Red Inspiration

Red Wedding

Eeek!  Super excited that February is just around the corner.  We are inching nearer to one of the most active months for the Arriola house.  For one it’s my husbands birthday month, second Valentine’s Day is soon to come and that means many new engagements and many new brides calling for appointments, and third it’s known as the month of love so there are many weddings taking place in February.  That is enough to keep us busy pretty much the entire month.Red WeddingRed WeddingLet’s get into the weddings. February weddings tend to be filled with hearts, reds, pinks, glitter, and gold- all my favorite things.  So I am in heaven at these weddings.  I know the red, pink and white color palette seems a little obvious, but it’s just so gosh darn pretty, why wouldn’t you choose such a fabulous color palette. I have created some inspiration for those of you leaning towards a white and red color palette. Enjoy!Red WeddingRed Wedding

Classic Cocktails

ClassicCocktails
For the past few years couples have gone the extra mile to make their wedding different, unique and one-of-a-kind, whether it be through music, attire, decor, theme etc. And understandably so. With all the weddings occurring on a daily basis who can blame a couple for wanting to have a wedding that stands out from all the rest. It’s natural to want something that is more you and personal. While this trend will never fade away, I do see a new one on the horizon.

Couples craving a one-of-a-kind wedding will continue to exist, but there is a new breed that is coming to light. These couples are leaning towards a more classic wedding. They are looking to inject their wedding with tried and true traditions or classic elements that were once a staple in weddings. They see a value in what used to be, rather than a fad that may be here today, but gone tomorrow. They desire a wedding that is timeless and won’t show its age in 10 or 20 years.

These Classic Cocktails are sure to be a favorite on your wedding day and for years to come!

OLD-FASHIONED WHISKEY SOUR
1 1/2 oz. whiskey
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
4 tsp. cherry juice
5 oz. sweet and sour mix
olives or mushrooms to garnish

Mix whiskey, bitters and cherry juice in an ice-filled martini glass, and fill the remainder of the glass with sour mix. Garnish with olives or mushrooms and serve with a swizzle stick.

TOM COLLINS
2 oz. gin
1 1/2 oz. lemon juice
2 tsp. sugar syrup
splash of soda water

Combine gin, juice and sugar syrup in a highball glass. Stir, add ice and fill with soda water.

CLASSIC MARTINI
1 1/2 oz. gin
1 tsp. dry vermouth
cocktail olive to garnish

Stir gin and vermouth with ice cubes in a mixing glass until chilled. Then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cocktail olive.

CLASSIC COCKTAIL CHAMPAGNE
sugar cube
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
3 oz. Champagne
1/2 oz. cognac
twist of lemon
slice of orange to garnish

Soak sugar cube with Angostura bitters in a Champagne flute. Add Champagne and cognac, squeeze in a twist of lemon and garnish with half a slice of orange.

GIMLET
1 1/2 oz. gin
2 tsp. lime juice
wedge of lime to garnish

Shake gin and lime juice in a shaker with ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

MOJITO
5 mint leaves
1/2 cup fresh chopped lime
2 oz. white rum
1/2 oz. sugar syrup
1 tsp. superfine sugar
splash of soda water
sprig of mint to garnish

Muddle mint leaves and fresh lime (with peel). Shake with rum, syrup and sugar, and pour into a highball glass. Top with soda water and garnish with a sprig of mint.

CLASSIC BLOODY MARY
2 oz. vodka
3 oz. tomato juice
1/2 oz. lemon juice
black pepper and salt
3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 drops of Tabasco sauce
wedge of lemon and celer stalk to garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a highball glass over crushed ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge and celery stalk.

COSMOPOLITAN
1 oz. vodka
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz. cranberry juice
wedge of lime to garnish

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

MANHATTAN
2 1/2 oz. bourbon
1/2 oz. sweet vermouth
4 dashes of Angostura bitters
maraschino cherry
orange peel to garnish

Combine bourbon, vermouth and bitters in a mixing glass with ice. Strain over a cherry placed in a chilled martini glass. Rub the cut edge of the orange peel over the glass rim and twist it over the drink.

OLD-FASHIONED
1 tsp. sugar
splash of water
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
1 maraschino cherry
wedge of orange
2 oz. bourbon

Mix sugar, water and bitters in an old-fashioned glass. Add cherry and orange wedge. Muddle into a paste, then add bourbon. Fill with ice and stir.

MINT JULEP
1 tsp. superfine sugar
5-6 mint leaves
3 oz. bourbon
sprig of mint to garnish

Muddle mint leaves with sugerfine sugar and a splash of water in an old-fashioned glass. Fill with ice, top with bourbon and garnish with mint sprig.

FRENCH 75
2 oz. sour mix
1 1/2 oz. cognac
5 oz. Champagne

Combine sour mix and cognac in a Collins glass with a litter ice, and stir. Fill with Champagne, then garnish with a French flag!

Cocktail Source THE COCKTAIL 200 Fabulous Drinks by Jane Rocca

2016 Wedding Trend Predictions

Lovely10
On a daily basis I flip through magazines and books, as well as, browse blogs and websites soaking up all of the wedding gorgeousness they provide. As I peruse all of these sources I can’t help, but wonder what brides will gravitate towards, therefore becoming a trend. What will grab their attention and why? These sources are filled to the brim with incredible wedding inspiration and it’s interesting to see what makes the cut.

The following are the 10 trends I predict will be BIG in 2016:

THE LOVELY 10
2016 WEDDING TREND PREDICTIONS

1. Rose Gold
2. Lavender Gowns
3. Classic cocktails will make a comeback
4. 2016 will be all about the groom. The men will up the ante when it comes to fashion. You will see men making wardrobe changes for the reception.
5. Patterns
6. Vintage inspired wedding rings
7. Couples will combine different wedding styles to create their perfect wedding
8. Pops of bold and bright colors
9. Romantic lighting to set the mood
10. Open air photo booths will be all the rage

Can’t wait to see if my predictions are right!

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