Bridal Party 101 | Thank-You Gifts

Posted on March 3, 2021
in Bridal Party
by lcr

All the Key Players on Your Big Day

Plus, a bit of fun gift inspiration to get you started.

Not every couple answers the question of who gets a gift the same. With all the mayhem of wedding planning, it’s important to remember the little people who were there for you each step of the way. It’s best if you start with a list of the wedding party and family who’ve been instrumental in planning your wedding or offered support. Mark down gift ideas by each name to thank them for being there through the dress shopping, celebrations, and planning help. If you aren’t sure where to start, browse sites with tons of options, like The Knot Wedding Shop or Amazon.

 

Maid Of Honor

Bridesmaid wrangler, fashion expert, bachelorette planner, and the person whom you’ve bestowed the highest honor in your party. The gift you give your maid of honor should reflect the starring role she’s played in your life. If you decide on something traditional, like jewelry or a silver compact, personalize the gift with her name or perhaps a phrase or joke meaningful to your relationship.

Olive and Piper Primrose Studs

Buy on OliveAndPiper.com

These chic, oversized earrings are great for your MOH to wear as a sparkly statement piece with their bridesmaid ensemble. They’re also versatile enough to be worn after the wedding to add some sparkle to a little black dress.

Best Man

He’s helped keep you from drowning in wedding planning details, don’t forget to show home much you care! Gift him something the two of you can do together, such as a day at the golf course, or consider a tried-and-true gift, like a personalized pocket watch or pen.

Cooler Chair

Cooler Chair

Buy on TheKnotShop.com

If your BM is less into the flashy stuff and more about getting out in nature, check out this nifty cooler! Beachgoers, tailgaters, and campers alike will make great use of this chair-cooler combo, and it’ll be part of many gatherings in the future.

The Bridal Party

Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are your ride-or-die crew, so we know you’ll want to find something they’ll love. Some engaged couples like to go ultra-personal and give each person on their wedding party list an entirely different gift. It’s a great idea for super small bridal parties, but for those groups of 20+, you can find something in “bulk.”

They’ll appreciate whatever you give them, so don’t stress about it! These days you can add customizations like nicknames, astrological signs, and monograms to just about anything. So, when in doubt, go for something utilitarian you know they’ll be able to use, like a customized champagne flute or beer mug. There’s always the jewelry-for-the-wedding-day route as well, but if you head down that road, try to write them each a sincere note to make your gift truly meaningful.

Bloody Mary Gift Set

Bloody Mary groomsmen gift box

Buy on Mouth.com

Help your Bridal Party out by thinking about their morning on the day after your wedding. A hangover kit or this fun Bloody Mary kit sounds like heaven after a wild night of celebrating.

Personalized Yoga Mat

Personalized yoga mat bridesmaid gift

Buy on PersonalizationMall.com

If you’re looking for a wedding gift for bridesmaids who never miss a yoga class, how about new yoga mats? Have them personalized with their names or a cute quote.

Family Members

Your family–parents and grandparents especially–have been your #1 fans since the very beginning. No matter who’s paying for your wedding, it’s essential (and customary) to present both sets of parents and grandparents with a gift. Some couples also include siblings, stepsiblings, stepparents, and anyone else they dub as significant to this list of VIF (Very Important Family). A night out at their favorite restaurant, a monthly service, or a sweet framed favorite photo are all great options, and they’ll feel touched you thought of them with everything else going on.

Get gift inspiration for the mother of the bride, the mother of the groom, the father of the bride, and the father of the groom through these links.

Close Friends and Day-Of Wedding Helpers

Candlelighters, Church Ushers, Ceremony Readers, and guest book attendants tend to either be close friends (that aren’t in your wedding party) or younger cousins, nieces or nephews. If you’re close to your officiant, or you have a friend playing guitar for the ceremony, get something for them as well. A book, a nice bottle of wine, or a small piece of jewelry are all viable choices for anyone who’s a non-vendor playing a special part in your day.

Flower Girls and Ring Bearers

This might be their very first wedding! For any kid under the age of 10, we recommend gifting them something that’ll keep them occupied during “boring” moments of a rehearsal dinner and reception. Think sticker books or crafts (like bracelet makers or coloring kits). You could even put together a fun goodie-bag for them, including parent-approved snacks!

