Artful Food & Drink

Let’s admit it – your predrinks can be the worst few hours of you wedding day, with guests standing around in the sun and sipping an over-sweetened cocktail, waiting for the couple of the hour to finish the most important part of their day.

But with good planning, these few hours can really set the mood for the rest of the night and it will be a preparty your guests will remember long after the last bubbly has been popped.

It’s the first impressions that count the most, right?  So here are a few tips to make your predrinks the party of the year.

As we all know, gin is the coolest spirit in town these days. So create a gin bar where guests can dress their own G&T’s.

2017’s favourite flavours are:

Gordon’s gin with tonic water, cucumber ribbons, lemon, and mint. (This is the original and oh-so-local recipe).

Wilderer Fynbos gin mixed with tonic water, a little pomegranate juice, a handful of fresh pomegranate, a lime slice, and a sprig of fresh mint.

Tanqueray gin topped with fresh grapefruit juice, a slice of grapefruit, and a small rosemary twig.

Inverroche Verdant with tonic water, fresh fig halves, and a small sprig of thyme.

Don’t be afraid to add a little edible glitter to your drinks.  Metallic is still a 2017 trend and can really add some colour to your predrink party.

With food it is very important to remember that less is more.

Impress your guests with the quality of Northern Cape delicatessen, rather then the quantity of food.

Think mini Roosterkoek with Camembert, green fig preserve, and biltong. Or snack size ‘Skilpadjies,’ (lamb liver wrapped in Caul fat). Cones with homemade sweet potato chips and Aioli. Or you can opt for Charcuterie platters, with freshly baked bread, local cheeses, and fresh fruits. It is very important to use produce that is local and not imported – it will save money and give your guests a true culinary experience.

If you’re getting hitched in the winter, a cookies and milk table with coffee, tea, a variety of your granny’s homemade biscuits, and milky shots like ‘Melktertjies,’ (Vodka, condensed milk and cinnamon), Amarula, ‘Springbokkies,’(Peppermint Liqueur with Amarula), or coffee liqueur can be a hit!