One Tequila, Two Tequila… The Best Tequila Wedding Drinks For Your Guests to Throw Back

f you're a tequila fan, you're probably rounding up lots of great tequila wedding drinks for your bartender to mix up during your reception. And if you really love tequila, we've got lots of other great ways to incorporate it into your big day. Whether it's a fully stocked make-your-own margarita bar near the dance floor or handing out cute tequila shot wedding favors, we know you'll find a way to bring your first-choice liquor to the party.

Once you've found your bartender (The Knot Vendor Marketplace is full of great options!), hand them this collection of tequila wedding cocktails to keep you and your guests in that celebratory mood all night long.

In this article:

• Best Tequila for a Wedding
• Mixologist's Best Tequila Wedding Cocktail Recipes
• Tequila Wedding Drink Ideas
  

Best Tequila for a Wedding

It's always tempting to buy the least expensive bottle you can find when you're paying to serve lots of people at an open bar. But remember, your signature tequila drinks will taste the best when you start with a quality tequila. Luckily, there are plenty of brands that offer premium tequila at an affordable price, which is key when considering the average cost of alcohol for a wedding. Purchasing alcohol on your own? Here's a handy wedding alcohol calculator to help you get started. But first, a little tequila education.

• Tequila is aged in barrels. Blanco indicates a pure and clear tequila, which hasn't been aged. It's great for sipping and mixing.
• Añejo tequila has been aged for some time and often offers a more complex flavor profile, along with a higher price tag.
• Reposado tequila has aged for only a short amount of time, and offers a nice balance of flavors, both agave (like blanco) and woody (like añejo) notes.

Federico Victorio, the bar director at NYC-based restaurant Mayahuel, recommends Mijenta Tequila Blanco as a fantastic tequila for a wedding. "This tequila brand is women-owned and operated, and I love that it is organic and additive-free. It is extremely smooth with sweet, floral and vanilla notes that remind me of the fresh flowers and scents that you think of at weddings," he says.

Abishek Sharma, owner, beverage director and chef of Chef Abi Catering in NYC, recommends Casamigos since it's smooth, easy to sip and universally liked by guests. Another option he often serves at events is Espolòn, which he finds to be a great quality tequila at a lower price point. Finally, he says, "Clase Azul is a nice premium option that comes in a visually striking bottle, making it a top choice for a special toast. Each of these brands offers good balance and versatility, perfect for catering to a wide range of guest preferences."

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Mixologist's Best Tequila Wedding Cocktail Recipes

Ready to stock your bar with tequila for wedding cocktails to keep with the latest wedding cocktail trends? Now that you know the best types to use, you'll need some signature wedding drinks with tequila to serve at your reception. We've consulted with some mixologists to learn some of today's most popular tequila wedding drinks your guests are sure to enjoy.

1. Classic Margarita

Photo: Dana Cubbage Weddings

For tequila lovers, it's not a wedding until there's a classic margarita, served chilled or frozen. Sharma shares an easy margarita recipe for weddings.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. tequila
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. triple sec
• salt for the rim
• lime wedge

How to Make: Rim the glass with salt. Shake tequila, lime juice and triple sec with ice. Strain into a glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a lime.

2. Tequila Paloma

Photo: Richelle Hunter Photography

This popular tequila wedding cocktail is a must-have if you're serving this libation to your guests. With refreshing grapefruit juice as a main ingredient, the paloma wedding drink name comes from the Spanish word for grapefruit, pomelo.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. tequila
• 2 oz. grapefruit juice
• ½ oz. lime juice
• 2 oz. club soda
• pinch of salt

How to Make: Fill a glass with ice. Add tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice and salt. Stir, then top with club soda.

3. Tequila Sunrise

Photo: Laura Matthews Photography

This beautiful drink made of tequila, orange juice and grenadine makes a vibrant, ombre libation that's totally eye-catching. That's why we think it belongs on your short list of signature tequila drinks for your wedding (here are some other great signature cocktail ideas).

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. tequila
• 4 oz. orange juice
• ½ oz. grenadine

How to Make: Pour tequila and orange juice into a glass over ice. Slowly pour grenadine so the different colors create a sunrise effect.

4. Frozen Strawberry Margarita

Photo: Fizelwink Photography

A frozen strawberry margarita is a tasty crowd-pleaser, Sharma says, and it's simple to prepare in large quantities for easy service. Serve these alone or alongside a frozen classic margarita for a fun selection that's easy to pull off.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. tequila
• 1 oz. triple sec
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup ice

How to Make: Blend all the ingredients together until smooth, and serve it in a salt-rimmed glass with a fresh strawberry garnish.