Bloomsbury “I’m a Flower Girl” Activity and Sticker Book

Flower Girl Book

Buy on Amazon.com

Kids love gifts, and parents always appreciate something that will keep them occupied for a few minutes. This interactive activity book helps kiddos to understand what a wedding is all about.

Finally, Gifts for Each Other

With all of the surprises you’re planning for your friends and family (and the gifts you’re most likely receiving from others), don’t forget the most important person of all: your partner. These gifts won’t need extravagance; sweet and simple love notes on a busy wedding day mean the world. Whatever your budget or gift, you can never go wrong by including a secret engraved message to commemorate the day.

Bridal Party 101 | Wedding Day Wardrobe

Posted on February 25, 2021
in Bridal Party
by lcr

Bridesmaids

Always a Bridesmaid? Always best dressed! Let’s all take a moment to thank the Gods of wedding fashion for finally cutting the poor bridesmaids some slack!

Gone are the terrifying patterns, unnecessary frills, and–honestly–UGLY bridesmaids’ dresses that condemned sisters, friends, and cousins to entire days trapped in sympathetic awkwardness.

These days, Brides have changed their tune and don’t seem to be purposely trying to torment their Bridesmaids...in most cases.

(To each their own.)

The dresses tend to be slimmer, more romantic in style, and flowy. They’re cut for a much more flattering fit, subtly textured or patterned, even personally chosen by the Bridesmaids according to a loose set of guidelines set by the Bride. There’s a much more flexible understanding that not all bodies fit the same dress, which allows for so much more fun in the wedding ensemble planning!

Brittany + Chris | Madeline Barr Photography

Dress length has strayed away from the shorter cocktail style, opting for floor-length skirts that add a higher level of sophistication and can be tailored to be shorter later if desired. A big trend that came about a few years ago and has stuck around was the varying shades or textures of a single color. This creates a cohesive look instead of a copy-paste mentality and adds depth to photos, transforming a wall of fabric into defined individual people.

Devon + Collin | Laurie Ashley Photography

The new rule of thumb seems to be: if it looks good with the bouquet, it goes! In some cases, the Bride can choose to have her Bridesmaids in several different colors or varying dress styles that still fit within her idea for the event. This allows the group to personalize their dress and choose which shade and cut compliment them better.

Brittney + Alfred | Fleeting Fox Photography

There are so many colors, cuts, textures that can all be combined to fit a Bride’s vision for her big day! Ideally, everyone understands that what the Bride wants should be all that matters. This is why we will always appreciate the Brides who factor in their Bridesmaids’ feelings to their final decisions.

Groomsmen

We have to be honest; groomsmen get the easy part of this whole wardrobe process. A classic suit is hard to beat, and when a group of sharp suits gets together, there’s timeless magic that arises.

Whether the suits are a traditional black, shades of gray, handsome blues–or even the newest craze in shades of green, the variation of suit style over the years has been minimal. The old saying rings true here. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Ginny + Michael | Singler Photography

Groomswomen and Bridesmen

Recently, we’ve seen more Bridal parties incorporate Bridesmen and Groomswomen in the mix. We’re all for it, and these party members offer a whole new range of wedding ensemble possibilities to consider! We’ve seen suits in the same shade as the bridesmaids’ dresses, dresses that match the groomsmen, tailored women’s suits to match the groomsmen, and options in between.

Abby + Jimmie | Chris Ellis Photography

If you’re lucky enough to be in this position, feel free to play around with the possibilities and see what overall look the happy couple is aiming for. It’s still a somewhat undefined area, so dare to write the rules!

Brittney + Alfred | Fleeting Fox Photography

 

Bridal Party 101 | The Grand Entrance

Posted on February 17, 2021
in Bridal Party
by lcr

Once your wedding ceremony is over, it’s party time! Kick off your reception with the perfect party-ready wedding entrance and song. Our Event Coordination team will direct you and your bridal party; all you have to do is decide what style of Grand Entrance you want.

