Now, more than ever before, couples are putting the emphasis on guest experience when planning their weddings. That means thinking through everything from travel and transportation and anticipating their guests’ wants and needs to ensure that everyone leaves with some incredible memories that they can cherish for years to come. Let’s face it, when you think of a good time, your mind immediately goes to good food, good company, and of course, good drinks. Chances are you have your wine list picked and your custom cocktails crafted by a renowned mixologist, but what do your booze-free options look like? If you were just planning on going with whatever soda comes with the open bar package, we’ve caught you just in time to prevent a terrible mistake. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. A lot of couples completely forget to consider their sober or “sober curious” friends when they are planning their bar menu. Or, perhaps, like a lot of people, you simply didn’t know there was an alternative to club soda and sparkling cider. Thankfully, there is a brand that crafts unique booze-free cocktails that all of your guests can enjoy, Curious Elixirs!
First, let’s talk about who these Curious Elixirs are for. There are a lot of different reasons that your guests may be opting to go booze-free at your wedding.
Some guests may be sober because of a lifestyle choice. But, another huge group that needs to be taken into consideration is the number of guests that have signed up to be DDs for the night. Not only will they feel more seen and appreciated by you offering a real cocktail that they can enjoy, they will be less tempted to stray from their responsibilities.
As people learn more about their health and the negative effects of alcohol on the body, more and more people are turning to a sober lifestyle. Whether that means avoiding alcohol entirely or just limiting their weekly intake, it’s nice to have a sophisticated cocktail option to offer these guests so they can join in on the fun.
There are usually a few pregnant guests at every wedding, and for them, watching everyone enjoy their wine and cocktails and dance the night away can be hard. It’s easy for these guests to get FOMO. But, even though a drink isn’t alcoholic, doesn’t necessarily make it safe for pregnant people. Thankfully, Curious Elixirs has already thought of it all and they even have a list of which cocktails pregnant guests should avoid and which cocktails do not contain ingredients listed as foods to avoid while pregnant by the FDA.
If you’ve ever had to say no to booze at a celebration, then you know the feeling of watching everyone else get their cute custom cocktails in their special glasses with their fun-shaped ice cubes and garnishes while you’re stuck sipping club soda from a water glass. Not so fun, right? There’s something about the ritual of having a real cocktail–the complex flavors that allow you to sip it slow, the pretty presentation. Just because your sober guests don’t want the booze doesn’t mean they want to be left out of the rest of the experience. Not only does Curious Elixirs offer cocktails with incredible unique flavors crafted by world-class bartenders, herbalists, and food scientists, each cocktail is infused with adaptogens that can help your guests get that chill vibe without the hangover the next day. So remember, when you’re stocking your bar, sparkling cider and club soda don’t quite cut it, make sure your sober guests can get in on the celebration with a real cocktail.
Not only will your guests thank you, your bartenders will love Curious Elixirs too! Each cocktail comes in stylish bottles or cans for a more laid-back cocktail hour presentation or can be poured into a cocktail glass and jazzed up with a garnish of your choice. Whatever presentation you decide on, these “garnish and go” cocktails will significantly cut your guests’ wait time at the bar and free up more time for the dancefloor!
Oh, and did we mention that Curious Elixirs are not just booze-free, they’re actually good for you! Each cocktail is made with organic ingredients and has no refined sugars, so no post-wedding hangover (can you even?)! And the antigens that we mentioned before “bolster the body using the mysterious properties of plants–from an ancient botanical that increases serotonin and dopamine precursors, to another that increases circulation and was used in Mayan culture as an aphrodisiac.” Even if you aren’t planning on going booze-free on your wedding day, these babies are shelf-stable for up to one year, so keep the leftovers (if you have any) and sub them for your usual nightcap and wake feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.
All of the cocktails from Curious Elixirs have something special to bring to the table, but here are some of our favorites inspired by classic cocktails that are sure to be crowd-pleasers on your big day!
When you’re ready to get the party started, it’s time to break out the rhodiola-infused No. 1 that’s a booze-free pomegranate twist on the classic Negroni. Serve in a cut crystal glass with a decorative orange peel garnish.
The No.4 is a non-alcoholic riff on an Aperol Spritz. This refreshing cocktail is perfect for an outdoor cocktail hour on a steamy summer day! Serve over ice and garnish with an orange slice and you’re golden.
The No. 3 is a booze-free cucumber collins that gives us some major Derby vibes. Have your bartender muddle some cucumber slices at the bottom of the glass and garnish with a sprig of mint.
Getting married now? It’s not too late, you can order cases directly through their website and they ship in 3-5 business days!
Photography: Brooke Nash Photography | Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Curious Elixirs