Autumn-Inspired Signature Cocktail Ideas Straight from the Wedding Pros

Fall is widely recognized as a time of harvest, meaning it's also associated with delicious, seasonal fare. While it's easy enough to infuse your wedding food with mouthwatering ingredients from the year's fruitful crops, your dinner menu isn't the only place where you can add an autumnal influence. Brides and grooms who adore fall—from the cooler weather to the changing leaves—can celebrate this time of year through their wedding cocktails, too. Signature drinks inspired by the season are as tasty as they are festive, and they're a great finishing touch for all sorts of celebrations. Whether you're planning a full-blown fall-themed fest or just want to sneak in small seasonal touches, autumnal sips are a great way to give a nod to your wedding date.

If you're looking to spice up your cocktail offerings with fall-friendly fixings, check out this list, which is made up of recipes from wedding and mixology experts alike. These drinks include a whole range of autumnal accents, from apples and cinnamon to warming liquors like bourbon and scotch. Whether you're craving a new take on the classic Old Fashioned or looking for something entirely unique, there's a sip in this roundup for everyone. There are also drinks for various stages of the wedding, from the cocktail hour to after dinner. Best of all, these flavorful ideas are as colorful as they are delicious, so that you can include fall's reds and oranges in as many aspects of your big day as possible. Find the right autumn drink for you here!

"Fall is a perfect time for bourbon because it marries so well with the season's flavors. My favorite fall cocktail is our Bourbon Pie. Combine your favorite bourbon with Applejack, roasted pumpkin puree, maple syrup, and a dash of fig and cinnamon bitters in a shaker filled with ice. Shake! Strain into a tumbler with a large ice cube. Garnish with a caramelized fig or brandied cherry." —Carla Ruben, Owner and Creative Director, Creative Edge Parties

"This drink is an interpretive autumn twist on a classic Sidecar Cocktail, hence the name. It features spice pear reduction, adding sweet pear juice, vanilla, and thyme flavors. This scrumptious drink is completed with Calvados, an apple brandy, and a pear ball garnish." —The Fearrington House Bar, Fearrington Village

"The Grandhattan is the epitome of a refreshing and relaxing fall beverage. The focus of the cocktail is Coppercraft Distillery's Applejack, an apple brandy made with 32 varieties of local Michigan apples. Nothing indicates better the transition to fall than the abundance of delicious Michigan apples, and for that reason I love this recipe." —Alicia Caldecott, Owner, A Day in May Events

"This fall, help your guests relax with a slow cocktail like the My Favorite Godfather. Imbibing on something you can sip slowly throughout cocktail hour will ensure your guests arrive to dinner relaxed and ready for an evening of celebrating. You can also create a personal tie-in by substituting a small batch spirit that's representative of your favorite city as a couple." —Lov Carpenter, Lead Mixologist, Blue Plate Catering

"Our Noche Night Cap cocktail is a great example of a unique drink with flavors that'll make you beg for sweater weather! Made with espresso, Grand Marnier, Frangelico, espresso tequila, heavy cream, and topped off with grated cinnamon, it's got a smooth, coffee finish perfect for the crisp weather. And, since we believe a cocktail as unique as this deserves more than your typical cocktail hour, we suggest serving this drink as an after-dinner drink, in lieu of (or in addition to) a coffee station." —Anna Griffith, Sales Manager, Cannon Green

"This cocktail is a nod to one of our favorite fall pastimes, apple picking! The Apple of My Eye is a cool, crisp sip of autumn that has a warm, spiced finish. It gets its fall hues from the cider and toasted spices. Add a cinnamon stick for a festive and flavorful garnish." —Brianna Sumey, Director of Sales, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards

"Give the classic Old Fashioned a festive fall spin by substituting the sugar cube and maraschino cherry with coriander simple syrup and local plums. The coriander adds an unexpected flavor twist and the plums provide tartness and a pretty jewel tone your guests will love." —Cammie Buehler, Managing Partner, Epicure Catering

"The combination of ginger syrup and lemon juice makes this cocktail perfect for enjoying the beauty of fall." —Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Bartender, Rosewood Mayakoba

"Bring in the smoky warmth for autumn with a cedar plank Old Fashioned. For an Old Fashioned with a smoky twist, torch a cedar plank and stir in your favorite bourbon, sugar, and bitters. Our dark and boozy version of an Old Fashioned is enhanced with the fall flavors of Peychaud bitters and cedar wood smoke. Perfect for relaxing by the fireplace on a chilly Autumn night." —Kaitlyn Hostetler, Director of Marketing, EVOKE

"Apples played a huge part in the early history of the United States of America, with the likes of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) planting vast amounts of cider apples and George Washington growing and distilling cider and apple brandy. This refreshing cocktail celebrates both apple brandy and apple cider. The addition of rosemary, juniper, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon zest add the warm baking spice notes, while keeping the cocktail bright and extremely quaffable." —Krissy Harris, Beverage Director, Union Square Events