Grand Entrance Order

Like everything else at your wedding, which gets announced first at your reception is simply up to you. Generally, the wedding party is absent for a while after the ceremony. They’re all with the photographer while the guests are at the reception, eating hors ‘devours.

As the wedding party re-emerges, you can have your professional DJ announce special pairs, the groomsmen, bridesmaids, and/or the wedding couple. The order is usually very similar to the recessional, meaning whoever paired up to follow the Bride and Groom back down the aisle after the vows can be introduced together again. Typically the second-to-last people introduced are the Best Man and Maid of Honor. In the grand finale, everyone stands, and the happy couple is announced.

Sometimes couples keep it simple and only announce themselves, leaving the bridal party extra time to socialize during cocktail hour. Other times, they choose to introduce all the bridesmaids and groomsmen together. It’s all entirely your choice as a couple.

Processional VS Entrance Songs

Maddie + Matt | Vee Taylor Photography

Wedding entrance songs are not the same as processional songs. Processional songs play during the wedding ceremony. Entrance songs happen when the wedding party is announced at the wedding reception, usually at the end of cocktail hour. Nothing is off-limits during the grand entrance, so be sure to choose a song that sets the tone for the evening.

Song Choice

Does the entrance song have to be boring? Absolutely Not.

The time for the traditional “Wedding March” is over. This is your party, so jazz it up however you’d like. Lighten the mood with something humorous or play a country wedding entrance song that both you and your spouse love. You can make it as upbeat or as traditional as you like.

Generally, the wedding party’s best entrance song has a good beat and lyrics that people will recognize. Try to stay away from songs that distract from the love message or talk about cheating. (It seems like an obvious rule, but you’d be surprised what comes up.)

How Many Songs Do I Need?

Ariana + Trevor | Davin Lindwall Photography

The short answer is as many as you like. But, generally, one song is long enough for up to 9 introductions. That could be the parents, grandparents, one to five sets of the wedding party, the best man and maid of honor, and the newlyweds.

(Get ready to do a little math.)

The average song is 3 minutes long. It can take 20 seconds for a couple to prepare and get from the entrance to their seats or the dance floor. As you increase the number of introductions, add on another song. A 3-minute song at 20 seconds per introduction roughly equals 9 introductions per song depending on how wild each one turns out.

 

Here’s an incredible playlist on Spotify, literally called Grand Entrance Songs for a Wedding (2020), with over 50 popular songs to choose from!

Tribute To Love! | Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 8, 2021
in Holiday
by lcr

“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”

“Thou art more lovely and more temperate.”

Ginny + Michael | Singler Photography

“Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,”

Lisa Marie + Dan | Marisa McBride Photography

“And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.”

“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,”

Abby + Jimmie | Chris Ellis Photography

“And often is his gold complexion dimmed;”

Ariana + Trevor | Davin Lindwall Photography

“And every fair from fair sometime declines,”

Brittany + Chris | Madeline Barr Photography

“By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;”

“But thy eternal summer shall not fade,”

Maddie + Matt | Vee Taylor Photography

“Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st,”

Nichole + Josh | Jaicee Morgan Photography

“Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,”

Crystal + Jared | Krissel Rivas Photography

“When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st.”

Jessie + Dillon | Gipe Photography

“So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,”

“So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

William Shakespeare, (Sonnet 18) 1564 – 1616

 

To all of our fantastic couples, pictured here and not: We wish that your every day is Valentine’s Day, that your love be eternal, and that life itself breathes with the same feelings you shared with us on your wedding day. We love that you loved with us.

All the best from your always Valentine,

Leo Carrillo Ranch

Managed and Catered by Personal Touch Dining

Bridal Party 101 | History

Posted on February 3, 2021
in Bridal Party
by lcr

It Takes A Community To Have A Wedding.

The Bridal Party is the Bride and Groom’s entourage chosen specifically because of their proven support of the happy couple. According to history, their duties have included anything from kidnapping to providing the bride with a dowry if the parents were disproving of the marriage. Here’s a couple of fun historical facts behind the wedding Wedding Posse– oops! Party**

Photo: True Photography

“Bridesmaids and groomsmen had to dress just like the bride and groom to confuse vengeful spirit presences (or real-life jealous suitors) who might try to harm the newlyweds.”

