How about a wedding themed bar for your reception; something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue! (We can leave the sixpences and shoes out of this one….)   Limiting your bar selections keeps the cost down (just add beer, wine and soda) and adds a quirky, personal touch.  All that good luck wedding ceremony lore will be covered too!  (I’d just open the bar AFTER the wedding ceremony!)

A nice cooling Tom Collins (lemon juice, sugar, gin and lemon garnish) could cover your something old (or my personal fave, the Negroni  with gin, vermouth and Campari with an orange slice).   (A great resource for inspiration is “Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails”) New? Cosmos (vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, lime juice) or any other designer martini that works with your color scheme.  With the multitude of flavored vodkas and designer juices available, you’re sure to come up with something fantastic; and then name it after yourselves!

Borrowed can be covered by something from your family’s heritage; Russian Vodka, single malt Scotch, Tequila or maybe a classic

Black and Tan, the classic British pub drink that floats a layer of pale ale atop a base of stout! It’s easy to make and a fun combination for your beer lovers to try.  And for blue, of course, there are dozens of choices; Blue margueritas, Blue Hawaii’s, Blue Bays and any number of great concoctions, perfect for your beach or lakeside wedding.