How to Plan a Beautiful Bridal Shower Mimosa Bar

A mimosa bar—where guests create their own DIY mimosa-style cocktails—adds a unique twist to any bridal shower while taking a little bit of the pressure off the host during the event. While a traditional mimosa includes Champagne (or some kind of sparkling wine, like cava or prosecco) mixed with fresh orange juice, there are plenty of ways to put a creative twist on the traditional mimosa by adding other fresh fruit juices and delicious garnishes.

Ahead, experts answer your biggest questions when it comes to setting up a beautiful bridal shower mimosa bar. They also share their own unique signature cocktail recipes to make your mimosa bar one-of-a-kind. Cheers!

The Benefits of a Mimosa Bar

The two-ingredient mimosa, traditionally made with sparkling wine and orange juice, doesn’t require a mixologist’s degree to create, making it an ideal drink for a self-serve bar. “Hosts aren’t distracted playing bartender and guests are able to customize their drinks to their personal tastes,” says Sarah Harmacek, the beverage director at Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa. Plus, you can make your set-up as simple or as elaborate as you’d like, to match the theme and group attending. “Just be sure to place your bar in an area that won’t cause congestion and where guests can help themselves with ease,” notes Lindsay Laubenstein, the beverage manager at The Lytle Park Hotel.

The Best Kinds of Sparkling Wines for Mimosas

The most important ingredient in a mimosa bar is, of course, the bubbles and there are many options to choose from including prosecco, cava, and Champagne. “Prosecco has a floral and fruit-forward profile so it mixes well with almost everything,” says Harmacek. “Cava and champagne can be rich in texture, but if you stick to ‘brut’ designations, they’ll have enough tartness and acidity to make a great mimosa.” A dry, sparkling cider is also a nice choice, especially during the fall and winter months, notes Joseph Kocjan, the creative beverage director at The Morrow Hotel. To create a more complex and higher ABV cocktail, Rebecca Kentish, a bartender at The Ritz-Carlton Lobby Lounge at Grand Lakes Orlando, suggests featuring some mimosa recipes containing gin or vodka.

The Best Fruit Juices for Mimosas

Because they have a good acid-to-sweetness balance and hold their flavor, orange, grapefruit, and cranberry are juice must-haves, while pineapple, pomegranate, passion fruit, mango, and guava make for some exciting twists on the traditional juice menu.

For an even fresher take, Harmacek likes to include fruity and herbal liqueurs such as Campari, Aperol, St Germain, and Peach Schnapps. “They add depth and complexity to flavor combinations and a little more booze if that’s what you’re looking for,” she says. To intensify a mimosa’s hue, consider cherry and pomegranate juices and peach and strawberry purees. Or, try some flavored vanilla and lavender syrups, favorites of Jason Sorge, a beverage manager and mixologist at AVANT at Rancho Bernardo Inn. Fruit sorbets also add visual appeal and an unexpected taste to a mimosa.

Mimosa Garnish Ideas

Mixologists suggest coordinating garnishes with the juices and liqueurs you’re offering, which can include fruit slices like lemon, orange, and peach, or berries and pomegranate seeds. “A host should also consider cubed watermelon, pineapple, and mango as well as lemon, orange, and grapefruit twists,” says Kocjan, who prepares garnishes in advance to avoid knife mishaps and alleviate lines at the bar.

“I like using fresh herbs including basil, rosemary, thyme, lavender, and mint for their look and because there’s no slicing required,” says Deon Togami, a beverage manager at Prince Waikiki. To jazz up a glass rim, Kentish suggests an application of sugar and edible gold. She also recommends arranging garnishes in colorful bowls and displaying skewers to make building and consuming garnishes easy on guests.

Choosing the Right Glassware

Champagne flutes are a classic mimosa go-to, but mixologists agree stemless wine glasses provide more stability. “Plus, you can do more with garnishes with a wider-mouthed glass,” says Sorge. To save on cleaning and mishaps, look for high-quality, shatterproof acrylic options from retailers such as Juliska and Tossware or you can find durable glasses at Libbey. “Place a few dry-erase or washable markers on the bar so guests can write their names on their drinks,” advises Harmacek.

