Celebrity mixologist Alex Ott blends a personalized beverage for each bridesmaid. Gibson pitcher, $29.95; Hammered oval bowl, $29.95; rectangular server, $22.95; Ona pitcher, $24.95; Athena candleholder, $24.95; all, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Stainless steel and glass Boston Shaker, $40; WMF. Stainless steel cocktail strainer, $7.95; Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
Paris martini glass, $8.95 each; Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Nara rectangular platter, $55; Apilco at Williams-Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com.
Mango de la Brazil
1 lemon wedge
1 package Stirrings
Pomegranate Rimmer (sugar)
2 1⁄2 oz. Agua Luca Cachaça rum
2 oz. mango nectar
1⁄2 oz. fresh lemon juice
Mint sprig (garnish)
Moisten the rim of a martini glass with a lemon wedge, then dip in sugar. Combine rum, nectar, and juice with ice in a shaker, shake, and strain into the glass. Garnish with mint. Serves 1.
Stemless martini glass, $1.95, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
Limey Winey
1⁄2 lime, diced
2 1⁄2 tsp. superfine sugar
3 1⁄2 oz. Ecco Domani
Merlot wine
Lime spiral (garnish)
Crush lime and sugar together with a muddling stick until all lime juice is extracted. Add wine and ice and shake. Strain and serve with ice. Garnish. Serves 1.
Stainless Classic cocktail shaker, $19.95, and classic margarita glass, $3.95; both, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. White ceramic curved Totem vase (on table), $24; West Elm, westelm.com.
Square porcelain dish, $1.25; Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Sweet and salty coconut shrimp makes a fine partner for fruity cocktails.
Whole Kitchen Three Cheese Mini Frozen Pizzas get glammed up with a bit of fresh basil. This "tray" is a picture frame, lined with graphic paper. Chunky 8"x10" wood frame, $39; West Elm, westelm.com.
A bed of haricots vert (thin green beans) provides a colorful contrast for Asian-Style Vegetable Dumplings with a tangy soy-ginger dipping sauce. White resin tray (with dumplings), $16; West Elm, westelm.com.
To avoid the infamous "double dipping," spoon Cedar’s Roasted Red Pepper Hummus into individual espresso cups. Boil string beans, baby carrots, yellow wax beans, and green cauliflower for one minute, then chill in ice water to keep them crisp and heighten the colors. Pagoda sauce dish, $1.25, and glass Helsinki appetizer plate, $6.95; both, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Stemless martini glass (with vegetables), $1.95; Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com. Porcelain Paula espresso cups and saucers, $30 for six; Bodum, bodumusa.com. White melamine Maxx tray, $15.95; Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
Calloway flute, $9.95, Crate & Barrel, crateandbarrel.com.
Crème Cocoa-Café
1 1⁄2 oz. Svedka Vanillavodka
1 1⁄2 oz. Godiva
Chocolate Liqueur
1⁄2 oz. Kahlúa coffee liqueur
2 1⁄2 oz. heavy cream
3 tsp. superfine sugar
Easy Leaf edible gold sprinkles (garnish)
Combine vodka and liqueurs with ice in a shaker. Shake and strain into the glass. In a separate shaker, combine five ice cubes with the cream and sugar. Shake for 10 seconds. Strain slowly into the glass to create a second layer. Garnish. Serves 1.
Valhrona chocolate devil’s food "Circle of Friends" cake with dark chocolate Grand Marnier ganache and mocha buttercream filling, iced in vanilla rolled fondant, Cheryl Kleinman and Maria Rose for Cheryl Kleinman Cakes, 718-237-2271. Porcelain skirted cake stand, $15, and stoneware Black Dots dessert plates, $15 for 4; both, Rosanna, rosannainc.com. Stainless steel Austen forks, $11 each; Yamazaki, yamazakitableware.com.
Bowling-bag purse, $14; Plum Party, plumparty.com. Pink cocktail shaker, $55; Julia Knight, juliaknight.net. Rimmer, $5.95; Stirrings, stirrings.com. Paper cocktail cards, $24 for 30 assorted; Dream Graphics, dreamgraphics.com. Chiseled Pinkglass, $24.99 per pair; After 5, after5catalog.com. Mini heart, $40 for set of 4; Soizick, georgewatts.com.
