Lemonade Wedding: A Refreshing Batch For Your Big Day

Making lemonade for a large crowd can be a daunting task, but it's a great way to add a refreshing, non-alcoholic option to your wedding. The key to success is getting the ratios right—too much lemon and it's too tart, too much water and it's watered down. The general rule of thumb is to budget for 1-2 cups of water per guest and 3-4 non-water drinks.

There are a few different ways to make lemonade for a large group. One method is to make a simple syrup by boiling water and sugar together and then adding lemon juice. This can be made into a concentrate and stored in the fridge or freezer until needed. When ready to serve, it can be mixed with water and ice. This method works well for a large group and can be made ahead of time.

Another method is to slice lemons and pound them with sugar until the sugar dissolves, then add ice and cold water. This method is more labour-intensive but results in a fresh and tasty lemonade.

For a wedding with 100 guests, you will need about 8 cups of water, 11 1/2 cups of sugar, 8 cups of cold water, and 6 3/4 cups of fresh or bottled lemon juice. This will make about 100 servings.

Making lemonade for a large group doesn't have to be difficult, and it's a great way to keep your guests hydrated and happy!

Use 12 lemons, thinly sliced with seeds removed, and add sugar, mint and cherries to garnish

Making lemonade for a wedding is a great idea! Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to use 12 lemons, thinly sliced with seeds removed, and add sugar, mint, and cherries to garnish for a large batch of wedding lemonade:

Ingredients:

• 12 lemons, thinly sliced, and seeds removed
• Water
• Sugar
• Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
• Maraschino cherries, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

• Begin by thinly slicing the lemons and removing any seeds. This will help ensure that your lemonade is smooth and seed-free.
• Place the lemon slices into a large punch bowl or container. If you are making a large batch, you may need to adjust the quantity of lemons accordingly.
• Add sugar to the lemon slices. Use a potato masher or wooden spoon to pound the lemons and sugar mixture until the sugar dissolves and the lemon slices are broken down. This step will release the juices from the lemons and create a concentrated lemonade base.
• Add water to the mixture. The amount of water you add will depend on how strong you want your lemonade to be. Start by adding 2 cups of water and taste-testing the mixture. You can always add more water if needed.
• Stir the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved. This may take a few minutes.
• Add ice cubes to the lemonade. Stir well to chill the drink and dilute it further.
• Garnish the lemonade with fresh mint sprigs and maraschino cherries. These additions will not only enhance the presentation but also add a touch of flavour and freshness to the drink.
• Serve the lemonade in tall glasses over ice. You can also add lemon slices to the glasses for an extra touch of elegance.
• Enjoy your delicious, refreshing wedding lemonade!

Feel free to adjust the recipe to your taste preferences and the number of guests you are expecting. You can always make a test batch to ensure the flavour is just right before preparing a large quantity for the wedding.

Make a simple syrup with water and sugar, then add lemon juice, water and ice

Making a large batch of lemonade for a wedding is a great way to keep your guests refreshed and happy. Here's a simple guide to making a large batch of lemonade, focusing on the process of creating a simple syrup with water and sugar, and then adding lemon juice, water, and ice.

Step 1: Make the Simple Syrup

Start by making a simple syrup, which is a basic mixture of water and sugar. Combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan. For example, use 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar. Place the saucepan over medium heat and stir the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved. This process creates a syrup with a smooth consistency and ensures that your lemonade won't have any undissolved sugar settling at the bottom.

Step 2: Cool the Syrup

Once the simple syrup is ready, remove it from the heat and let it cool down. You can speed up this process by transferring the syrup to a different container or placing the saucepan in an ice bath. The syrup doesn't need to be completely cooled before moving on to the next step, but it should be at least slightly cooled so that it doesn't melt the ice too quickly.

Step 3: Add Lemon Juice

In a large pitcher or punch bowl, combine the cooled simple syrup with fresh lemon juice. The amount of lemon juice you need will depend on how strong you want your lemonade to be and how much syrup you made. As a general guideline, use 1 cup of lemon juice for every 1 cup of simple syrup. If you prefer a stronger lemon flavour, you can add more lemon juice or adjust the ratio to your taste.

