You’re getting married, so there’s no better time to let the celebratory drinks flow. But which beverages should you supply at your wedding and in what quantities?
Organising the drinks for your wedding can seem a daunting task, but to make your job easier here are a few guidelines and suggestions.
bubbly
Nothing beats a cold glass of bubbly as a celebratory drink, and there’s no shortage of moments throughout your big day to pop the cork. Calm your nerves with a little before the wedding, and celebrate your union immediately following the ceremony, or during your photographs. And, of course, Champagne is the ideal welcome and toasting drink at your reception. Like still wines, bubbly varies hugely in flavour, so go for one you like the taste of. You can pay as little as $12 for a bottle, but expect a good-quality drop to cost around $40-$60 and a top French label around $250. The better quality sparkling wines are matured in the traditional manner, so look for the terms ‘méthode traditionelle’, ‘méthode champenoise’ or ‘bottle fermented’ on the label. If you prefer, a flute of bubbles can be replaced by a chardonnay or sparkling mineral water laced with fruit.
vino
When choosing wines to serve at your reception, consider the time of year and day your wedding will be held. Summer weddings and lunches are best suited to whites, rosés and lighter-style reds, such as cabernet franc or pinot noir. Winter weddings and dinners can include more robust merlots and Bordeaux.
Your menu will also play a part in your selection. By correctly pairing food and drink you’ll enhance the flavours of both. Generally, red meat goes with a red wine, and white meat and fish calls for white wine. If you’re offering a different wine for each course, progress from white to red and from dry to sweet varieties. Keep in mind most New Zealanders prefer white wine, so provide two bottles of white for every bottle of red.
Your caterers will help you out with your decisions, and a wine-tasting party with family and friends may be useful – if not a great excuse for a pre-wedding bash!
beer & non-alcoholic
When it comes to beer, you may opt for boutique labels as a more upmarket alternative. You needn’t worry about providing spirits, as they can be an unnecessary complication. As responsible hosts, you should also offer plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. These can range from a punch or juice to filtered tap water with fruit or sparkling mineral water.
are you being served?
The manner in which your drinks are served should be consistent with the style of your reception; a buffet should have bottles of wine supplied on the tables for guests to pour, while a set menu suits waiter service. Beer-drinkers should always be offered a glass, while Champagne is best served by a waiter as it suits the style of drink and can be tricky to pour.
cut costs
One way to save money on your drinks is to supply your own. If BYO is an option, your venue may charge a corkage fee. To calculate it accurately, stamp each cork and ask the caterers to keep them. It’s usually cheaper to buy a selection of wines in bulk from one retailer because you can negotiate good discounts. Alternatively, you could organise a sale-or-return deal, but don’t expect big discounts and, remember, the retailer won’t take back damaged bottles, so keep them in boxes and don’t allow their labels to become soggy.
So now you’re set to create a drinks menu to suit the style of your wedding. Good luck and cheers!
quantities
These quantities are based on a typical length reception of six to eight hours – covering the time guests are waiting for the bridal couple to arrive through to when they leave – with a buffet or sit-down meal for 100 guests. If you’re hosting a cocktail party, your caterer will advise you on how much alcohol you’ll need. Remember, all weddings are different and you know your friends best; if they like to indulge a little or aren’t really into alcohol adjust the quantities accordingly, and if they’re predominantly wine drinkers, deduct from your beer allowance and buy more wine. The quantities listed below are generous, but it’s safer to have more than you need, rather than risk running out.
Download the drinks quantity table here
