I picture our bar setup for the wedding as quite casual. We’re providing a few bottles of wine per table during dinner, which I think will just sit on the tables. There will also be a few liquor options and a bunch of beer, which I am imagining on a separate bar table with ice, straws, and extra cups. But what about our cocktail hour, while the wedding party is off having photos taken?
We’re not having a bartender, so fresh-made signature cocktails aren’t really an option. I don’t want people to have to wander into the tent to find booze, and I want them to use their Mason-jar glasses, so we’re offering, drum roll, please…punch!
I mean, how can you resist sweet setups like these?
Photo by: Amy & Stuart on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly
Photo by: A Bryan Photo on Snippet and Ink via Lover.ly
Photo by: Cameron Ingalls on Inspired By This via Lover.ly
Our plan is to offer one alcoholic mixture and one non-alcoholic, which I’ll put together the day of/day before and add ice closer to go-time. I’m also going to put out a big ol’ jug of water, all of which will hopefully be displayed in swanky glass dispensers like the ones pictured above.
Mr. Dragon and I had a little get-together recently, so I decided to test out this recipe for Golden Punch, which was abruptly modified when FBIL/GM Jesse informed me that two cups of rum was not nearly enough.
All following photos personal
You will need two cans of frozen lemonade (I suggest regular lemonade, not pink like I used), two cans of frozen orange juice, two cans of frozen limeade, a twenty-sixer of rum (750 milliliters…I think it’s called a fifth in the States?), and a punch receptacle. You see that big blue bucket in the background? We used that because there are no punch bowls for sale in this town. It’s a brand new 10-quart bucket. We’re classy, people!
Make sure the frozen stuff is thawed enough that it will mix up, and pour it all in a bowl together. I didn’t have time to make fancy ice cubes, so I used regular small ones that melted super fast. I’ll make proper ice for the real thing!
So how did it taste? I give you the many faces of Jesse:
Success! This stuff, as a warning, is damn sugary and packs quite a punch with all that rum (har har). I think it will be just what we need for our guests, though, who likely won’t drink the whole bowl.
Once again, I need your help, hive! I want a fun name for this concoction, but given the big blue bucket and the weird colour the pink lemonade imparted, it picked up the unfortunate nicknames of Dirty Mop Water and Rum Bucket in our household. I’m down with irreverent, but I’d like something a little more wedding friendly. 
Any ideas?
I’m also collecting ideas for the non-alcoholic punch option, so if anyone has a simple and easy recipe I’m all ears.
What did you serve at your cocktail hour if you had one? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever drunk from?
Sounds yummy!
How about…
Dragon Rum Punch
A sweet marriage of lemon, lime and orange flavors with added dragon’s breath.
Non alcoholic punch I made for sissy’s baby shower. 7up raspberry lemonade and oj. Add rainbow or lime sherbet if you like but not necessary.
Hint for big group have extra pre made and ask someone to fill up if needed. That way you or your parents don’t have to. And no one will run up to you to ask where to find it.
Have fun.. It sounds amazing. We are having a peach sangaria and using the drink dispensers like that. 
one more small tip. If the drinks gave a lot of pulp it might clog up the spout.
Keep in mind that people drink more when A) there’s a celebration involved and B) it’s free. I hope in lieu of a bartender that you are at least having a caterer who will be in charge of mixing up more punch and replenishing the wine that is casually sitting on the dinner table. Plus, have you planned on how you will keep your white wine cold? It will get horribly warm just sitting out on dinner tables or on your bar.
I used to make a punch in the summertime:
- 1 can frozen lemonade
- 1 can frozen fruit punch
- 1 2L bottle 7up or Sprite
- sliced lemons and oranges
Pucker up punch!
Mm, it sounds delicious! I’m all about the punny names. So I’d go for something like:
Rum Punch-Drunk Love
Rum Away with Me Punch
Rummaging for Love Punch
…. etc. Trust me, I could go on.
I like the Dragon-esque name. And have you ever tried sherbet punch? I think it’s a container of OJ, a container of lime sherbet, and a 2 liter of Sprite. So yummy!
That looks so delicious! And it’s going to look so cute at your wedding!
It looks delicious! After a long week at work, I might have to try this tonight
Oh my goshhh it sounds delicious! I LOVE the look of infusion jars for drinks and such.. this one sounds like a hit!
Rum Bucket punch sounds awesome, but I can see why you wouldn’t want to call it that. Maybe something like “Sweet Love Punch”…I’m bad at names, sorry!
personally I like Rum Bucket! or maybe Rum Tea? We are having the same self-serve setup for our cocktail hour (no liquor at reception site) and are making our fav. drink, the Humboldt Honey or Summers Milk (not sure which name we’ll use yet). It’s wild turkey 101, american honey, soy milk, real honey, and cinnamon!! made some trials this weekend- delicious!
You’ve got my vote for “Dirty Mop Water”.
Heh, just kidding. Kind of. 
That punch looks YUM.
what about “PUNCH DRUNK LOVE?” lol
My vote is for Dragon Rum Punch (complete with description underneath – you never know what people might be allergic/sensitive to aka it might give heartburn)
Agreed with the suggestion to nominate someone as refiller and make extra!!!
For the second drink – make up a big ol pitcher of lemonade and set out fruit to mix in – blueberry blackberries, strawberry and rasberries – that way people can have it plain or muddle it up in the mason jar (Something like add the fruit toss on the lid and give it a shake) – trust me it tastes SOOOO good.
@RochelleED: I like it!
@Miss Ke Aloha: Didn’t even think about pulp! I’ll keep that in mind.
@Katie: No caterer for us! We are, as I’ve mentioned, having a very casual wedding. We’re only having 50 guests and they’re all close family and friends, so I don’t think anyone will freak out if the punch well runs dry (especially because we are going to have a TON of other booze).
@raspberry bride: That sounds good!
@Leanne: Cute!
@FluffyFTW: Hah! A punny name might be a good nod to my headlines.
@Future Army Wife: One of my friends mentioned that as an option too!
@Coffee cup: He absolutely did…. but his taste isn’t very refined. 
@Mrs. Pony: I think no matter what it’s probably going to get called by its original name by the original taste testers.
@BeckyS0: That sounds good! I have no idea what American honey is, though.
@luckyduckinlove: Mmm, sounds like a tasty idea!
Mrs. Dragon, Sioux Lookout/Brockville, ON Age and Occupation: 24, Journalist Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Graphic Designer Engagement Date: August 22, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: Mother of the Bride’s Residence About Me: I moved to Northern Ontario for a job, expecting to be single for the year I'd be there. Within one month I was dating a co-worker, and now, more than two years later, we’re planning a wedding and I’m still a Northern girl. I’m a reporter and a photographer for a small-town newspaper, and I get to do all kinds of fun, exciting, and sometimes weird things at work. When I’m not getting the scoop, I’m cooking, adventuring, playing with our three black cats, or blogging.
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