Stylish Ways to Display Your Food & Drinks

Up your wedding’s wow factor with an artful, celebratory display.

Drink up

“I love to pair signature drinks with either the theme of the event or with the season,” Atlas says. “I love bringing in seasonal flavors as well. That first drink sets the stage for the event and gives a taste to your guests of what is coming up. A warm white chocolate cocoa could be a great drink for a winter white wedding, while a pumpkin spice drink could be great for the fall.” For a summer celebration, consider a sangria bar. Colorful and delightfully fresh and fruity, sangria ranges from traditional red to white-wine based, with peach, pear and pomegranate bases in between. For a customized, DIY approach, consider a glass-pitcher lineup of different sangria “bases,” with bowls of assorted fruits to mix in as desired.

wine display
Photo courtesy of Maggie Lord

Whiskey is trending, and Johnique Woods, co-owner of The Posh Knot Event Management, Planning and Styling in San Diego CA says, “We hired a mixologist to man the groom’s whiskey bar at a recent wedding. Guests enjoyed their whiskey straight up or mixed with mint and peach tea and stirred with a sugar-cane stick.”

whiskey bar
Photo Credit: D. Park Photography

A sparkling wine bar featuring various fruit juices helps stretch your champagne or prosecco supply, making this a great budget saver. Cocktails might feature pomegranate, raspberry, pear, orange or other juices, with a berry dropped into each champagne flute for effect.

mimosa bar
Photo Credit: Tori Ava Photography

A beer bar is another budget-friendly option, especially now, with craft beers having a major moment. Include a range of flavor profiles from light and bright to heartier ales and stouts. Frosted mugs add the perfect chill effect.

beer bar
Photo Credit: Milou + Olin Photography

To keep energy up: “Coffee bars are great,” Atlas says. “I’m seeing exotic blends, iced-coffee or cold-brew bars and steam-punk-styled coffee bars.” Or consider a self-service iced-tea bar, offering pitchers of sweet and unsweetened tea, peach and berry tea and of course a pitcher of lemonade so guests can make their own Arnold Palmer blend. Give these non-alcoholic drinks signature “cocktail” names as well, for a festive flourish. And a lineup of bright and colorful sodas in retro-style glass bottles creates a vibrant non-alcoholic bar experience for both nondrinkers and kids.

jones soda bar
Phot Credit: Leylla Badeanlou of Imagery with Impact

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