Hi y’all! Erin here wishing you a very happy Monday. Right now is one of my favorite times of year in Charleston…restaurant week! It’s no secret that we Soirettes love a good meal. I had a fab supper last night at Cypress and Tara loved her experience at Charleston Grill on Friday! Feeling inspired by all things cuisine, I thought I would share some fun foodie picks with you from some of our past weddings.

Being in the South, heavy hors d’oeuvres are a staple at any wedding! We love to dress our up with lovely tray liners and fun picks!

Happy Monday Y’all! This week starts one of our absolute favorite weeks of the year….Charleston Restaurant Week!

Once a year, Charleston’s tastiest come up with delicious prix fixe menus with several options for an appetizer, entree and dessert. Best of all, you can get 3 courses for $40 or LESS!! CRW starts this Thursday and goes until the 22nd. Restaurant prices range from $20-$40 per person depending on the restaurant. Restaurants are not limited to the peninsula either, you can find participating restaurants in West Ashley, Mt. Pleasant, James Island, Daniel Island and Summerville. We know everyone is tightening their purse strings after the holiday spending so what a great excuse to dine out and not break the bank?! Our suggestion- make reservations early! Most of the restaurants will fill up fast. If you want a complete list of all participating restaurants be sure to check out their website for more info! And be sure to report back to the Bon Bon Blog for your favorite spots…we want feedback!

Here at Soiree we are known for our “signature” signature drink- the Lowcountry Lemonade.

This refreshing cocktail is a mix of crushed ice, peach schnapps and fresh squeezed lemonade. So simple, yet so tasty! We often find ourselves creating new  concoctions for our clients that showcase their personalities. It is so much fun to get to know our couples then see what kind of fun way we can incorporate their drinks of choice into the reception. Of course, an added bonus of having a signature cocktail at your reception is that it alleviates the initial rush to the bar. If there is one thing we can’t stand in the least, it is a line of guests waiting to get a drink!! Greeting guests with a beverage as they walk in the door is such a friendly gesture to show them how much you appreciate their attendance!

We’ve had so many drinks over the years, from classic champagne cocktails:

To whimsical Southern inspired punches:

We also really love naming the cocktails after our clients! For instance, we named this drink after the lady of the hour, “Blushing Bride.” On another occasion we did a play on the bride’s name, Lawton, to create the “Lawdy Toddie”

Of course you an always spruce up any plain cocktail or glass of wine by adding a custom tray liner to your passing trays. Here The Lettered Olive created ikat inspired tray liners in the wedding’s color scheme.

Another great idea if you are using stemware is a custom collar. Trust me, these will be conversation starters!

Since we are in the season for entertaining, I hope these ideas give get your creative minds working on sprucing up your cocktails. Just remember to have fun with it…and save me a glass! Cheers!