Step 4: Add Water and Ice

Finally, add water and ice to the mixture. The amount of water you add will depend on the desired concentration of your lemonade and the number of servings you need. As a rule of thumb, use 4-6 cups of water for every 1 cup of lemon juice. Adjust this amount based on your preference for stronger or weaker lemonade. Add ice to the pitcher or punch bowl, and you're ready to serve!

Tips and Variations:

• To make the process faster, you can juice the lemons ahead of time and store the lemon juice in the refrigerator until you're ready to mix the lemonade.
• If you don't have time to juice lemons, you can use bottled lemon juice as a convenient alternative.
• To make the lemonade even more refreshing, add some fresh mint sprigs or maraschino cherries as a garnish.
• For a unique twist, try adding pureed fruit like strawberries, peaches, or raspberries to create flavoured lemonades.

Use fresh lemons and a juicer to make 4 quarts of lemon juice

To make 4 quarts of lemon juice, you'll need about 48 lemons. This will vary depending on the size of the lemons, but generally, one regular-sized lemon contains about 2-3 tablespoons of juice.

Here's a step-by-step guide to making 4 quarts of lemon juice with fresh lemons and a juicer:

• Prepare the Lemons: Wash the lemons thoroughly under running water and dry them with a clean cloth or paper towel.
• Juice the Lemons: Cut the lemons in half and place them, cut-side down, into the juicer. Squeeze the juice out of each lemon half. You can also use a hand-held citrus juicer or a citrus reamer if you don't have a juicer.
• Remove Seeds: As you juice the lemons, keep an eye out for any seeds that may fall into the juice. Remove them as you go to avoid having them in your final product.
• Strain the Juice (Optional): If you want to ensure a smooth and seed-free lemon juice, strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
• Store the Juice: If you're not using the lemon juice right away, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best used within 24 hours for optimal flavour and nutritional value.

Making a large batch of lemon juice from fresh lemons can be time-consuming, but the results are well worth it! Using a juicer can speed up the process and make it more efficient. Remember to taste the juice as you go and adjust the amount of lemon juice to your preference. Enjoy your freshly squeezed lemon juice!

Add ice and stir in cold water until sugar is dissolved

Once you've added the ice, it's time to stir in the cold water. Keep adding water and stirring until all the sugar has dissolved. This is an important step as you don't want your guests to have a mouthful of undissolved sugar when they take a sip of your delicious lemonade!

It's also important to note that you should add enough water to allow for the ice melting. You don't want your lemonade to become diluted and lose its flavour.

If you're making a large batch of lemonade for a wedding, it's a good idea to make a simple syrup by boiling water and sugar together and letting it cool before adding the lemon juice. This will ensure that you don't end up with undissolved sugar at the bottom of your punch bowl or dispenser.

You can also make lemonade in concentrate form and store it in the freezer. When you're ready to serve, just add water and ice. This method is especially useful if you're making lemonade for a large crowd and want to make sure it stays cold and flavourful.

So, to recap, add ice to your punch bowl or dispenser, then stir in cold water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Taste your lemonade and add more water if needed, keeping in mind that some of the ice will melt.

Use bottled lemon juice if you don't have time to squeeze lemons

If you're short on time, you can still make a large batch of delicious lemonade for a wedding using bottled lemon juice.

First, you'll need to decide how many servings of lemonade you'll need. As a rule of thumb, it's better to have too much than too little, so consider making a larger batch than you think you'll need.

For 10 servings, you'll need:

• 1 cup of bottled lemon juice
• 2 cups of sugar
• 6 cups of water
• Ice for serving

For 100 servings, you'll need:

• 6 3/4 cups of bottled lemon juice
• 10 1/2 cups of sugar
• 12 cups of water
• Ice for serving

Start by making a simple syrup. Combine the sugar and 2 cups of water in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil and continue boiling for 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

In a large pitcher or container, combine the simple syrup, bottled lemon juice, and the remaining water. Stir well.

Chill the lemonade until it's ready to serve. When serving, pour the lemonade over ice in glasses or a large dispenser.

If you want to add a decorative touch, consider garnishing the lemonade with additional lemon slices or fresh mint sprigs. You can also experiment with adding pureed fruit, such as strawberries, peaches, or raspberries, to create flavoured lemonades.

Using bottled lemon juice is a convenient and time-saving option when making lemonade for a large group. It's important to choose a good-quality brand, as some are fresher-tasting than others. Real Lemon is a popular choice and is available in bulk at stores like Costco.

Frequently asked questions