I will be celebrating a grand total of four weddings before I welcome my baby into the world. I currently know nine other pregnant women, all of whom will attend at least one wedding before their baby is born. And, of course, there are all of the parties in between, such as bridal showers, engagement and bachelorette parties, and rehearsal dinners. If you are going to be part of a celebration, whether you are pregnant or not, it is always a great idea to have some non-alcoholic alternatives. Even if you do not know of any pregnant women who will be attending, there may be people who cannot drink alcohol for health reasons, because they are under 21, or because they simply do not wish to consume any alcohol.
Luckily, sparkling wine (or champagne) is one of the easiest drinks to substitute for a non-alcoholic beverage. You can easily buy some sparkling cider or sparkling grape juice, and serve it in a champagne flute. The taste is surprisingly similar to that of champagne, and looks almost identical as well. For bridal showers, mimosas are an excellent drink to serve. Non-alcoholic mimosas will look identical, and also taste almost exactly like the real thing. Just be sure to separate the non-alcoholic mimosas from the alcoholic, to avoid any confusion. The orange juice in a mimosa is very healthy for pregnant women, and may even encourage the baby to kick. (So, if you have been waiting for that first flutter, a non-alcoholic mimosa is a great way to try to encourage your little one!)
For toasts, you can simply serve sparkling cider in a champagne flute, and enjoy a taste similar to sparkling wine.
If you are pregnant, you will be able to participate and enjoy the celebrations with everyone else. And if you are not, those who are unable to consume alcohol will greatly appreciate your thoughtfulness! For other champagne-inspired concoctions, here are a few non-alcoholic recipes, which you can serve on any special occasion. I hope these add some sparkle to your celebration!
Martinelli?s Sparkler
8 ounces Martinelli?s (or any) Sparkling Cider
2 splashes Grenadine
1 splash of lime juice
Fill highball glass with ice, add ingredients, garnish with cherry and lemon. Makes 1 drink.
Adapted from: martinellis.com
Morning Mimosa
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup sparkling cider
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 lemon (juice only)
1 lemon zest or strawberry (optional)
Pour a small amount of sugar onto a saucer. Wet rim of a champagne glass and press glass, upside down, into the sugar, "frosting" the rim. Pour in cider, orange juice and lemon juice. Garnish with lemon zest or strawberry, if desired.
Adapted from: drinksmixer.com