 

This tradition seems to have changed only recently! Nowadays, there is usually subtle differentiation between the Groom and his Groomsmen, but the Bridesmaids leave the white to the Bride. We’re seeing a larger variety in color, style, and texture in bridesmaids’ dresses as each wedding season passes. It just depends on the Bride’s preference!

Photo: Shelly Anderson

“In a time in which ‘marriage by capture’ was practiced, close friends of the groom would assist him in taking the bride from her family. They’d form a small army to fight off angry relatives so that he could escape with her.”

 

Thankfully this doesn’t happen anymore! Imagine women being kidnapped left and right out from under their family’s nose! (Talk about awkward table conversation at Thanksgiving…)

We understand why the need for the most important people by your side remains. Choosing the ones to support you, be that shoulder to cry on when you need it, can share in good times with you, are all top factors to your bridal party.  At the Ranch, we’ve witnessed it all.

Photo: Maryanne McGuire Photography

“Ancient Roman law required 10 witnesses to be present at a wedding, which is considered a precursor to the bridal party tradition.”

Today, Bridal Parties can be as small as two people and as large as 30–as long as the MOH and Best Man have some good organizational skills! We say the more, the merrier, it adds a little energy to the event as a whole, and you know the dance floor will never be empty.

Photo by Audrey Rynberg Photography

“The tradition of the ‘best man’ is thought to have originated with the Germanic Goths of the 16th century.”

“He was the ‘best man’ for, specifically, the job of stealing the bride from her neighboring community or disapproving family, and he was probably the best swordsman, too.”

 

Consider this, gentlemen: is your Best Man willing to fight to the death for your love?

Photo by True Photography

“In some early traditions, the groomsmen were called Bride’s Knights because they helped protect her—and her dowry, and her virginity—or because they assisted in her kidnapping.”

Photo by Muse Moments Photography

Kidnapping seems to have been pretty prevalent back in the day, but it’s not just the Groomsmen who are known to get into some mischief during the Bachelor/Bachelorette parties anymore. (Hollywood made a few movies about all that.) Although we would never promote kidnapping, we’re sure some good clean inner-party fun is still had.

Photo by True Photography

Thanks to all these fun Bridal Parties and the awesome photographers who captured them at their best!

We love seeing what each unique group is like and how the clients we’ve gotten to know so well fit into the crazy mix.

Photo by Jordan Galindo

As always, big thanks go out to the staff at Personal Touch Dining, who Coordinate, Manage, and cater to all these wonderful events!

To learn more about weddings traditions and their origins, check out these two articles:

’21 Surprising Historical Duties of the Wedding Party’ by Jen Doll

‘A History of Anglo-Saxon Wedding Customs‘ by Arden Ranger

 

Spring Wedding Trends for 2021!

Posted on January 27, 2021
in Updates
by lcr

There’s no “one” way to have a wedding anymore. Thanks to the 2020 Covid shut-downs, most couples seem to have taken their wedding plans in two very different directions. There’s a spectrum between comfortable, intimate weddings and ones that are delightfully “to-the-max” with everything involved. Overall, each wedding’s consensus has much more intention behind everything from food and decor to unique guest experiences. Put your own twist on these trends to inspire your perfect 2021 wedding.

Welcome Boxes

Distance Party To-Go Box, "Grazing"

Photography- True Photography Welcome Box- Personal Touch Dining

There are so many welcome gifts that have become a new standard for couples to give–and generally have available– to their guests now. It seems like it’d be odd not to offer cute personalized hand sanitizers and optional masks, but what about programs and take-home favors too? Instead of assuming your guests have space to fit all these fun trinkets into their pockets throughout the event, a box filled with everything they could need from the start is the perfect solution. Guest-centered details like this are blowing up in popularity since so many weddings have been downsized. As a wedding favor that they can actually use at the wedding, these boxes act as a thoughtful way to make your loved ones feel that they’re cared for on your wedding day.

