How to Choose Wine for Your Wedding

With spring in the air, that means wedding season is right around the corner.  All of the decisions that come along with planning a wedding can be daunting.  Choosing the right wine to be served at your wedding can be quite a process, but it doesn’t have to be.  If you’ve booked a venue where you’ll be relying on the wines they provide, then your decision is going to be much easier.  If not, here are some pointers for helping you choose wine for your wedding:

1.  Know your budget

As with all of your wedding decisions, it’s important to know your budget ahead of time so you can lay out your options.  Typically, you can expect about 15 percent of your overall reception budget to go towards wine, give or take.  With a budget in mind, you can talk to a wine vendor or store to figure out what your options are.

2.  Figure out how much wine you need

Depending on the pour, you can expect to get 4-5 glasses of wine out of each bottle.  If you will be serving wine with dinner, allot a half a bottle of wine for every guest assuming that they have 2 glasses of wine while eating.  If wines will be served during cocktail hour and after dinner, then you should double your amounts.  If you’re worried about buying too much wine, find out if the wine vendor will let you return un-opened bottles of wine.  Also, buy your wine by the case, as oftentimes, retailers will give a discount if you buy your wine in bulk. 

You can also talk to a caterer or wine specialist to see how much they would recommend based on the number of guests you are expecting. 

3.  Sample out different wines

Serve wines that you like!  But, do keep in mind that you will want to have at least one red and one white wine to appeal to your guests.  Go to wine tasting events and try out different wines at restaurants so you can find out what you like and don’t like.  Remember to write down the kinds of wines that you liked! 

4.  Find wines that will pair well with what food you’re serving

The wines you choose should bring out the best in the meal.  A general rule is that whites go best with chicken and fish and reds with meats.  However, experimenting can yield great results too.  Two wines that go very well with many different types of foods and that can be served year-round are Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.  You can always consult with a wine specialist for tips on what will help to bring out the flavors of your meal.

With all of the stressors that come along with planning a wedding, don’t let choosing wine for your wedding be one of them!  Happy planning!