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Updated Mar 06, 202525 Festive Wedding Mocktails That Pack a Punch
These zero-proof sips are 100% celebratory.
Fun garnishes, pretty colors, fizzy bubbles and bold flavors are all elements that make a drink feel celebration-worthy. And sometimes, a splash of champagne or a favorite spirit can too. But alcohol is in no way, shape or form necessary to craft a special sip. Wedding mocktails (drinks that require the same craft and care as standard cocktails, but skip the booze) are just as festive as their spiked siblings—and, not to mention, a huge wedding cocktail trend this year. Whether you're hosting a fully dry wedding or would simply like to incorporate some signature mocktails into your wedding to give guests a variety of shaken and stirred beverages, you'll find ideas and inspiration below.
Another thing we'll raise a glass to: We've got some expert advice from Olana Hein, founder and CEO of Pour Girl Bartending in Caramel and Santa Cruz, California, on how to work with your bartender to create mocktails for your wedding that you love. "Wedding mocktails and tonics are having a moment," says Hein. "These sophisticated thirst quenchers allow you to get totally creative and cater to every guest, whether they're imbibing or not." And if you still need to book a mixologist, head to The Knot Vendor Marketplace, filter by your wedding location, select the "Bar & Drinks" button and then check the box for "Non-Alcoholic Drinks." Cheers!
In this article: Ideas | Tips & FAQ | How Many to Serve | How to Choose | Cost | Mocktail Bar Setup
Wedding Mocktail Ideas
Ready to dream up some drinks? We've got ideas for the best wedding mocktails below. Here's what Hein suggests: "For next-level mocktail flavor combos, I adore floral and herbal notes like lavender, hibiscus, ginger or rosemary. Tart citrus brighteners like grapefruit and yuzu are always welcome too. But where I really go wild is using adaptogenic ingredients that are beaming with mind-body benefits."
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1. Fresh Citrus Mélange
A splash of grapefruit juice and lemon juice sweetened with honey and shaken with ice is a refreshing sip for a summer wedding. Garnish with a slice of dried citrus and pair with personalized cocktail napkins.
2. Peachy Keen
Peach or apricot is an unexpected star for fruit wedding mocktails. Add a splash of sparkling water or juice for a bellini mocktail.
3. Refreshing Rosemary
Rosemary is known to pair well with citrus, so a squeeze of lemon or lime would bring a mocktail incorporating the botanical to new heights. Fresh apple (whether in juice form or as an infused simple syrup) would make this one of the coolest fall wedding mocktails around.
4. Punchy Lime Rickey
Lime juice, seltzer and a drizzle of simple syrup is all it takes to make one of the most easy mocktails for a wedding. It's sweet, zippy and tart—and sure to keep guests' spirits up as they bust a move on the dance floor.
5. Zero-Proof Rosé Spritzer
There are numerous booze-free rosé options on the market, and all of them make a great mocktail base. Pour a float of seltzer atop each glass (and add an edible flower as a special touch) to finish these simple mocktails for a wedding.
6. Pineapple Party
I think we can all agree that, when it comes to fruit, pineapple is absolutely the life of the party. It pairs well with fresh lime and mango as well as herbs like basil for more depth of flavor. And of course, coconut (especially in the form of a coconut-cream floater) will always push the tropical vibes forward.
7. Virgin Spritz in Custom Cup
If you can't already tell, adding bubbles to a beverage is a sure-fire way to make any drink feel (and taste) festive. Amp it up a notch by using custom cups over cocktail glasses like this couple, who put their pet front and center.
8. Infused-Juice Mocktail Bar
Stock up your wedding mocktail counter with different carafes of infused juices. Adding fresh herbs atop each will elevate them to mocktail status.
9. Blueberry Grapefruit Sip
Sweet, citrusy grapefruit gets tart depth—and an out-of-this-world fuschia hue—from muddled blueberries. The petite edible flowers and monogrammed citrus-peel garnish would make this mocktail memorable.
