It’s been a hectic few months in my world. Business planning and travel, entertaining and working ... it’s easy to get caught up in the trivial things and that’s when life throws you a reminder to slow down and take it all in. This time for me it came in the form of a baby. My new adventure for 2010 is motherhood and I just can’t wait to welcome a child into the word come summer.
With babies on my mind, I can’t help but think of all the ways to incorporate pregnancy into a celebration, because of course, that’s what ididjeridoo is all about - inspiring celebrations! So read on for some advice on being the belle of the ball as a pregnant bride and some yummy mocktails for your event.
Pregnant Brides
• Being a pregnant bride is a double celebration so enjoy your special day so don’t feel the need to hide your gloriously protruding belly.
• Besides looking and feeling like a princess, comfort for the pregnant bride is one of the top priorities. The challenge is finding, ordering and fitting a dress that's going to suit you several months from now when you have no idea the dimensions your body will take. Eliminate the guesswork (and the stress) by selecting a gown with an empire waist and choose a dress that eliminates lacy itchy sections and fabric that breathes.
• If you’ve already purchased your wedding dress before you fell pregnant, or your baby decides to have a sudden growth spurt, there is the possibility you could have extra panels sewn into the dress or even a stretchy panel that sits snug at the waist.
• Try to get all alterations for your gown done in the last month or so and if possible even during the week leading up to your wedding. A good expert will work alongside you and know all the tricks in helping your dress fit you comfortably.
• One of the most important things to remember is to wear comfortable shoes. Standing on your feet most of the day is hard enough for any bride, never mind a mummy-to-be! You certainly don’t want to be sat down for your entire event because your feet are throbbing from ill fitted shoes you’ve worn all day. It’s best to choose a low heel for safety reasons, but if you don’t or can’t wear low heels, opt for a chunky, thicker heel which will give you more balance and stop you sinking into the ground if your venue is being held outside. Remember swollen feet can occur during pregnancy so it may be a good idea to hold off on buying your shoes till as near to the wedding as you can.
What's in your champagne flute?
Of course, we all know that alcohol is bad for the baby, but when I think of a celebration, I think of bubbly champagne and tangy brightly coloured cocktails and just because I’m “with child” shouldn’t mean I have to miss out on that right? Which is why I’m happy to recommend some lovely non-alcoholic sample recipes that not only look stunning, but taste lip-smackingly gorgeous too.
1. Sparkling Citrus
Stirrings Tangerini Rimmer
2 oz fresh squeezed pink grapefruit juice
1 oz tangerine juice
2 oz blood orange soda
Dash grapefruit bitters (optional)
Rim a champagne flute with rimming sugar. Pour in juices and dash of bitters, then top with blood orange soda.
2. Pomegranate Cooler
5-7 fresh or frozen blueberries
2 oz pomegranate juice
2 oz white grape juice
3 oz sparkling pomegranate soda
1 lemon slice
Muddle the blueberries in the bottom of a tall glass. Then add ice and pour in the juices. Fill the glass to the top with sparkling pomegranate soda, and place a lemon slice on top of the drink. Sip through a colorful straw.
3. Minty Mango Cooler
2 cups white grape juice
3 cups mango nectar
1 bottle bitter lemon soda
3 trays mango-mint ice cubes*
2 bunches fresh mint
Pour white grape juice, mango nectar, and bitter lemon soda into a large pitcher or punch bowl. Add 1 tray of mango-mint ice cubes. To serve, place 2-3 fresh mango-mint ice cubes into a tall glass. Fill the glass with punch. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint.
*Mango Mint Ice Cubes:
1-1/2 cups mango juice
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup simple syrup
Juice from 1 lime
1 bunch mint leaves
4. Sparkling Pomegranate Champagne
1 oz chilled pomegranate juice
4 oz chilled champagne
Pour the pomegranate juice into a champagne flute and top with champagne. Enjoy!
5. Sparkling Pom-Apple Mocktail
1 oz chilled pomegranate juice
4 oz Sparkling Apple-Pomegranate Cider* (chilled)
Mint leaf for garnish (optional)
Pour the pomegranate juice into a champagne flute and top with flavored cider. Garnish with a mint leaf.
*If you can’t find Apple-Pom cider, substitute with Apple-Cranberry or Apple-Raspberry instead.
Labels: baby, ididjeridoo, mocktails, pregnancy, pregnant bride