Environmentally Mindful

Photography- Meurer Image

An admittedly late, amped-up appreciation for sustainability was said to be a top trend in design and planning for 2020 until all gatherings were put on pause. It was a happy accident that many events in 2020 did end up being inherently more sustainable given their smaller scale. They were planned in backyards, amid gardens, and on terraces with help from neighborhood vendors and were more locally-sourced than ever before! 2021 weddings promise to continue that trend, with much of the product—from food to beverage or floral—being sourced as locally as possible, limiting carbon emissions in transportation and supporting small, artisan businesses. Getting married somewhere is now a commitment to supporting a local economy that undoubtedly felt the effects of 2020.

Uniquely Intentioned Tablescapes

Photography- Alexandria Monette Florist- Wildflower Studios

Couples are centering their event decisions around what is most important to them. We’re seeing more planned “private moments” on timelines and sentimental details taking the forefront in decor. Tablescapes are flourishing with custom linens, handwritten thank you notes, and elaborate food service displays. In theory, since there are fewer guests per table, there is more space to build your dream tablescape design. (We can all thank Pinterest for making us acutely aware of gorgeous stylized shoots.) Luxury linens, layered china, candles, and multicolored crystal glassware are sure to be prominent this Spring season and through the Fall.

Dream Livingroom Lounges

Give us cozy throws, plush pillows, and couches! The outdoor lounge lives on in 2021, but the furnishings are leaning towards a cozy farmhouse rendition of a living room. Guests will most likely find themselves sitting for longer, and the Spring can be known for its chilly moments as it shakes off Winter. Plucked straight from Magnolia to an airy field, create a lounge layout for comfort and warmth.

Color Me Bold!

Leo Carrillo wedding - top shelf photo-286

Photography- Top Shelf Photo Florist- Studio Fleurish

Across the board, Florists have been seeing brilliant pops of yellow become the dominating color in their clients’ requests. Yellow has so many wonderful tones in nature that there are shades to suit every season. Last fall, we saw genius mixes of dried bracken, autumnal-tinged foliage, and honey-yellow roses to achieve a classic “Fall” look. Now, the Spring and Summer seasons are riding the yellow tidal wave. Get ready for buttery yellows, ochers, and bold mustard tones in layers everywhere, including the linens, glassware, and china! Not only does it look good as flowers, but the intensity of mustard works so well with rich fabrics like velvet and satin. Events this year are inherently going to mean so much more than they used to, and with yellow being such a vibrant, joyful color, it seems fitting to help bring us back from such a dark year.

Floral Focus

A 2021 floral trend to arise is a pure focus on voluminous floral arrangements that are equal parts breathtaking and sentimental. Couples are unanimously making design decisions based on this key importance. Instead of vaguely describing their dream florals in colors or choosing whatever is “in” at the moment, couples are insisting on a sense of personal touch. When you notice intricacies in the season’s details, the event’s motif flows effortlessly. The flavors and colors harmonize naturally, and the difference between this and something fabricated is obvious. The flowers chosen can create magic between the food you pick and the music played, collecting everything together beautifully. Statement florals are no longer impressive and impossible simply for the sake of impossibility. If the floral design is meant to reflect the couples, it becomes less orchestrated and more sensible, but no less eye-catching.

Something Spontaneous

Leo Carrillo wedding - top shelf photo-446

Photography- Top Shelf Photo Lithuanian “Sakotas Cake”

As we’ve mentioned, 2021 wedding trends—reflective of more intimate affairs—are all about going deep into the details and accompanying experiences. Why not include an element of surprise or spontaneity? Whether it’s having a mentalist perform or asking a celeb to sing your first dance song over Zoom, the options to delight your guests are endless. Reducing a sauce will bring out its strongest flavors, and having smaller weddings allows couples to focus on smaller details. Adding in dashes of spice in the form of the couple’s unique personalities might be the right amount of quirky to be seen as spontaneous. Guests eat that up. We’ve seen caricature artists, palm and tarot readers, even custom haiku writers at our events, but waiting in the wings, even wilder interactive experiences await!

 

Looking for even more Spring 2021 Wedding Trends?

Check out our Instagram and Pinterest!

 

Tabletop Centerpiece Inspiration!

