Now that Macy and Ethan have been named the winners of our Dream Day Giveaway, they’ve got a wedding to plan! You’re invited to accompany them as they plan each element of their big day with our partner vendors, leading up to one special celebration on September 10 at The Mason Dallas. If you’re planning your own wedding, be sure to follow along for tips and insight on what to expect with each step, what to know going into every meeting, and how to make sure your path to the altar is a smooth one.
One of the most fun decisions in the wedding planning process is choosing your signature cocktails. A signature cocktail offers the opportunity for couples to add a special detail in their big day—whether that be naming your drinks after your beloved pets or putting a themed twist on your favorite concoction. Not to mention, the choice of beverages at a wedding can greatly enhance the overall experience for your guests. Not only do the chosen drinks set the tone for the evening, but they can help create lasting memories for everyone in attendance. Our Dream Day Giveaway couple, Macy and Ethan, already have some ideas on what to bring to the shaker and are working with the cocktail enthusiasts at Mama’s Medicine to bring their visions to life. Jason Smith and his Dallas team understand that crafting the perfect cocktail goes beyond just mixing ingredients. They strive to capture the essence of each couple’s love story, infusing every drink with personal touches that reflect their unique journey. We spoke with Jason on his advice for choosing a specialty cocktail, what their planning process looks like, and more!
Walk us through what a planning meeting with Mama’s Medicine entails!
First, we have to determine how important the bar is to you. Though the bar appears simple, couples should keep in mind that we are with you from cocktail hour until you leave. We are one of the last vendors to close the curtain, so we want to leave a good impression. From there, couples often overlook details such as napkin selection, service style, and bar timing, which, while tedious, are important. We don’t want to be one of the vendors you have to worry about, so our planning process is extensive because we comb through the little details.
Why should couples consider specialty cocktails?
There are a couple of reasons why we recommend specialty cocktails. The first reason that isn’t often considered is that it helps create a seamless cocktail hour. A beautiful, legible, and curated menu helps streamline the selection process for guests. Additionally, it can convey that the couple picked something that they want to share.
How crucial is it to accommodate your guests’ tastes?
Typically, we advise couples that if they are serving four different types of cocktails, they can get a little wild and risky on the third or fourth one but stick to your guests’ palates on the first two. But, this is not to say that the drinks can’t be complex. Just because a couple sticks to a vodka-based menu doesn’t mean it’s lacking in variety or that we didn’t spend six hours making a batch of that drink.
How many bartenders would you recommend based on guest count?
We recommend one bartender for every 50 guests. Having said that, even with a guest count of 50, we still recommend having two bartenders for efficiency. When there are more than 50 guests, we send two bartenders, a captain who acts as a liaison for the venue, an extra bartender, and a bar back.
Do you have any current favorite trends in cocktails?
When it comes to flavors, infused aperitif spritzes are back in vogue, which has been cool to see! In terms of trends, anything involving smoke or dehydration is always a fan favorite with guests because it’s entertaining to film and post. Overall, we just love a great bar presentation.
