Simple and Perfect Wine Guide For Your Wedding

A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou. –Omar Khayyam

Your big day is coming soon and there are so many things to check off of your wedding list. Choosing your wedding wine is no small decision and it should actually take some time for you to make the right choice because, after all, many of your guests will be enjoying it. Check out this easy to use wedding wine guide…

The first step to take in choosing wedding wines is to find out if the venue you’ve chosen allows you to buy your own wine or if they require a caterer to do it. Some venues require a liquor license for the day of the wedding in order to serve alcohol whereas others have a list of caterers that already have one.

Once you know whether or not you can purchase wine on your own or through the caterer, it’s time to get started on choosing your favorite wines for your wedding.

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1 Red, 1 White

The general rule for wedding wine is: 1 red and 1 white. Consider the season that your wedding will take place and if it’s indoors or outdoors. People tend to drink more white wines, especially in the summer because it’s light and refreshing. During the winter, people favor red wines for its warmth and richness.

If you decide to only provide one type of wine, then a rose wine is the way to go. Rose wines are refreshing yet hearty enough to eat with rich meals.

What Kind of Wines to Serve

If you have a favorite wine with a special memory attached to it, this is a good time to share it among your friends and family. If you don’t already have your heart set on a particular type of red and white wine, start tasting various types of wines when you go out to eat.

Ask for recommendations, whether it’s from the restaurant or from the liquor store, buying wine by the glass offers a cheap option of trying different kinds while seeing how it complements your meal choices. Your friends and family are also great sources for wine recommendations. Talk to your caterer to find out which wines they may recommend.

Usually the most favored choices are Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio for white wines. With red wines, unfortunately, the best reds are also the most expensive and they are Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. If you’re on a tighter budget, Pinot Noir is cheaper while being more diverse for different dishes.

For those who want to serve a rose wine, this is a better choice than a Zinfandel because Roses pair well with many foods and are also well-suited for warm or cool weather.

It is also a good time to choose wine that you’ll serve for the toasts. Most people choose to serve Champagne as is traditional but you can also serve a Brut for a budget-friendly option.

Taste Before You Buy

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Just like with your caterer, try each wine before you buy it. Many people recommend buying several bottles of your top choices and sharing them with friends for their opinions. There are also many liquor stores that offer free wine tasting events or you could go to wine festivals and try a variety out while enjoying the atmosphere. If you interested in learning more about wines, taking a wine tasting class is a good option as well.

How Many Bottles to Buy

The next step in choosing wine for your wedding is deciding on how many bottles to buy. The rule of thumb is to plan on half a bottle per person or 2 glasses every 2 hours. This accounts for those who don’t drink and those who drink more than 2.

Also, if you’re planning on serving wine with dinner and have a cocktail hour, you should increase the number of bottles for your guests. It’s better to have more wine than not enough as you may leave your guests without any wine to sip on during their dinner. Ask about the return policy for unopened wine whether it’s by bottle or by the case. If you are unable to return them, wine is great to keep on hand as gifts.

Wedding Wine Budget

A wedding wine budget comes into play at the beginning of this search if you need to be more frugal with your wine choices. People usually set a wine budget of 15% of the total budget for the reception or as part of the bar bill. Keep in mind what the overall cost will be, especially if you are serving liquor and beer.

In general, New World wines from United States, New Zealand, Australia, South America, and South Africa are cheaper than Old World wines (European regions) but are still delicious. If your venue allows you to purchase outside wine, it is usually cheaper to order wine by the case. Many people buy wine online for even better deals, which ship directly to your home or venue.

Venues will charge a corking fee, which is anywhere between $5-$25/bottle and averages at $15/bottle. Buy bigger 750 ml bottles for less cork fees. Venues and caterers tend to charge twice as much as retail does but if you are serving wine that is less than $15 per bottle, it’s cheaper to go with the caterer than buy them yourselves.

This is a guest blog by Erin Tran, a writer for LiquorMart.com. If you liked this piece, then follow me on Twitter @CustParadigm. When I’m not writing about wine or history, I’m usually looking for the next wine festivals and brushing up on my knowledge of ancient cultures.

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