Wedding Wine-Buying Guide

There is no magical formula. Only you know the drinking habits of your guests. For example, your college roomie is probably going to consume a bit more than your elderly Aunt Bertha. Here are a few tips to help you do the math:

• Always buy extra. You never, ever want to run out. How embarrassing...
• Bottles of wine (750ml) will typically pour 5 glasses, while bottles of champagne will pour 6 flutes.
• Figure each guest will have a minimum of 2 glasses, even if they just sip it and leave it or finish it all. The best, sure fire calculation is to plan on each guest consuming 2 glasses every 2 hours.
• An even split of half red and half white is usually recommended. If it's a spring/summer wedding more white wine & champagne may be consumed, whereas in fall/winter weddings, you could be looking at more red wine consumption.

Good quality wines can usually be bought between $8-10/bottle. If you are looking for a more fine wine, you can bank on anywhere between $26-150/bottle, which can quickly add up. If you have the budget and fine wines are part of your daily routine, than by all means, go for it! However, we recommend keeping the price range somewhere between $8-15/bottle. Since Champagnes are generally more expensive, our recommended price range there would be between $15-30/bottle. Just remember, bad champagne is not a good time...

• Buy in bulk (aka cases). Most wine stores will provide great discounts on cases. Some even let you mix & match.
• Leftover wine: If you have unopened bottles most wine stores will let you bring them back as long as the label and cork are intact. Ask before you buy.
• Choose a vendor carefully. Boutique and mom & pop type of venues typically have higher prices. Consider shopping at larger wine stores as they will typically have better deals. Even better is looking to purchase wine online, as it is usually discounted.
• Watch out for corkage fees. If you are supplying your own wine at a venue that typically supplies their own, they may charge a corkage fee. Try to negotiate that into your overall wedding package.