The Perfect Party Drinks According to These Local Venues

It’s 2022 and parties are back with a bang, along with signature cocktails, beer on tap and open bars. Whether you’re planning the wedding reception of your dreams, a corporate function or the gala of the season, figuring out what your guests are drinking can be tricky to navigate. Read on for our advice on putting together a drinks menu that is both classy and fun!

Find Your Buzz

Along with decor, food and dress code, drinks determine the mood of any event, so it’s important to consider several factors before putting together a drinks menu. A great way to create the perfect party is to curate the drink flavors, liquors and type of bar to the exact tone you’re going for.

Setting up for success

Picking the right bar setup is half the battle when it comes to refreshments. Limited or cash bars are a good way to keep costs down, and are often a good choice for casual or corporate events. However, there is often the expectation of an open bar, and cash bars can lead to delays and may detract from the elegant, seamless tone of larger events. An open bar is always a crowd-pleaser, and can make events like wedding recep – tions, birthday bashes and cocktail parties more worry-free, especially if guests have already spent money on gifts and travel. Open bars can also eliminate the hassle of cash and coins exchanging hands, but they can be expensive and are not always a riskfree investment. Opting for a wine and beer-only menu can help keep the event wallet-friendly and keep the drink line moving quickly. Make the right choice based on your event’s size to ensure your bar isn’t a buzzkill.

No-proof drinks

Mocktails are having a moment. No-proof margaritas, punches, crushes, seltzers, fizzes, teas and frozen slushies make for fruity, layered flavors for those who are designated drivers, don’t drink or are simply taking a break. Whether you’re opting for a few signature mocktails or hosting an entirely dry event, zero-proof drinks are a sophisticated and increasingly popular route to take. Ingredients like cranberry and orange juice, sour cherry, lemon, peach, mint, apple, rose and lime come together into virgin drinks that are so delicious, you won’t miss the alcohol.

Selecting your signature

Once you’ve made the larger decisions, the delicious is in the details. There are a couple of factors to consider when choosing the best spirits and mixed drinks to serve at your event. For example, take the time of the event into account when picking your signature drink. A brunch, outdoor or daytime event may be the right occasion for fresh spritzes, mimosas, sangrias or beer on tap, while a more formal evening fête is the time for sultry cocktails, wine, spirits or champagne. Generally you can limit spirits in the daytime to a few cocktails instead of a big bar spread. Margaritas, Bloody Marys and daiquiris are all great options for outdoor gatherings. If your event has a theme that suggests a drink—like a floral atmosphere, a vibrant and colorful theme or a classic, old-fashioned one—then absolutely tailor the drink menu to the rest of the party!

Resource Guide

Meet our go-to experts for venues, catering, entertainment, beauty and all things event planning.

Finley Catering • Philadelphia

Finley Catering has four venues that can host weddings and other large events. Three of the venues, the Crystal Tea Room, the Ballroom at The Ben and Union Trust are all historical and unique spaces in Philadelphia. The fourth venue, the Ballroom at Ellis Preserve, is also a historic building set in a pastoral locale in Newtown Square, PA. Finley plans to open a fifth venue “The Ivy,” which will be located just outside the city.

finleycatering.com, 215-627-5100 @FinleyCatering

Mount Airy Casino Resort • Mount Airy, PA

Mount Airy Casino Resort offers a AAA Four-Diamond experience in the pristine scenery of the Pocono Mountains. With 30,000 square feet of meeting space, more than 1,000 acres of resort amenities and the most exciting dining and entertainment, we’ve got everything you need to make your next meeting extraordin-AIRY.

mountairycasino.com, 877-682-4791 @MountAiryCasino

Springfield Country Club • Springfield Township, PA

Award-winning wedding and event venue open to the public featuring innovative cuisine, impeccable service, gorgeous ballrooms and first-class amenities including an onsite Courtyard Marriott hotel, full-service restaurant and bar, 18-hole golf course and spa.

springfieldcc.net, 610-690-7600 @SpringfieldCountryClub