Large events and celebrations often include alcoholic beverages, and weddings are no exception. Wine for the toast and an open bar for the guests…but alcohol isn’t for everyone’s taste or budget. So, in order to keep everyone’s palates wet and your event flowing, you may want to give these non-alcoholic drinks a try.

Sparkling Cider and the likes – We toast with it to ring in the New Year, why not for our nuptial celebrations? We’re no longer restricted to cider of the apple sort. Pear, mango and pomegranate are just a few of the many sparkling juices available.

Punch – A staple drink at parties for generations is punch, and there’s no reason that you can’t put a twist on it for your big day. Try out a few recipes and find one that you love. This is a money-saving beverage that’s enjoyed by even the pickiest of guests.

Soda pop – These days anything can be ordered. With a little research, you can find sodas in strawberry, apple, orange, cherry, pineapple, melon or something much more unique.

Italian Soda – These syrup creations are a sweet spin on carbonated water. There are hundreds of flavors ranging from blood orange to vanilla bean to cotton candy. Syrup flavors are also available in sugar-free. Take it a step further by adding whip cream or milk to make Italian Cremosas. Or serve them chilled as Italian Freezes.

Grape Juice – It’s a common alternative to wine, as it closely resembles it in more ways than one. It can be a bit bland for much more than the toast but it’s always a resort.

Iced Tea – Perfect for a garden wedding, iced teas are a refreshing beverage. Add a hint of lemon, mint, peach, raspberry or any of your other favorite varieties. Set out several selections in large glass pitchers from which your guests can choose.

Lemonade – Lemonade comes in several flavors: regular, pink-lemonade, strawberry-lemonade, raspberry-lemonade, limeade and more. It’s a classic and is especially delicious for warm summer weddings.

When selecting you wedding beverage(s) think about igniting not only the taste buds but the eyes, with drinks of color. Choose a drink that matches the color scheme of the wedding or use another color that will really pop. My wedding was done in a bright fuchsia. For my toast, I used Trader Joe’s Sparkling Pink Lemonade in hot pink. It was beautiful and tasty! How can you use your drink choice to make your day a bit brighter?