Here at One World Weddings, we’re always looking for exotic libations from around the world. In previous posts we’ve gushed about St. Germaine, the French liqueur made from elderflowers, and of course absinthe, the epic spirit made from the wormwood plant. Now we’ve stumbled upon a few more up-and-coming liqueurs that we thought we’d share with you!

Cynar is an Italian liqueur primarily made from the artichoke. With a bittersweet flavor, the dark brown liquid contains 16.5% alcohol. It’s also thought to have an aphrodisiac effect among many other health benefits. Generally consumed as an apéritif or a digestif, cynar cocktails, with the addition of soda water, orange juice or cola are common in Europe. Some experts compare the flavor and potential of cynar with that of vermouth.

Another find is crème de violette. This classic liqueur has been hard to come by in the United States until last year when an Austrian brand hit the domestic market. The beautiful, deep purple liqueur made from a maceration of real violets has a deep floral nose and sweet flavor. Crème de Violette is an essential component to several classic cocktails: The Aviation features gin, lemon juice, maraschino and crème de violette and The Attention is composed of gin, absinthe, vermouth, crème de violette and orange bitters. These popular pre-prohibition concoctions are not cocktails for the faint of heart!

Get your hands on some cynar or crème de violette and create a truly unique signature cocktail for your One World Wedding!

Holiday Weddings can be a romantic and idyllic way to say “I do,” but there are many things to consider before setting the date. While the time of year certainly allows you to take advantage of seasonal accoutrements such as snow and holiday decorations, remember that the holidays are peak travel season—this means hotel and airfare rates can be sky-high so guests might be hesitant to book at this time of year. Also remember that people’s holiday plans often include traditions with their friends and family at home, so it might not be a convenient time of year for them to sneak out of town. Lastly, keep in mind that you’ll need to plan ahead when booking venues and vendors since you may be facing higher rates and stiff competition from holiday parties.

That aside, a holiday wedding can make great sense for you if your friends and family are willing to travel at this time or if they all live nearby. Send out a Save the Date card as soon as possible so that people can begin making necessary plans. And while you may have to spend a bit more on venues and vendors due to seasonal rates, remember, you might be able to save on décor and decorations. Never underestimate the power of a crackling fireplace, a crisp snowfall or the seasonal goodness of hot apple cider, spiked eggnog and hot chocolate!

Planning around specific holidays can be a fun way to share cultural traditions with your guests and there is no shortage of holidays coming up. For a Thanksgiving wedding, make a turkey dinner with all the fixings. At Christmas, ask each guest to bring an ornament for the tree that will become keepsakes for you. At Hanukkah, use traditional menorahs to light the celebration, include guests in traditional blessings and serve yummy potato latkes. For Diwali, the festival of light, use lots of candles and flowers to set the mood, and consider adding fireworks to the festivities. For a wedding during Kwanzaa, celebrate African-American culture with colorful African art, decoration and clothing. And for the pièce de résistance, New Year’s Eve, make sure you have plenty of champagne and noisemakers on hand to welcome the new year and celebrate your new life together.

Having a difficult time deciding on your final wedding menu? Here’s a quick tip: think regional! Even McDonald’s does it. For example, in Maine, the fast-food chain serves the McLobster Roll and the rumored McSpam special in Hawaii.

If your wedding is in the South, try a traditional Southern BBQ with all the fixings. For Yankees, a classic New England Clambake is the ticket. If you’re getting married in the Southwest, opt for a Mexican or Native American-inspired spread. Think about local cooking methods and indigenous ingredients that may also inspire your wedding venue, theme and style.

For many of your guests, your wedding may be their first trip to a specific region in the country, so they’re likely to be appreciative if you show off with some local flare. While your wedding cuisine can be a great showcase for locally grown ingredients, don’t forget to pair the food with regionally produced wines and microbeers.

Another fun idea is to give a shout-out to a nationally-recognized product that originates in your region. If you’re in Seattle, your bar might be stocked with Jones Soda, or in Boston, you could serve Dunkin’ Donuts at midnight!

Have fun with your menu and draw from the inspiration that is literally all around you.