If you are looking for a unique activity for your bridal shower, handcrafted garnishes are a fun way to invite your guests to express their creativity. And coolers are the perfect beverage for this activity. Not only will you be enhancing the flavours of the coolers, you’ll be enhancing your presentation by pouring them into a glass and decorating them with beautiful creations. Invite your guests to get creative, or go minimalist. Here are some tips and ideas for inspiration.
Heart it up
You can’t have a bridal shower without hearts and they are so easy to make. A lemon peel on a skewer with its ends tucked into a cherry forms a lovely yellow heart with a bright red centre. Heart shapes also naturally exist in different fruits. Strawberries, for example. Simply slice a strawberry in half, cut a little triangle notch out of the tops and voilà, two hearts that will look beautiful just floating in the glass. Grape tomatoes are also ready to become hearts – simply slice 1/3 off the bottom of two tomatoes, at an angle, then join the two big pieces together with a toothpick – perfect for spicier coolers such as Caesars.
Fruit kebobs
On a skewer, or even a rosemary sprig, layer the fruits and/or berries that are in the cooler, to make the flavours even more vibrant. Or, add fruits that aren’t in the cooler, to create a whole new flavour combination. Don’t be afraid to experiment with flavours and colours.
Minimalism
This is all about using the fewest ingredients to make the most impact. One of the best ways to do this is with colour. For example, a bright yellow lemon slice wrapped around a dark purple blackberry is a simple, stunning garnish.
A “peeling” shape
Orange, lemon and lime come wrapped in peels that are ready to become art. Swirls, rosettes and even “knots” are classic “3D” shapes but you can also cut out shapes such as stars, smiley faces and, of course, hearts. Just give them a little notch and decorate around the rim of your glass.
Frozen beauty
Freezing fruit and berries in ice cubes are an eye-catching way to add colour to your coolers and a great way to keep them cold. Herbs, like rosemary and mint, also look beautiful in ice. But to really impress your guests, edible flowers, such as pansies, can also be frozen in cubes. Of course, you would have to prepare these beforehand. The fun for your guests would be in choosing two or three ice cubes to add to their glass to create interesting flavour and colour combinations.