Posted on January 20, 2021
in Updates
by lcr

When deciding how to have your dining tables and centerpieces set, there tends to be much more to it than originally considered.  Chargers or none? Which type of plate? Silver or gold cutlery? Napkin color and fold? Favors? Garlands or vases? It just goes on and on.

Thankfully, we’re here to help!

These are some of our favorite examples of tabletop centerpiece ideas over the last couple of years to help narrow your search and provide a bit more to visualize.

Houston_0089

Photography- Vacay Photo Florist- Haystack Floral

From the moment our guests step down from the ceremony to the reception, the first thing that captures their eyes are the exquisite tables displaying none other than the choice of centerpieces that our clients envisioned for their big day.

Photography- Alexandria Monette Florist- Wildflower Studios

No matter how many events we’ve had, we are always surprised at the latest form of ingenuity and creativity! The outcome of the centerpieces leaves us absolutely speechless with how breathtaking it all comes together.

Photography- Amy Lynn Photography Florist- KO Floral Designs

These wood Farm Tables fit the tone that carries over from our historic Hacienda. They also allow more space for guests and elaborate, exciting centerpieces!

Photography- Mirelle Carmichael Florist-  Foxtail Floral 

Traditional round tables instead of Farm Tables are still a blank canvas for the creative spirit! These are packed full of potential and provide a more intimate seating arrangement for guests to have easy conversations with the rest of their table. They also allow for smaller centerpieces, but that doesn’t mean they have to be less fun or exquisite.

There are endless combinations of glassware, silverware, chargers, and plates that we can access for your tables to look perfect on the big day. All it takes is some imagination!

Looking for More Inspiration?

Check out our Instagram and Pinterest for tons of incredible table centerpieces!

 

Big thanks to all these fabulous couples for daring to go all out and to the photographers for these inspirational pics!

 

 

Vendor Spotlight! | Kami Olavarria Photography

Posted on January 13, 2021
in Vendor Spotlight
by lcr

Kami Olavarria: San Diego Wedding Photographer

 

Kami Olavarria. How much do we love her? Let us count the ways.

Working side-by-side with Kami at events is effortless. She’s an instant “Work Bestie.” Her capability and passion for what she does shine from her friendly smile. She’s a photographer who takes our mutual clients’ wants and needs into consideration without losing sight of the event’s bigger picture. Working as a team with strange vendors can be a gamble of strong personalities behind the scenes at an event, but having Kami around feels like welcoming home one of our own. She shares our same commitment to excellence and loyalty to her clients, two standards that we strive to keep high within our little work family.

Amy + Mike

From a client’s perspective, the photos she produces are stunning, and we feel they capture the best parts of our couples during their magical day with us. She can light up even the most awkward crowd, making everyone feel comfortable and look their best. She takes to heart all of your important details and will do everything in her power to see that your needs are met. On her website, she states that as your wedding photographer, she’s “your right-hand-woman. I’m like your bridesmaid / groomslady with a camera.” She takes it upon herself to become “more than just a hired vendor.” Her genuine excitement and support for her clients make her uniquely wonderful and fantastic at what she does.

Kathleen + Derrick

Behind the Lens

According to her website, with the experience, knowledge, and expertise of photographing nearly 300 weddings, Kami works tirelessly to be there for every step of the planning process.

“My job is to make your day as easy and fun as possible, and in the meantime, capturing incredible images, you can look back on forever to remember the best day of all time. I am here with you every step of the way to be your sounding board and help you navigate the wedding industry with my planning guides, vendor referrals lists, coffee (or drink!) dates, video-chat sessions, and whatever else you need to help you sort through the BS and plan the celebration you’ve always wanted.”

Kathleen + Derrick

The Method

It’s a true art finding the balance between knowing how to guide a crowd through an event without squashing the spontaneous merriment of the moment.

“My biggest philosophy is never making your day feel like a production – knowing when to step in and be directive but more importantly knowing when to step back and let your day unfold.”

Her unique sensitivity to each event helps her determine the right blend of candid documentary storytelling and high-energy direction. This talent allows for creating priceless images that blossom in the space where you have the time of your life on your big day!