The Best Bar Tools for a Mimosa Bar

Kocjan recommends tongs for the garnishes, easy-pour carafes for the juices, a jigger for measuring any liqueurs, and a bar spoon for stirring mixers.

Stocking the Bar With Enough Ingredients

Plan on creating six to eight mimosas for every 750 ml bottle (25 fluid ounces) of sparkling wine you have on hand. “For a party of twenty, where each guest will consume two to three drinks, you’ll need about eight bottles,” says Kocjan. As for the ideal alcohol/mixer ratio, Sorge likes a 2/3 sparkling wine to 1/3 mixer while Laubenstein prefers a 50/50 split. “There’s no wrong answer on what ratio to use—some people like a boozy brunch while others are just looking for a splash of sparkle,” says Harmacek. “That’s the beauty of a mimosa bar—everyone has their sweet spot and guests can create a personal pour.”

How to Keep Sparkling Wine Cold

Sparkling wines should be kept at 43° to 48°F, as a warm environment can turn bubbles flat, fast, says Kentish. Refrigerate bottles for at least three hours before serving, then keep them well-chilled to preserve the bubbles. Be sure to have an ice-filled bucket, cooler, or tub on hand—an insulated sleeve will do the job as well. Some people like to keep their mimosas cold by adding ice, but doing so will dissolve the bubbles faster, making for a less effervescent moment. “Consider faux, reusable ice cubes or add a few frozen grapes to your mimosa to keep your drink cold without diluting it,” says Sorge. “Once finished, the grapes make for a lovely little snack.”

The Best Way to Decorate a Mimosa Bar

Start by creating a color theme and then take it from there. “Etsy is an amazing resource for mimosa bar décor—from acrylic signage to custom drink tags to cheeky cocktail napkins to personalized balloons to a mimosa bar party in a box—you can find everything you need to bring your shower to life,” says Jacin Fitzgerald, founder of Jacin Fitzgerald Events. If you’re providing straws, consider plastic-free, sustainable bamboo options like Bambu, which don't fall apart as soon as they get wet. To assist guests, print and frame a few signature recipes and display them on the bar. 

Mimosa Recipe Ideas

Mixologists often think beyond the typical champagne and orange juice blend to create their own unique concoctions. Ahead, our experts share some of their favorites.

The Beach Hut

“When substituting orange juice, you want to make sure you find a good balance between sweetness and acidity. In this drink, Aperol adds the former and the fruit puree the latter,” says Sarah Harmacek, beverage director at Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spa.

Ingredients:

• 0.5 oz Passion Fruit Puree
• 0.5 oz Aperol
• 4 oz Prosecco
• Strawberry

Directions:

Add the passion fruit puree and Aperol to a wine glass, top with prosecco, and garnish with a strawberry.

Mimosa Blossom

"This clean and fresh cocktail is a twist on a traditional mimosa, featuring refreshing cognac and elderflower,” says Karen Clarke, a beverage manager at the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Spa.

Ingredients:

• 0.5 oz Elderflower
• 0.25 oz Cognac 
• 4 oz Champagne
• 3 Green Grapes

Directions:

Place the grapes in the glass, add the champagne, and top off with the cognac and elderflower.

Mimosa Pick-Me-Up

“The floral taste of the bergamot liqueur combined with the sweet agave nectar and champagne makes for a refreshing twist to the traditional mimosa,” says Joseph Kocjan, the creative beverage director at The Morrow Hotel.

Ingredients:

• 0.5 oz Bergamot Liqueur
• 1 oz Guava Nectar
• 3.5 oz Champagne
• Orange Twist
• Edible Flower
• Pinch of Salt
  

Directions:

Stir together the bergamot liqueur, salt, and guava nectar until the salt is dissolved, top with champagne and garnish with an orange twist.

