Mocktails: Recovery and Wedding Planning

Living one day at a time? Me too, boo. When recovery and wedding planning go hand in hand, there are challenges and perks that other’s may not even consider! Sometimes it feels like we’re constantly failing other’s expectations, but we also have freedoms that others don’t have. (Like partying with mocktails and ensuring everyone drives home sober).

When I say I have experience, I planned a dry wedding in 2018 for myself and Jake. You see, Jake has been sober since 2012 (that’s almost 8 years!) and I’m super proud of his achievement. It’s not an easy task and tends to be a daily struggle to stay on the straight and narrow. So when it came to our wedding, I didn’t want anything that would make him feel less than capable of enjoying the night without worrying about his (or family members’) sobriety.

The biggest spot where sober couples feel the pressure is the question of alcohol at your reception. If your family is anything like mine, the first question was always: Are you having alcohol at your wedding? Some people are very against it, while others feel like it’s a necessity to make sure your friends and family have fun. (In reality, a great DJ will do more than alcohol to get the party started). For Jake and I, it was a hard limit and there was NO way we were planning to host a bar. We still wanted fun drinks though, and something the kids could take part in.

Enter the Mocktails

The best of both worlds for us were mocktails. You would not believe how awesome the kiddos felt when they were able to order “fancy drinks” from our “bar”. We chose to hire a bartender so none of our family members had to man the drinks, but having everything alcohol free meant everyone could participate in the fun! Plus, no one needed a designated driver at the end of the night and it was much less expensive than a hosted bar. Below I’ve rounded up some of my favorite mocktails for every season!

Our Halloween Mocktails

Of course, our wedding was not only Halloween themed, but it was ON Halloween. Jake and I selected two super different mocktails for our Halloween bar, which were crowd pleasers for kids and adults alike. I didn’t want to overwhelm guests with choices, so these two were perfect options for the party. The Bloody Shirley was sure to be a hit, since almost everyone I know loves a Shirley Temple. The biggest change to make this one “creepy” was the use of a syringe for “injecting” the grenadine. Our second drink was Violet Vampires, which was basically a grape Italian soda. Both recipes are linked below for you to try out and enjoy! Both of these are more about the presentation than the actual drink, but they’re still fun!

Summer: Fresh, Fruity and Fun

I’m pretty sure Summer is THE ABSOLUTE BEST for hosting a mocktail bar. Without fail, Summer brings us delicious edible gardens and plenty of fresh ingredients. This makes it so much easier when you don’t have to skimp on taste when you’re choosing to skip the alcohol. You can’t go wrong with Rhubarb (I mean, I’m from the Rhubarb Capitol of the World…) mixed in any sweet drink. Add some fresh mint and you’re golden. I love summery mocktails and fully intend to taste test several of these recipes when the sun comes back out.

Fall: Sexy, Spicy & Sultry

Warm cinnamon and ciders make the fall a season worth waiting for. And I’m not just talking those pumpkin spice lattes either. I’m a sucker for fresh squeezed apple cider, straight from the cider press. If you have a cider press at your wedding, please invite me. Fall brings the warm flavors to combat the crisp air that moves in. This is the perfect time to consider those heated mocktails, whether you’re making them in a crock pot or on the stove top.

Winter: Cinnamon, Peppermint and Pomegranate

Winter brings more spicy flavors, but it’s also a great time to play with some minty goodness. Elderberries, pomegranates and hybiscus bring the flavor to some unique, wintery mocktails that are sure to please a crowd. I’m a sucker for some warm sangria and the mocktail version sounds promising!

Spring: Lots of Lavender

One word: Lavender. I’m head over heels for anything lavender because it feels so lush and happy. I highly suggest trying a lavender lemonade or limeade. Fresh floral can bring some pretty accents to your drinks, as well as some delicious flavors. You’ll love the variety you can find for spring mocktails.

When selecting your mocktails, consider the overall feeling of your event. You may want to check with local drink artists like Happy Camper Cocktail Company, who can help you craft a signature drink. Their sister company, The Simple Goodness Sisters, have some beautiful locally handcrafted syrups that will give your mocktail bar that extra kick in the pants.