Amy + Mike

Trust Kami Olavarria to go above and beyond your expectations. Reach out today!

Check out these Real Weddings with Kami here at our Ranch!

Kathleen + Derrick

Amy + Mike

 

Fantastic Client Review!

Posted on January 5, 2021
in Updates
by lcr

Easy, Breezy Wedding Planning Experience!

We’re so glad Paulina had a stress- free time planning her wedding with us! We take care to ensure that our all-inclusive packages make your wedding worries disappear. Minor details are our specialty, so we’ll make sure you don’t miss a thing. Our Special Events Team are pros at coordinating and helping you design your dream wedding.

Thanks, Paulina, for taking the time to review us!

 

 

 

Signature Holiday Cocktails

Posted on December 2, 2020
in Updates
by lcr

Craft A Cold One While Wrapping Gifts!

Certain states all over the country are locking down again, and the fever they’re concerned about isn’t from sitting in a cabin for too long. Here in Carlsbad, it looks like we won’t be leaving the house this holiday season. The silver lining? This means no need for a designated driver! To help us float through this holiday season like Santa’s reindeer, we figured a bit of custom cocktail inspiration–and responsible drinking–was in order. Typically, the drinks we offer at our events through Personal Touch Dining are Spring or Summer themed since our event season ends mid-November. We get rave reviews over their Grapefruit Mojito, and they even offer “Logo Cocktails” now! These are the newest way to send a message while delighting your impressed guests! Imagine each of these holiday drinks with your signature logo on top for the perfect viral social media post. Make your friends Grinchy-green with envy over your immaculate custom cocktail presentation this season! If you’re like us, we’re looking to take the nostalgia of a perfect Leo Carrillo Christmas and mix in a little extra fun. Using just four ingredients, we came up with three different fun craft cocktails anybody can make from home. We included one with champagne to reflect the glitz and glamor of Leo Carrillo’s Hollywood history, one with Tequila (because Margaritas are a “must-have” at our Ranch), and one with Vodka as a crowd-pleaser! Check out these fun recipes below!

The “Christmas Light”

It’s a cranberry champagne cocktail (so you can call it that if you prefer!) With the sparkling wine, bright red cranberry, and the warming glow of orange liqueur, this tasty drink will be sure to light you up!
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau (or another orange liqueur)
  • 100% Cranberry Juice (None of that “juice cocktail” nonsense.)
  • Champagne
That’s it! Much like a mimosa, the juice-to-champagne ratios are determined according to taste, so experiment with the portions to see where on the spectrum you fall. Of course, what completes the presentation is the garnish. All you’ll need is a few rosemary branches and some fresh whole cranberries to happily float in the bubbles.

The “Mrs. Claus-mo”

Not a fan of Champagne? Try a Mrs. Claus-mo!
  • 1 oz Vodka
  • 1/2 oz lime juice
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau (or another orange liqueur)
  • 1 oz 100% Cranberry Juice
Essentially, we swapped the bubbles from the previous drink with vodka and added lime for this classic favorite. For the best result, start by rimming a martini glass with sugar for that frosty effect! In a shaker, pour in all the ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into the prepared martini glass, and garnish with a few cranberries or a lime wheel for that elevated look!

Christmas Margarita

We’re pretty sure not including a Margarita on this list would get us run over by a reindeer, so here it is! This Christmas margarita is a spin-off on the classic. We’ve kept all the traditional ingredients and added 100% cranberry juice. Because it’s unsweetened and very tart, suggest a sugared rim, instead of salt, to balance things out. Here’s what you’ll need to make a Christmas margarita:
  • 2 oz 100% Cranberry Juice
  • 1 oz Tequila (use Blanco or Reposado)
  • 1/2 oz Cointreau
  • 1/2 oz Fresh lime juice
Start by rimming the glass in sugar and fill with ice. In a shaker, pour in all the ingredients over ice and shake. Strain into the prepared glass, and garnish with a few cranberries and a squeeze of fresh lime!

We hope you enjoy these four-ingredient holiday craft cocktails!

All we ask is that you enjoy these drinks responsibly and remember to share the love, not our germs, this holiday season!

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