10. Mini Milkshake Mocktails
We all remember the boozy milkshake craze of the early 2010s, so technically regular milkshakes can be considered mocktails. A great choice if you have young ones (or young-at-heart guests) at your wedding, these milkshakes should be served with a fun straw and a little cookie.
11. Juice Pouch Mocktails
Elementary-school sweethearts or couples nostalgic for the 90s, take note. You can make a fruit-punch mocktail and serve it in custom Capri-Sun-esque pouches.
12. Add Some Spice
Looking for fun mocktail ideas for your wedding? A hit of jalapeño will wake up your attendees' taste buds. Grapefruit, strawberry and many other fruits go well with the pepper, and adding simple syrup or honey will bring some sweetness to balance the spice.
13. Lavender Dream
Lavender not only makes a pretty garnish, but it brings a pleasant floral depth to a drink when paired with lemon and honey. It can be served alongside another simple, fruit-forward beverage if you're worried some of your guests won't feel the flowery flavors.
14. Sorbet Sips
Photo: Lizzie Randazzo Photography
Sorbet + bubbles + muddled fruit = a show-stopping sweet mocktail. Bonus points if they're served in cut-crystal vintage glassware.
15. Tea Mocktails
Just as tea makes an appearance in cocktails, from spiked Arnold Palmers to sophisticated green-tea sips, it can elevate a mocktail. Think how lovely chamomile would be paired with other botanicals and a little sweetness.
16. Festive Eggnog
Eggnog isn't just a beloved holiday beverage, it's also a mocktail if you skip the booze. Topped with a shaving of fresh nutmeg, it's one of the most classic mocktails for a winter wedding.
17. Takes on the Classics
Many common wedding mocktails are nonalcoholic versions of classic drinks with name recognition. Coining your drinks as virgin iterations of, say, a paloma and dark and stormy, lets guests know exactly what they're getting.
18. Strawberry Sip
Photo: Betsi Ewing Studio
Strawberry-forward wedding mocktails are ideal for June nuptials, since the summer berries are in prime picking season. The muddled fruit will give the mocktail a soft-pink color that would look lovely if you have blush flowers in your wedding day decor.
19. Watermelon Agua Fresca
Agua fresca is a typically melon-based Mexican drink that makes a refreshing mocktail. A dash of sweetener and a squeeze of lime adds depth and tang to the fruit juice.
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20. Popsicle Mocktails
Letting a popsicle melt into a coupe glass filled with sparkling fruit juice is both easy and whimsical for summer nuptials. Plus, it doubles as a sip and a snack.
21. Spirit-Free Blood Orange Margaritas
We love an excuse to have a salt or sugar rim on our drinks. Adding blood orange to a virgin margarita makes it feel extra special. (Not to mention: the sparkle a gold metal straw brings.)
22. Blackberry Splash
Photo: Art Haus Foto
Muddled blackberries bring a sexy purple hue to a mocktail, plus pair well with lemon. Pop a few berries on top for garnish.
23. Cranberry Rosemary Mocktails
Juicy, tart cranberry gets a botanical bite from an infusion of rosemary. The red and green color combo would be lovely for a winter wedding. You could call it "Under the Mistletoe," if you're into creative wedding mocktail names.
24. Mason Jar Mocktails
Ah, the humble Mason jar. It's a wedding standby, but still feels right for a more relaxed, backyard affair. They're the perfect vessel for sipping an apple mocktail or apple cider mocktail, each garnished with a few chunks of the fruit.
25. Mock Mint Julep
Mint juleps are the ultimate when it comes to refreshing, celebratory cocktails, but they still hold up sans spirits. Swap the bourbon with lemonade or iced tea and you've got a winning wedding mocktail.
Wedding Mocktail Tips & FAQ
"Mocktails, tonics and spirit-free bevs unlock a whole new realm of imagination and inclusivity for weddings," says Hein. We're breaking down the logistical details so you can feel confident and well informed before serving up some mocktails for your wedding reception.