Summer in Dominica

“With just four ingredients, this refreshing cocktail is simple to make and includes a flavor combo that’s both surprising and delightful," says Ezequiel Huerta, a bar manager at Eden Roc Cap Cana.

Ingredients:

• 4.5 oz Sparkling Wine
• Pineapple Chunks or Slices
  Honey
• Pineapple 
• Basil Leaves
• Mini Clothes Pin
  

Directions: Fill a shaker halfway with ice, add two chunks of pineapple, a dash of honey, eight basil leaves, and shake. Strain into a glass, top with sparkling wine and garnish with a clothespin and pineapple or basil leaf.

Mangonada Mimosa

“This cocktail is the perfect combination of spicy, salty, and sweet—a chamoy and tajin rim adds to the visual effect," says Robert Cate, a mixologist at Prep & Pastry.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Mango Puree 
• 4.5 oz Sparkling Wine
• 1 oz Chamoy Sauce
• 1 tbsp Tajin
  

Directions: 

Rim the glass in chamoy sauce, then dip in the tajin. Pour the mango puree into a glass and fill it with sparkling wine.

Thyme After Thyme

“F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, ‘Too much of anything is bad, but too much champagne is just right.’ This cocktail is not only just right, but it’s visually appealing as well,” says Rebecca Kentish, bartender at The Ritz-Carlton Lobby Lounge at Grande Lakes Orlando. 

• Ingredients:
• 1 oz Passion Fruit Liqueur
• 3.5 oz Prosecco
• 0.5 oz Gold Glitter
• Orange Peel
• Thyme Sprigs

Directions:

Slide a lemon wedge around the glass’s rim, dip in the edible glitter, add the passion fruit liquor, top with prosecco, stir, and garnish with an orange peel and sprig of thyme.

Flertini Mimosa

“The foam on this refreshing vodka-based cocktail gives it a refreshing look while the tiny clothespin provides a unique way to display the orange slice garnish,” says Marcello Cabiddu, a bartender at the Abi d’Oru Hotel.  

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Vodka 
• 0.5 oz Cointreau 
• 0.5 oz Pineapple juice 
• 0.5 oz Champagne
• Small Clothes Pin
• Orange Slice

Directions:

Add the vodka, Cointreau, and pineapple juice to a shaker, shake, double strain into a glass, top with champagne, and garnish with a fruit slice.

Elderflower Mimosa

"With notes of sweet elderflower and fresh lime, this light and crisp cocktail is easy to make with only four ingredients,” says Rene Votteler, Food & Beverage Director at Wequassett Resort & Golf Club.

Ingredients:

• 5 oz Champagne
• 0.5 oz St-Germain Liqueur
• Lime Juice
• Mint Leaves
  

Directions:

In a shaker add the ice, St. Germain Liqueur, and a dash of lime juice. Shake, pour into a glass, top with Champagne, and garnish with mint leaves.

Citrus and Sage Mimosa

“This sparkling cocktail has just a hint of bitterness while the essence of fresh sage will keep guests sipping their drinks all bridal shower long,” says Austin Jacobs, bartender at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills. 

Ingredients: 

• 1 oz Grapefruit Juice
• 0.5 oz Agave Syrup
• 0.5 oz Sparkling Wine
• Sage Sprig

Directions:

Add all the ingredients into a glass and garnish with a sprig of sage.

Pineapple Paradise

"The tropical notes of the pineapple and the tartness of the cranberry juice make for a nice twist on a classic mimosa, an easy-to-make approachable upgrade," says Matt Foster, Beverage Consultant for Culinary Canvas at The Noble.  

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Pineapple Juice
• 4 oz Prosecco 
• 1 oz Cranberry Juice (for a tart flavor) or 1 oz Peach Juice (for a sweet flavor)
• Pineapple or Peach Slide 

Directions:

Add the pineapple juice to the glass and slowly pour in the prosecco until one inch from the top. Gently stir in the cranberry or peach juice, garnish with a pineapple or peach wedge