3 Signature Cocktail Ideas, Greg Boulus Events Blog

3 Signature Cocktail Ideas + Tips

February 15, 2017

One of the biggest trends in weddings over the last couple of years is creating a signature cocktail that represents you and your groom. In the last few years we have had several brides and grooms request a special drink for their guests to sip on.

There are a variety of reasons why it can be a great idea to include a signature cocktail in your bar menu! For one it can help tell the story of you and your partner! Did you bond over your love of a good red wine? Or did you both order Moscow mules on your first date? Or maybe one of your favorite things to do is visit breweries on the weekend! A signature drink can help give a little backstory on you and your loved one and it's always a good idea to include those personal details in your big day.

Another reason to consider a specialty drink is if you don't want to host a full bar but you would like your guests to have options. Having a signature cocktail (or two!) is a great way to give your non-beer and wine drinkers another option to sip on! Having a His & Hers options, such as an old fashion and a margarita, can give your whiskey lovers AND tequila lovers a chance to sip on their drink of choice!

However if you don't have a strong opinion either way on creating a unique drink for your reception, don't stress about it! We encourage our couples to stay focused on the details that really matter to them and if that doesn't include a special drink, then it may be best to skip that detail!

Now for some of our favorite drinks from weddings past! Being based out of the great state of Georgia, we do tend to lean towards tasty concoctions that include our favorite fruit, the peach! Do you have a favorite cocktail that you are thinking of including on the libations menu? Leave a comment below!

Fresh Peach Bellinis

Fresh peach bellinis were a must for Melissa and Bettis' peach orchard wedding. The reception took place on the grounds of her family's historical peach farm right outside of Augusta, Georgia. Nothing is sweeter, or more refreshing, on a beautiful spring evening! Image by Ashley Seawell Photography.

Pond-side Refresher

For a refreshing non-alcoholic treat, freshly squeezed peach juice was the perfect thirst-quencher for this stunning pond-side ceremony. Plus personalization always adds an extra special touch! Image by Robin Gerrard Photography.

Chi O Lemonade

One of our most recent brides wanted to take it back to her college days with her signature drink, "Chi O Lemonade." A simple mix of peach-flavored vodka, lemonade and fresh peach slices was a huge hit among the guests who were looking for a sweet treat during cocktail hour. Image by Ashley Seawell Photography.

wedding photograhy tips_unplugged ceremony

Ask the Photographer: "Why Should We Have an Unplugged Ceremony"

February 08, 2017 in Greg Boulus Events | Tips

Welcome to the next installment in our "Ask the Photographer" series! Today we are addressing one of the newest trends in wedding photography that has been taking Pinterest and wedding blogs by storm, having an "unplugged" ceremony. A no phone, no Snapchat, no InstaStories ceremony where the only images that are being captured are by your trusty photographers. Some couples may not even consider asking guests to stow away their devices and our photographer friends are here to tell you why you should:

"I love an unplugged ceremony. I think it’s especially important if you know that your crowd might be holding up phones and ipads during your ceremony. Those many devices not only end up in the professional photographer’s images, but they subtract from the intimacy of the ceremony. An uplugged ceremony really allows guests to give their full gift of presence!" -Ashley Seawell Photography

"Some of the most beautiful ceremony shots are ruined by not just Iphones, but Ipads hanging out of the aisle. It is very frustrating, since obviously our photos are going to document the day best. That is the beauty of the internet. The guests will eventually have some form of access to the professional photos." -Mark Williams Studio

"Goodness there are so many benefits! From a photography standpoint, cellphones are definitely the most distracting and unattractive element of wide ceremony photos. Occasionally they are even in tighter shots, and I have even had people step out into the aisle to take their cell phone pictures, which can entirely block your photographers view and hinder your professional photos. Aside from a cosmetic point of view, unplugged ceremonies also allow your guests to be more present and for you to see their faces when you look out at them." -Britt Croft Photography

"As a lover of capturing a story and experiencing life with people I love, I fully understand when guests want to snap a few photos of their own as long as they are respectful! However, sadly more often than not I find that the guests inadvertently step into the shot right at the optimal moment. Having an unplugged ceremony benefits not only me as a photographer, and you as the recipient of photos, but also the guests! When they are able to focus wholly on the ceremony and moment, they aren’t worried about scooting into the aisle to get that first kiss shot or your newly married bliss as you walk back down the aisle! And that allows me to get the best angle for your special moments!" -Lauren Carnes Photography

If you are wondering if you should take an engagement session or if you and your fiance should have a first look, make sure to check out our first and second installments in the series as well!

Image by Ashley Seawell Photography.

A Wedding Must-Have, Flower Arch Inspiration | Wedding Planning Tips

February 01, 2017 in Greg Boulus Events | Tips, Greg Boulus Florals

One of our floral design elements that always takes people's breath away is our signature floral arch. While definitely on the higher end of the budget spectrum, we believe it is a wedding must-have. Your wedding ceremony is one of the most highly photographed areas of the entire day therefore putting more of your budget towards a stunning backdrop vs. a smaller detail such as handmade escort cards seems to make the most sense (but we're a little biased!).

It doesn't take as long to assemble these gorgeous arches as one would think! Our floral designers start with the tucking the hydrangea and other larger floral items into the water-soaked oasis blocks inside the wire form. They then begin to fill in with the smaller accent flowers that are a part of the overall floral design. For example in the second floral arch featured below, they started with the white hydrangea and greenery. Then they continued on with the featured flowers of garden roses, peonies, and orchids. Working around, from top to bottom and side to side, until the entire form is filled out evenly.

Below we have compiled a few of our absolute favorite flower arches our design team has assembled in the past. We have also included a few floral arches we have done over doorways as well! As you can see, we tend to go big or go home, but any kind of beautiful floral element is welcomed in our eyes!