colors outside the pink, orange, blue and purple.

Today is an exciting day on the blog as I'm thrilled to introduce you to a brand new monthly contributor on Brenda's Wedding Blog. Please meet Michelle who will be joining us each month with a brand new signature cocktail recipe. Michelle is from a small town in Upstate NY whose personal passion is for DIY projects, cooking and wellness. Please join me in welcoming Michelle and enjoy today's signature cocktail which is perfect for the warmer months heading our way. I will now turn the blog over to Michelle . . .

The wonderful thing about cocktails is that you can literally make anything you want, once you know what ingredients go together. You can be as creative as you like with cocktails. Often, at parties and weddings, we can come across cocktails, which are interesting and unique, and we can't wait until the next wedding and the next wonderful unique cocktail we might encounter. Some of the fun of going to a wedding is sampling these new concoctions. But, with a little creativity you don't have to wait. You can invent your own signature cocktail.

One essential ingredient for cocktail enthusiasts is simple syrup. You could make a bottle of simple syrup yourself at home and store in the fridge for anytime you want to make cocktails. It adds a delicious sweetness and thick consistency to some cocktails. To make your own simple syrup, you need two parts water, one part sugar. Bring your water to the boil on the stove. Add the sugar and dissolve, stirring all the while. Remove from the boil as soon as the sugar is dissolved. Allow it to cool and then bottle it and keep in the fridge. Below is a sample recipe for an Orange Sunrise Cocktail you could easily make at home. Don't be afraid to experiment with your cocktails and add whatever you like to this recipe, a small leaf of mint, or maybe try brandy instead of tequila.

Ingredients:
6 oz. orange juice
1 tsp simple syrup
1 1/4 oz. tequila
1 tsp grenadine
1 slice of lime

Method:
Combine orange juice, simple syrup and tequila. Pour 2/3 over ice in a glass. Mix grenadine with your remaining mixture and slowly pour into the glass. Add anything else you think might work with your signature cocktail and garnish with a slice of lime.

There you have it: a simple recipe for a delicious cocktail. Play around with drinks and different ideas and see if you can create your own creative characteristic cocktail. Why not hold your own cocktail party and let your guests invent their own drinks? Or hold a dinner party and serve up some of your creative concoctions? So get inventing and most of all, have fun.

When the weather turns chilly, it's a great time to greet your guests at the reception with a warm drink. And, a cocktail that is both "skinny" and warm is sure to delight your attendants. Here are two recipes from Everyday Health that are perfect for the winter months ahead.

To see even more skinny cocktail recipes, please be sure to visit Everyday Health.