Champagne Bars-Make your own Champagne Cocktails!

Image via HiyaLuv

We just love champagne bars.  Not only are they classy but they're super appropriate for every occasion from brunch to dinner. 

You can have different champagnes for guests to try.  Or you can have a make your own champagne cocktail station. Guests love making their own drinks and the chance to customize their drinks. Added bonus-no bartender needed!

-Have plenty of champange flutes on hand. 

-Put the juices in carafes with labels and suggested recipes.

-Have 2 or 3 juice choices on hand.

Suggested Recipes:

Mimosa-A classic for brunch!

Ingredients:

2 oz. Orange juice

Champagne
Mix to taste.

Passion Mimosa-An updated take on the classic with passionfruit juice instead of orange!
1oz. Passionfruit Juice

4oz Champagne

2 fresh strawberries
Mix. 
Cranberry Champagne Cocktail
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
3 oz. Champagne
Mix.

American Glory Cocktail-a great choice for spring and summer days!2 oz Orange Juice
2 oz Lemonade
3 oz Champagne

Mix.


Mango Bellini

1 part Mango Juice
2 parts Champagne
Mix. 







 

Bridal Shower Theme: Cocktails & Cupcakes

Bridal Shower Theme:  Cocktails & Cupcakes

Cupcakes are huge right now-and for good reason! You get to eat a nice serving of cake (or 4) without feeling guilty.  Add in your favorite cocktails and this girlie party is sure to be a hit.



Invitations

Set the tone for the bridal shower with the invites. The one to the left, a  Cupcakes & Martinis Bridal Shower Invite sets the right tone.  Will anyone doubt that the desserts will be aplenty at this party?

Or this cute Cupcakes & Cocktails Bridal Shower Invitation.  The guest's mouths will be watering with anticipation. Plus, this lets guests know that it won't be a stuffy tea party.







Food


With cupcakes and cocktails you can't go wrong.  Aim for a menu that encourages noshing and mingling allowing the guests to get to know each other while the bride is opening gifts.

Sample Menu

1. Caramel Apple Cupcakes with Apple Martinis
2. Champagne Cupcakes with Mimosas or Champagne
3. Guinness and Bailey's Irish Cream Cupcakes with beer, red wine, or Chocolate Martinis

Some helpful tips:

• Chocolate cupcakes pairs well with other chocolate drinks like chocolate martinis, red wine, and beer. The lighter cupcakes pair well with white wines and champagne.
• To balance out the sweetness of the cupcakes, serve extras like mixed nuts, cheese & crackers, and pesto pinwheels along with fresh fruit like strawberries, berries, and grapes.
• Aim for 6 mini cupcakes per person or about 4 regular size per person-guests will want to munch on a variety of flavors.  When in doubt-always have more.

• Have the cocktails ready for mingling by preparing them ahead of time and placing them in mini martini glasses.

Follow the lead of Rene on Rene Takes the Cake. Her cupcakes & cocktails party featured Chocolate Espresso Martinis, Chambord and Champagne, and Stellatinis which were made from strawberry lemonade, vodka, and sprite. Each drink was then paired with it's cocktail inspired cupcake.

• Take cupcaking to the next level with cupcake fondue-yep we said Cupcake Fondue!  A truly creative, one-of-a-kind idea you basically take mini cupcakes and dip them into frosting. Easy to do too!

• Try the cupcake blog Cupcake where you can find unique cupcake recipes like Sweet Potato Cupcakes,  Coconut Lime Cupcakes,  Churros and Chocolate Cupcakes, and Sweet and Salty Honey Peanut Cupcakes as well as hundreds of other creative cupcake flavors. 

• Need to order specialty cupcakes? Try Crumbs where among the offerings you can order Cosmo, Grasshopper, and Key Lime cupcakes, all of which are kosher.  Try BabyCakes for gluten-free or spelt cupcakes.

Favors

• Have extra favor boxes on hand for guests to take the left-over cupcakes home with them. Less calories (and less clean-up) for you!

• Stick with the cupcake theme-send guests home with personalized cupcake mixes or give everyone personalized cupcakes. Or go with the cocktail theme-send guests home with personalized cosmo mixes.

• Make cupcakes in a jar for favors. Not only are they easy to make but since they're in a jar, they're easy to transport in a car (or on the subway.)

• Had enough of food? Why not do towel cupcakes or mini cocktail shakers?