7 Ways to Come Up with Badass Names for Your Signature Cocktails

Photo by Treebird PhotographyStuck on a stellar name for your signature drink? Get the ideas flowing with these tips!Posted to Brides.com on May 7, 2018 by Jillian KramerComing up with signature wedding drink names is a fun way to liven up your cocktail hour. However, if you put too much pressure on yourselves to be clever and cute, it can get stressful, says Amy Nichols, owner of Amy Nichols Special Events and cofounder of the Poppy Group. "Brides and grooms want their guests to know they've thought of their enjoyment when selecting a signature cocktail," she explains. But crafting signature drink names doesn't have to be overwhelming. With these tips, it'll be a breeze—and hopefully fun.1. Consult with the BartenderWho better to help you name your mixed drink than the bartender who will serve it up to your guests? Ask him or her what the key ingredients are, how it's prepared, and how it's served to spark inspiration, suggests Nichols. "All of that information could give you some ideas for a fun name," she says.2. Incorporate Wedding WordsWhen in doubt, toss in a wedding word to give your go-to drink that just-married factor. An Old Fashioned becomes a Something Old Fashioned. Then there's a Bloody Marry Me, an Apple-y Ever After Martini, and, well, you get the point. Rather than picking any ol' cocktail, start your search for the right beverage by brainstorming cocktails with ingredients you love, then use those flavors for your name, says Jaclyn Fisher, owner of Two Little Birds Planning in Philadelphia. "Vodka Rosemary Lemonade could be Vodka Rose-Marry Me Lemonade," she says, "or Spiked Apple Cider could be renamed Apple of My Eye."There's also a beverage called the Blushing Bride that is already fit for a wedding, Fisher points out, made with champagne, fruit nectar, and grenadine.3. Take Your Guests on a TripYou don't have to throw a destination wedding to take your guests to a new locale. Use your signature drink as a way to celebrate a city you love, or a time period that intrigues you, Nichols suggests. "Use the influences of your dream locale to help you make the selection of your signature cocktail's name," she says.Of course, if you are throwing a destination fête, you can use your wedding spot as inspiration too. This could mean naming the drink after the actual locale (e.g. a Sparkling Charleston Cosmopolitan), drawing inspiration from the surrounding culture (e.g. a Southern Belle-Ini) or putting a twist on the name of an already popular drink in the area. So for a Southern-style wedding, you might want to serve up a Sweet Tease (sweet tea vodka, lemonade, and so on).4. Be Playful, But Not. Too. PlayfulWhile you want to surprise and delight your guests with your cocktail's name, you don't want to make it such a tongue twister that they'll have no clue what they're drinking, warns Fisher. "While drink names should be playful, they should also be descriptive so guests know what they're drinking," she says. In addition to placing a sign with the drink's ingredients at the bar, consider including the main ingredient or alcohol in the cocktail's name for clarity.5. Incorporate the SeasonJust as your wedding's season informed the details of your wedding—your 'maids won't be wearing short dresses in the dead of winter—so, too, can it help you with cocktail names. "For weddings in summer months, stick with something cool and refreshing like a Moscow Mule, named the Marry Me Mule," says Fisher. "Signature cocktails and their names should be reflective of the season."6. Make It PersonalYour wedding is the one day it should be all about you (and, of course, your fiancé too)! Use your own names (and nicknames), or incorporate your new, shared last name! Likewise you can incorporate words associated with your favorite hobbies and sports, the name of your pet, or anything you like to make the signature drink names really reflect who the two of you are.7. Tie in Your Wedding ThemeLet your wedding theme and/or color scheme dictate the name of your drinks. Colors are particularly easy, plus there are a ton of fun options to choose from. Keep it simple with a Something Blue, Pretty in Pink, Purple Passion, Mellow Yellow, or a Sweet Peach Punch. For a fresh, farm to table signature drink name, try a Greenhouse Tonic or a Cucumber Collins with fresh ingredients to match, naturally. Throwing a garden party-themed wedding? Think floral-inspired cocktails adorned with lavender sprigs.Creativity is encouraged!