Summer Sippin' - Why Every Couple Needs a Seasonal Signature Cocktail, Featuring "Chicago Med" Star Torrey DeVitto

There's a moment at every great wedding where the formality melts away and the party truly begins. A signature cocktail will get you there quicker! A good tip for getting your guests to partake of the cocktail is to have one that actually feels like it belongs to the season you're celebrating in.

We got to see this in action firsthand during our magazine's photo shoot at Tribeca Rooftop with actress Torrey DeVitto, known to Chicago Med fans everywhere. Torrey posed for us against the venue's exposed brick and skyline views, martini glass in hand, radiant in a hand-appliquéd floral gown. But it wasn't the dress that stole the show behind the scenes — it was the drink. OK - and the TV star's smile. But also the drink!

The Cocktail Became The Vibe

The drink of the day was an L'Orange Spritz, from Delola By Jennifer Lopez, garnished with a dehydrated orange wheel. Bright, citrus-forward, and a gorgeous sunset-orange color that photographed beautifully against the white marble bar — it was an instant hit on set. By the end of the shoot, it had become Torrey's go-to order, and by the time she planned her own summer wedding, it had graduated into the signature cocktail served to her guests.

That's the thing about a great seasonal drink: it doesn't just taste good, it tells a story. An orange spritz in July says something different than a spiced Old Fashioned in December — and your guests feel that, even if they couldn't articulate why.

Why a Seasonal Signature Drink Works So Well

It sets the tone before anyone says a word. A cocktail is often the first thing a guest experiences after the ceremony. A crisp, citrusy spritz instantly signals "summer garden party," while something dark and warming signals "cozy winter celebration." It's a mood-setter disguised as a drink.

It photographs beautifully. Color matters more than people expect. A vivid orange spritz, a jewel-toned winter cocktail, or a pastel spring gin fizz becomes an accent color throughout your whole wedding — on the bar, in toasts, in candid shots exactly like the ones here.

It's a conversation piece. Naming a drink after an in-joke, a favorite vacation spot, or the season gives your bartender something charming to say. It's a small detail that makes a big impression.

It simplifies your bar menu. Rather than a sprawling list of options, one or two thoughtfully chosen seasonal cocktails (plus the standards) keep service fast and your bar looking curated rather than cluttered.

How to Choose Yours

• Match it to your actual wedding date, not just "a season" in the abstract. A late-September wedding can lean into early fall notes — apple, cinnamon, a touch of spice — even if it's technically still warm out.

• Consider how it photographs. Ask your bartender or caterer to do a trial and actually photograph the finished drink in the lighting your venue will have.

• Give it a garnish with personality. A dehydrated citrus wheel, a sprig of rosemary, a cinnamon stick — garnishes are inexpensive and do a lot of visual heavy lifting.

• Let it reflect you, not just the calendar. The best signature cocktails, like Torrey's, tend to start as a favorite drink that simply happens to fit the season you're getting married in. Don't force a theme — follow what you already love.

  
  

At the end of the day, your signature cocktail is a small detail with an outsized payoff: it welcomes your guests, sets your wedding's tone, and gives your photographer one more gorgeous, telling detail to capture. Choose it with the same care you choose your flowers or your playlist, and it'll do a lot of quiet work for your celebration.

Click here to see the online version of "CELEBRATE" - Torrey's magazine feature.

Photography: Charming Images