How Many Mocktails Should You Serve at a Wedding?
It's wise to offer either one or two different mocktails at your wedding. Here's how to decide:
If you're having a fully dry wedding, we recommend shaking up two specialty mocktails—one inspired by you and one inspired by your partner—in addition to providing other non-alcoholic drink options like sparkling ciders, seltzers, lemonade and the like. This mirrors the style of wedding signature cocktails and will give guests who want a fancier sip than a no-ABV beer a couple of options. If you're planning on serving alcohol, one craft mocktail would be a great addition to your cocktail menu for guests who don't drink or want to swap in something festive and flavorful between espresso martinis.
How to Choose Mocktails to Serve at a Wedding
While your bartender is a great resource for concocting stellar mocktail ideas for your wedding, you can also specify the types of flavors you love (citrus, red fruit, botanical, herbaceous) and the drink" textures" you're into (fizzy, creamy, flat) to craft some drinks that truly hit the spot. You can also lean on classic flavor combos (think: lime and mint, lemon and berries, lavender and honey) as a jumping off point, whether you want your bartender to use that pairing specifically or come up with something in the same family.
Or, you can get inspired by Pour Girl's method of mocktail manifestation and look to your love for ideas: "When a couple wants a personal mocktail menu, we go full novelistic love story mode," says Hein. "I'm talking deep dives into their meet-cute, inside jokes, travels—you name it." The expert notes that her team uses seasonal, local produce and emphasizes presentation when it comes to booze-free sips and beyond, which makes all the difference in taking these drinks to the next level. "We adorn each beverage with gorgeous garnishes, our three varieties of homemade bitters and glycerites, our dehydrated citrus, homegrown herbs and flowers and locally sourced produce."
Average Wedding Mocktail Cost
The average cost of a wedding mocktail compared to a cocktail is pretty on par with what you would see at a chic restaurant that offers both options. While the average cost of alcohol for a wedding clocked in at just below $2,800 according to The Knot 2023 Real Wedding Study (this number encompasses weddings of varying guest counts and reception lengths), swapping out some spirits for zero-proof drinks will bring that total down. A wedding alcohol calculator can help you anticipate how much non-alcoholic drinks for your wedding might impact the bottom line. "Embracing an all-mocktail vibe or swapping one signature mocktail for a cocktail can definitely make things easier on the wedding budget," says Hein. "No need to go big on alcohol costs."
How to Set Up a Mocktail Bar at a Wedding
The best way to set up a mocktail bar for a wedding is to first consult your bartender (book one on The Knot Vendor Marketplace) to determine if your particular drinks would be best served made to order (with a mixologist posted up behind the bar the entire evening) or if they can be batched for guests to serve themselves. Either way, you can make your wedding mocktail bar stylish and functional by setting up a cute menu sign detailing the ingredients in each of your signature sips.
Add a small floral arrangement or a different decor touch (a disco ball, candelabra etc., whatever works with your theme) on the opposite side of the bar as the menu. If your guests are serving themselves, display each drink option in an attractive drink dispenser equipped with a spigot and ensure someone from your catering team is on call to keep an array of cocktail glasses at the ready. You can display garnish options in small bowls for guests to decorate their drink to their liking, or set up every glass at your wedding drink station fully garnished and ready to fill.
How to Collaborate With Your Bartender to Conceptualize Wedding Mocktails
"Any seasoned bartender worthy of that pro badge should be able to shake up an incredible mocktail, but do give them a heads up during planning so they can bring their A-game," says Hein. "My top tip when collaborating with a bartender is to spell out all your hopes, dreams and vision for the perfect mocktail. Toss in some favorite-flavor inspo and let them run wild. Make sure to mention any dietary restrictions or nostalgic recipes from your love story. Most importantly, be open to their creative genius—pro mixologists are masters at crafting pure spirit-free magic." Long story short: Don't be afraid to lean on your expert vendors. A pro bartender can help you come up with everything from cute wedding mocktail names to kid-friendly wedding mocktails.
