8 Different Ways To Give Your Lemonade A Boost!

Source: ohthelovelythings.blogspot.fr via Audrey on Pinterest

The Nonalcoholic Champagne-Like Toast

Photo courtesy of Twelve Noon To Midnight Web Page

12NtM or 12 Noon to Midnight is a company started by two chefs who wanted food friendly but non-alcoholic to serve to their guests. The company makes two flavors, one a peach-like white and the other a sparkling dark pink. 

Photo courtesy of 12NtM Website

Light and refreshing but  not too sweet each glass has about half the calories of wine, a bonus to dieters everywhere.

Photo from 12NtM Website

But the real question is how do they taste and how do they stack up next to your favorite wine or champagne? The fizz is there in both. 

The 'white' has notes of peaches, apricots, white grapes and tea. It's sweet but a good match for your favorite green salad.  Perfect for serving with your salad course for your wedding or at your wedding shower.

Photo of cocktails from 12NtM on web page

The red, or Rouge, is drier but also just a bubbly. It offers notes of dark cherry and plum, almost like a light rosé. 

12NtM doesn't offer the complex taste of most wines but if you're looking for a fun to drink choice that you can serve wedding guests, 12NtM is a good choice. Fun for your guests to drink without cloying sweetness. Another option is to use them as a 'mixer' to create a non-alcoholic but refreshing and sophisticated wine-like cocktail. Find recipes for cocktails or food pairings here.

12NtM is available at your local Whole Foods or Wegman's.

Pineapple Strawberry Lime Coolers

Photo and idea from Mom Magazine

Looking for a pretty and cool signature drink for your wedding? How about pineapple strawberry lime coolers?  Just looking at them makes me want to run to the kitchen and make a pitcher! (and it's six in the morning!) You'll need some pineapple juice, limeade, club soda, water, ice, strawberries, assorted fruits such as halved orange slices, halved lime slices, orange sections, raspberries, strawberries, sliced kiwifruit, and mint sprigs, and oh yes, a pitcher and glasses! Visit Mom Magazine to find out the exact proportions and to find other cool summer drinks you might enjoy serving your guests.  These drinks are perfect for a summer wedding or a shower, or face it, just anytime you are thirsty!  Add a little alcohol for those of you who can't live without it, but I love this just the way it is!

Dry Soda -- For the Health Concious Bride and Groom

For a great non-alcoholic option for wedding drinks try Dry Soda. Photo courtesy of: Dry Soda

Dry Soda offers you flavors like cucumber, vanilla bean, juniper berry, lavender, lemongrass, blood orange and rhubarb in a healthy drink option. Serve with springs or pieces of fruit, veggies or herbs. These drinks are great as non-alcoholic options for your wedding or shower or you can check out the alcoholic drink recipes on their web site. They also offer recipes for interesting food options that you may want to try for a romantic night at home. Isn't it about time to try something that not only tastes good but is good for you? Dry Soday is it!

French Teas

Photo courtesy of: http://www.kusmitea.com

Planning a wedding with a Parisian theme? Serve Kumi Tea to your guests.  Kusmi was founded in 1867 in Russia. Post Russian Revolution the company relocated to France. The original Russian Kusmi was the official supplier of tea to the Tsars of Russia. How can anyone resist green tea perfumed with rose petals? Or one perfumed with orange and cinnamon? Having a summer wedding? Try a frosty Strawberry Iced Tea or Four Fruit Iced Tea. There's one to detox you, one to relax you, and one to increase your natural interest in the other sex (called Sweet Love).  Perfect for a wedding.

Kusmi teas are available in the United States online at http://www.us.kusmitea.com/en/herbal/be-cool/c5/p98/product_info.html.  Their web site also offers special recipes made with a variety of their teas.  Even if you are not planning a brunch or picnic wedding order some for your kitchen at home. 

A Drink For Country Fans

The 'Carrie Underwood' courtesy of http://www.bakespace.com/

Looking for a signature drink your guests will remember? Try the 'Carrie Underwood.'  Made with sweet tea vodka and strawbery liqueur (like Fragoli) it will be a sure fire top of the charts hit with your guests.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE 'CARRIE UNDERWOOD'

Servings: 1

Preparation Time: 0

2 parts sweet tea vodka (recc. Firefly or Sweet Carolina)

1 part wild strawberry liqueur (recc. Fragoli)

3 parts lemonade

optional garnish: 1 strawberry

DIRECTIONS

Fill highball glass with ice.
Add all ingredients.
Optional garnish: slice strawberry in half & place on rim of glass.