5. Spicy Margarita

Photo: Devon Donnahoo Photography

When putting together your bar list for your wedding day, don't forget to include a tequila wedding drink that suits those who like things hot! This spicy margarita recipe from Victorio includes a dash of chile liqueur for a touch of heat. Garnish with a slice of jalapeno for an attractive addition that boosts the spiciness.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Tanteo Chipotle Tequila
• 1 oz. Alma Tepec Chile Pasilla Liqueur
• 1 oz. fresh lime juice
• ¾ oz. agave syrup

How to Make: Shake with ice, strain into a tajín-rimmed glass and garnish with a lime wedge.

6. Tequila Espresso Martini

Photo: Marc Vasquez

Elevate your tequila drink recipes when you include this beautifully dark espresso martini made with aged tequila. Victorio shares this martini, in which you and your guests will enjoy a full-bodied coffee flavor with a twist of tequila.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Mijenta Añejo
• 1 oz. fresh espresso
• ½ oz. coffee liqueur
• ¼ oz. agave syrup

How to Make: Shake vigorously, strain into a cup and garnish with a coffee bean.

7. Tequila French 75

Photo: Abby Jiu

If you're looking to include an upscale tequila cocktail recipe, Sharma recommends the Tequila French 75, which swaps in tequila for the usual gin, and is served in a flute glass for a classy vibe. A blanco tequila works best in this cocktail given its bright, crisp flavor profile and clear color.

How to Make: Shake two ounces of tequila with lime juice and simple syrup, strain it into a flute glass, top it with champagne or sparkling wine and garnish with a lemon twist.

8. Blood Orange Margarita

Photo: Ryan Greenleaf Photography

No autumn wedding would be complete (for tequila lovers, that is) without this visually stunning blood orange margarita. "A fall classic, this delicious take on a margarita is bold and beautiful," says Katie Thompson, beverage director at The Lodge at Spruce Peak in Stowe, Vermont.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz. fresh blood orange juice and 1.5 oz. fresh orange juice
• ½ oz. fresh lime juice
• ½ oz. Cointreau or other triple sec
• 2 oz. silver tequila (we recommend El Jimador)
• Some pinches of kosher salt for the rim
• small blood orange wedges
• Ice

How to Make: Fill a glass with ice. Add tequila, orange juices, lime juice, triple sec and salt. Stir, then garnish with a blood orange wedge.

Tequila Wedding Drink Ideas

Maybe you're not planning on having a top-shelf bar at your reception. No worries! There are plenty of other great ideas for incorporating your favorite libation into your wedding day. Below, we've listed some of our favorites.

9. Set Up a Make-Your-Own Margarita Bar

Photo: Jen Lynne Photography

It's simple to set up a margarita bar for a wedding. Set it up outside, or right next to the dance floor, so guests can mix up their own margaritas and top them with their choice of garnishes. For a basic margarita bar, you'll need tequila, of course, but also lime juice, triple sec, simple syrup (consider offering an array of different flavors), salt and ice.

10. Have a Tequila Toast

Photo: Photo By Julieta

Kick the night off with a tequila shot wedding ceremony toast instead of champagne. This pairs perfectly for couples who'd like to give guests tequila shot glasses as wedding favors.

11. Include a Tequila Tasting Bar

Photo: JOSEPH LIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Sharma suggests offering a curated tasting station with three to five different types of tequila for your guests to sample. Be sure to include a variety that includes blanco, reposado and añejo for that full tequila flight experience.

12. Cocktail Hour With Tequila Flights

Photo: KRISTYN HOGAN

Here's another great suggestion from Sharma—set up a wedding taco bar or pair your tequila wedding drinks with mini bites like ceviche, tacos or guacamole shooters. These foods pair perfectly with this libation for an all-around experience your guests will love.

13. Late-Night Espresso Martini Bar

Photo: Marc Vasquez

If you're hoping your guests will be on the dance floor long after the sun sets, tequila espresso martinis can do the trick. Serve them late in the evening before the dance floor starts to slow down in order to keep guests dancing all night long, Victorio suggests.

14. Rent a Tequila-Serving Wedding Donkey

Photo: Jennifer Weems Photography

Imagine the amazing looks on your guests' faces when they see a tequila-serving wedding donkey ambling about, carrying drinks and appetizers for them to enjoy. Your furry little burro can pass out wedding tequila shots or cocktails with tequila in small glasses. So adorable!

15. Serve a Signature Tequila Drink to Match Your Color Scheme

Photo: THE DAY

Before your wedding day, work with your bartender to come up with a custom tequila cocktail that matches the color scheme or vibe of your wedding. Consider adding hibiscus for a beach wedding, sparkly champagne for a black tie affair or grenadine if your bridesmaids will be decked in red.