Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. From lavender lemonade to blackberry spritz, these cocktails are sure to make a splash on your special day.
After the exchange of vows and the first kiss, it’s time for the wedding party. Food and drink play an important role in creating a festive atmosphere, but alcohol is not a requirement for your party. Whether you want to throw a completely “dry” party or simply complement your alcoholic set with non-alcoholic drinks, our cocktail options are sure to please your guests.
From spicy margaritas to raspberry mint juleps, there are plenty of non-alcoholic options to complement and decorate your party bar. Or maybe you’re looking for a light and refreshing cocktail option with the addition of seasonal berries and fruits for a summer chamber party. Or the best recipe for a flavorful apple cider for a fall celebration? No matter where or when you’re throwing your party, cocktails are guaranteed to lift the spirits on your special day.
In our new selection, we’ve gathered the best tips for making and serving wedding cocktails and picked colorful photos for your inspiration.
Why are non-alcoholic cocktails a great choice?
Don’t forget about children, pregnant women, friends, and relatives who live a completely sober lifestyle, and those who drive – you should include at least one non-alcoholic cocktail option at your wedding. This will allow the “non-drinking” part of the guests to feel part of the celebration on an equal footing with other invitees and take an active part in the festive toasts.
Serving non-alcoholic drinks is also a good choice if you are health-conscious, hope to stay within a budget, or simply want to offer your friends and family more choices.
Tips for choosing cocktails
The choice of non-alcoholic drinks depends a lot on the setting, the time of year, the concept of your wedding, and the food you will be serving.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Don’t forget the season
Adding seasonal berries, fruits, and herbs will make for flavorful drinks that will complement the ambiance of your wedding.
We recommend using refreshing fruit cocktails with the addition of flavorful herbs for outdoor parties in the spring and summer. Using seasonal berries such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries will also work well for weddings during the warmer months of the year. For fall and winter weddings, consider more savory and spicy drinks with added spices such as ginger or nutmeg.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Emphasize your character
This is an important day for you, so you’ll likely want to pick a cocktail that reflects your mood and attitude.
A non-alcoholic version of the Old Fashioned is perfect for couples who prefer classic and elegant. Don’t forget to garnish this golden aperitif cocktail with an orange slice and a cocktail cherry.
A fruity spritz is suitable for more playful and active personalities. Offer your guests several variants of spritz – for example, with orange juice, slices of grapefruit, strawberries or watermelon, lime juice, sprigs of rosemary.
Take into account the wishes of the guests
To make the wedding memorable for everyone, take into account not only your preferences, but also the wishes of your guests. Use flavors in your cocktails that are pleasing to your guests or offer several different options, such as fruity, tart and spicy drinks to please everyone.
Avoid adaptogenic ingredients: extracts, concentrates, tinctures, vitamin complexes, tonic supplements – they may not be safe for children, pregnant women, and guests taking certain medications.
If cocktails do contain such ingredients, be sure to inform your guests or write the composition of the cocktail on the labels.
Combine cocktails with food
Most often, drinks are served in addition to appetizers or the main course. Cocktails must complement the flavors of all the dishes on your menu. For fish, chicken, and light vegetarian dishes, choose cocktails with soft, grassy notes. For red meat, dark sauces, and hearty dishes, go for more savory, tart drinks, such as those based on cherry, bitter orange, or ginger.
Best ideas for serving cocktails at a wedding
Once you’ve chosen non-alcoholic drinks for your wedding, consider how to serve them in a bright, beautiful and memorable way. Here’s how to take serving cocktails to the next level.
Choose the right glassware
The best option for serving non-alcoholic cocktails is to use the same glasses as for alcoholic cocktails, to match the atmosphere of the wedding and to keep the same concept in serving and serving all wedding drinks.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Add colorful and tasty additions
Fresh flowers, berries and sprigs of spicy herbs will make your cocktail more intense and give it a bright flavor. Choose garnishes that match the color palette, venue, time of year and overall mood of your wedding. For example, a slice of lime would be appropriate for a summer beach wedding, while a sprig of rosemary would be perfect for a winter celebration.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Decorate the bar with signage
A drink card or plaque is an important part of serving, as it not only contains information about the cocktail but also emphasizes its theme. Use illustrations, fonts, and colors that match your aesthetic. For example, a sign decorated with images of flowers and done in bright pink colors would be a great addition to a summer garden party.
Our favorite wedding cocktail ideas
If you’re still undecided about what cocktail to serve on your big day and how to serve the drinks, we’ve thoughtfully compiled a list for your inspiration.
Here are 20 cocktail ideas that are guaranteed to impress.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Strawberry Lemonade
Four glasses of strawberry lemonade with mint leaves in gold-rimmed glasses.
To put a new spin on a childhood classic, serve strawberry lemonade at your wedding. The drink will cool guests down on a hot summer day, especially if served over ice, and the berries are sure to be fresh, as strawberries ripen in the warmer months.
Garnish each drink with fresh mint leaves and strawberry slices and serve in gold-finished glassware.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. “Margarita” is based on blue flower tea
Blue tea glasses garnished with lime slices and served on wooden coasters.
If you’re looking for a colorful and flavorful cocktail, the non-alcoholic Margarita made from the flowers of the Butterfly Pea plant will appeal to everyone. This herbal tea has a beautiful deep blue hue that will add vibrant colors to the design and decor of your wedding table. A tip for those who only want to serve one type of cocktail: add some variety by garnishing the rim of the glass with different spices. Chili lime spice is great for those who like it spicy, and sugar spice will please those with a sweet tooth.
