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Hot Cocktails for Your Winter Reception

It’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean your guests need to be. A fantastic wrap-up to a hearty and delicious reception meal is a nice hot drink from the bar with a touch of whipped cream, shaved chocolate or even a slice of apple as a garnish. Check out some of our favorite hot cocktails.

Hot Caramel Apple Cocktail

1 quart + 1 1/2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups Apple liqueur
1 cup spiced rum
1/2 cup caramel-flavored syrup
3 apples, chopped
4 cinnamon sticks

Place everything in the slow cooker. Cook on the low setting for 1-2 hours. Serve warm.

Tipsy Mochacchino

1 1/2 cups Milk
4 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon Instant Espresso or Coffee
4 ounces Irish Whiskey
Chocolate Sprinkles

Chocolate Whipped Cream

1 pint Heavy Cream
1/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (or to taste)
1 tablespoon Instant Espresso or Coffee
Sweetner to taste

Whisk milk, sugar, cocoa powder, espresso in a saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil. Add whiskey last. Pour into mugs. Top with mocha whipped cream & sprinkles.

Chocolate Whipped Cream

Add cream, cocoa, coffee powder & sweetener to a stand mixer bowl. Whisk on low for a few minutes until the cream starts to thicken. As it thickens increase the speed slightly, and then to maximum speed. Whip until you have nice peaks. Sweeten more to taste if necessary.

Mulled Wine

4 cups apple cider
1 (750-ml) bottle red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
¼ cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
Zest and juice of one orange
4 whole cloves
3 star anise
Peel of 4 oranges, for garnish

Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves and star anise in a large saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel and serve.

Maple-Fig Bourbon Hot Toddy

2 oz Bourbon
1 oz Fig-Infused Maple Syrup
1 oz Lemon Juice
6 oz Hot Water

To infuse the syrup, combine a cup of chopped figs, with the stems removed, and a cup of maple syrup in a sauce pan and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover. Let the syrup sit for about an hour, then strain out the figs and bottle the syrup. Combine the bourbon, maple, and lemon in a mug and add boiling water. Top with freshly grated nutmeg and garnish with a whole cinnamon stick.

Want your drinks to look even more beautiful? Check out the accessories at Best for Bride for something to add as a decoration to the bar, or even for the type of glass you’d like the drink served in!

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5 Must Haves for a Vintage Wedding

There are five things every vintage wedding needs, regardless if there are hundreds of attendees or if it’s a small family-oriented affair. The vintage wedding is very popular nowadays, with the decor and dress bringing a very elegant and romantic feel to your special day.

The Look

For a great vintage feel, make sure you’ve got some soft pink blush, a cateye for your eyeliner, and a deep red lip. If you’d like to make your eyes look a little more dramatic than just the eyeliner, you can also add false lashes. This will make your eyes stand out in your photos even more. Make sure you use an invisible lip pencil before applying your red lipstick to prevent feathering.

A Headpiece

Most brides opt for crystal headbands but in a vintage wedding, popular headpieces include birdcage veils or larger headbands that go across the forehead and are usually adorned with a flower or some crystals.

Pearls

These can fit into ‘something old’, ‘something new’ or even ‘something borrowed’. Every vintage bride will look even more elegant with pearl earrings and a matching necklace. These can of course be found at a jeweller, but for a more authentic vintage feel, don’t forget to check antique stores as well.

Roses

Looking for the perfect flower for your perfect day? Look no further than roses! Red and white roses pair well with the vintage look, and you can even opt to getting some crystals inside the roses for a little extra ‘bling’.

A Reception Location With History

There are many old buildings including landmarks and even barns (for a rustic vintage wedding) so make sure you shop around to find a reception location with a little bit of history to it. If you can’t use a certain location for the full reception, be sure to add it to your list of where you’d like to take photos with your photographer.

Don’t forget to check out Best for Bride as your one stop shop for everything you need for your special day. From dresses to invitation, we’ve got you covered.