Pink Your Drink

Chambord's Pink Your Drink program has generated more than $50,000 in donations for Breast Cancer Network of Strength® and other organizations fighting breast cancer.  By adding a splash of Chambord® to any cocktail at your wedding, each bride can supporting breast cancer awareness year round.

Visit http://www.chambordonline.com/pink-your-drink.aspx where you'll find recipes for great signature drinks perfect for a weddding.  What a great way to support breast cancer research and charities by serving Chambord® based drinks at your wedding reception!

All Photos and Signage courtesy of http://www.chambordonline.com/

Chambord®  also has started making a Chambord®  Flavored Vodka that you can order online. 

I had to opportunity to taste this at a recent event for the EP Henry sponsored Patio Party at the Philadelphia Design Home (for more information about this event visit my other blog "The Wedding Queen" at http://theweddingqueen.blogspot.com/2010/09/design-to-die-for-outdoor-spaces-you.html).  The Chambord®  Martinis were spectacular! I'm not usually a drinker, let alone a martini drinker, but this martini really was GOOD! While the vodka is only available in liquor stores in some areas, you can order it online for your wedding. 

These drinks are both pretty and taste great! What more could you want for a signature drink for your wedding?  For additional recipes for Chambord®-based drinks visit http://www.chamordonline.com/.  Try their recipe for French Sparkle or French Gingerale or my favorite, the Chambord®  flavored martini. 

Give Your Drinks a Real Buzz With Fizzy Lizzy!

Photo courtesy of Fizzy Lizzy

I recently discovered some incredible juice drinks at my local Whole Foods.  Known as "Fizzy Lizzy" this award winning beverage is a combination of fruit juice and 'fizzy water', hence the name "Fizzy Lizzy."  Fizzy Lizzy comes in eight different flavors (my personal favorite is pineapple, but try them all!).  I love that they not only quench my thirst but have a high percentage of REAL juice without fillers. 

Their web site reveals there really is a REAL Fizzy Lizzy.  According the the site: "One day back in 1995, Liz (yes, there’s a “Lizzy”) was riding her bike. As usual, she had a carton of grapefruit juice and a bottle of sparkling water in her backpack. You see, it was her habit to mix juice and seltzer and the only way to get that combination was to make it yourself. So she got off her bike, started mixing and had her “aha” moment. The next thing you know Liz is running a little company out of her fifth floor Manhattan walk-up, pounding the pavement and evangelizing (to anyone who would listen) about the virtues of juice and sparkling water without the usual added sugars, gums, or other junk. A new religion is born: The Fizzy Lizzy Church of Healthy Soda (TFLCHS for short). Try Fizzy Lizzy. We think you’ll join up. Whether you’re into our Cranberry or our Pineapple, all are welcome. TFLCHS has a big tent." 

So whether you drink these alone or use them to make signature drinks, Fizzy Lizzy is a great boutique juice option for your wedding. 

Planning Your Signature Drink

From Santa Barbara Chic, visit SantaBarbaraChic.com to see more signature drinks

Signature drinks at your wedding can provide a colorful welcome for your guests as well as provide a pop of interest near your bar.  Couple this signature drink with beer and wine and it will help control your alcohol bill for your wedding.

From Santa Barbara Chic, visit SantaBarbaraChic.com to see more signature drinks

Your signature drink does not need to be a new drink, but should reflect the taste of the couple. It can be their favorite drink or can reflect their favorite colors or flavors.  The best way to make your signature drink memorable is is to pay attention to presentation. Having a group of signature drinks setup on a separate table near the bar or passed on a tray will accent your choice and help to prevent a long line at the bar.  All the drinks lined up with their beautiful garnish is so pretty. Be sure your caterer gets the drinks set them up a little before guests arrive so your photographer can get a shot of them.

From Santa Barbara Chic, visit SantaBarbaraChic.com to see more signature drinks

And remember, signature drinks don’t have to be alcoholic. A refreshing lemonade or cucumber water are perfect for a pre-ceremony welcome drink. So have fun creating something personal and refreshing for your guests to enjoy at your wedding.