Sparkling Pomegranate Seltzer
With an appealing hue and sweet-tart flavor, you can’t go wrong with a pomegranate cocktail. Although the base for this drink is fresh pomegranate juice, you can add sparkling water to it to enhance the effect. Try this cocktail at fall or winter weddings and garnish the finished drink with a slice of lime to give it extra flavor and color.
Spicy chili cocktail
Everyone will love fruit cocktails, but a soft drink made with chili is sure to please spicy drinkers. This spicy chili rimmed cocktail will warm up your guests if you are organizing a cold weather wedding. For a unique accent to brighten up the glass, add an ice cube with frozen chili peppers and herbs.
Raspberry-Mint Julep
There’s nothing more refreshing than a raspberry mint julep! It’s a great idea to serve a non-alcoholic version of the cocktail outdoors. Made with blackberry and raspberry syrup, fresh lime juice and sparkling water, this cocktail is simple yet looks very sophisticated. Garnish each glass with mint leaves and a raspberry garnish before serving.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Arnold Palmer
Nothing reminds you of summer like Arnold Palmer – a mixture of iced tea and lemonade. The name of the drink is connected with the name of professional American golfer Arnold Palmer, who, as you know, often asked for this cocktail to be prepared for him.
To complement the refreshing flavor of the cocktail, add a slice of lemon or lime to each glass.
Thai-style coconut water
If you are having a hot climate or tropical-themed wedding, Thai coconut water will give you a lot of pleasant emotions. In addition, this non-alcoholic drink is a good thirst quencher, which is very important in hot and humid climates, as well as at parties where you plan to party and dance until morning. Use fun straws and signs with bright colors and sunny illustrations to create an atmosphere.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Blackberry Spritz
Fruit juice, soda, berry syrup, and mint squeezed through a press, blackberry spritz is a brightly colored fruit cocktail that isn’t overly sweet. Blackberry skewers secured to the rim of the glass and rose gold-colored straws create a beautiful composition. Consider this flavorful drink for summer events.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Hot Chocolate
Iced fruit-based cocktails look great in the warmer months, but you’ll definitely want to serve something warming in the winter. For a festive cocktail during the winter season, opt for a cup of hot chocolate. Add cardamom and cayenne pepper to complete a childhood favorite flavor, then garnish with cinnamon sticks and anise stars to create a delightful arrangement for your guests.
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple is another nostalgic option, but unlike hot chocolate, this lemon-lime soda with the addition of Grenadine syrup is preferable in the summertime. Add fresh berries like strawberries, raspberries or blackberries for another taste of the season. We recommend this drink for country club weddings or informal outdoor events.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Mojito
The mojito is a popular alcoholic cocktail, but it’s just as delicious without the alcohol. To make a non-alcoholic version of this classic, you’ll need a few simple ingredients: fresh lime juice, syrup, mint leaves, sparkling water and ice. The fresh flower will add a bright accent to the cocktail’s design, while the mint leaves and cucumber slice will refresh the flavor.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Lavender lemonade
Lemonade is delicious on its own, but if you want to give the drink a more sophisticated flavor, add a sprig of lavender to it. Mint and rosemary will also add a touch of sophistication to the drink while still appealing to any guest’s taste. If this soft drink is your signature cocktail, ask the waiters to place the glasses on wooden trays to make the serving more spectacular.
Earl Grey Grapefruit Spritz
For a unique combination of flavors, offer guests a cocktail that combines Earl Grey tea with grapefruit. The black tea, flavored with essential oil from the rind of bergamot, has a fragrant flavor that will balance the tart and bitter zest of grapefruit. In addition, this drink will give you a boost of energy if you are going to dance the night away. Serve this drink at picnic parties paired with light appetizers.
Non-alcoholic cocktails at a wedding. Apple cider
If your celebration is planned for fall, top off the season with a cup of apple cider with allspice and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Garnish the cup with a cinnamon stick, apple slice and sprig of rosemary to complete the serving. Serve cocktails in stylish copper mugs – a great option for country and rustic weddings.
Peach Bellini
Another hit is the peach non-alcoholic Bellini. You can make this cocktail by mixing ginger ale and peach nectar. Put stir sticks in the glasses and serve with printed cocktail napkins in your wedding theme.
Pink Floral Cocktail
Flowers are a staple of most weddings, so why not make them the base of your non-alcoholic drink? This floral cocktail includes rose syrup, fresh lemon juice, and soda water to give the drink a beautiful soft pink color. To keep with the floral theme, place an edible flower in the glass. While this drink is appropriate for any wedding, it is especially appropriate for a summer garden party.
Green tea with papaya
One of the best sources of inspiration for a wedding cocktail is the menu of your favorite cafe or restaurant. Recreate your favorite drink from the restaurant at your wedding party. For example, a refreshing cocktail of iced green tea and papaya is great for weddings on hot summer days. For a bohemian touch, serve the drinks next to a vase of pampas grass and a copper bowl of flower petals.
Strawberry lemonade is a second serving option
Looking for another version of a classic? Strawberry lemonade is the perfect balance of sweet and tart, plus it has a gorgeous color that guests will love. Write your initials or your shared last name on a sugar ornament to pair with a garnish of lemon wedges.
Watermelon Mojito
A traditional mojito is always a successful option, but you can mix different flavors to complement the season and offer your guests something unexpected and non-alcoholic. A watermelon mojito is perfect for a wedding that takes place in the summer, especially on the beach or by the lake. Serve the drink in a clear glass so that everyone can admire its attractive hue, and don’t forget to garnish each glass with a lime slice and fresh mint leaves.
Cold flower tea with raspberries
A sparkling raspberry floral tea with a taste of garden freshness and a hint of sweetness is guaranteed to impress at your wedding. The bright yellow color and deep red hue will add a pop of color, and a scattering of daisies will serve as an outdoor serving decoration.
