Raising a Glass

Wines and weddings are a perfect match. There are few ways more
appropriate to celebrate one’s nuptials with family and friends
than by raising a glass to future joys. Before you decide upon your
wedding wines, there are a few guidelines that may help you to
navigate the sometimes choppy waters of wedding reception
planning.

You’ll want to allow for four glasses per bottle when planning
the amount of wine to be purchased. At four glasses per bottle,
that means that four guests will receive a generous pour from each
bottle. That being said, if you are expecting, say, 200 guests,
you’ll need to purchase at least eight cases, with each case
allowing for approximately 48 pours, and each guest, ultimately,
receiving two generous pours. Because some guests will not drink at
all, or some will only have one glass, while others have three
glasses each, quantities should balance out. It’s always a good
idea to purchase an extra case or two, but be careful to not buy
too much, as mindless over-drinking at receptions can be
problematic.

Following the 200-guest example, you’ll want a balance between
red and white wines. For summer weddings that may be occurring on
very hot days, you may want that extra case or two you purchase to
be white wine, as guests may desire something lighter to drink
during warm weather. Aside from wine, you may want to offer
sparkling wine, champagne, cava (Spanish sparkling wine), or
prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) while serving guests the wedding
cake. Make sure to have non-alcoholic sparkling wine on hand. Most
weddings have at least one expectant mother as a guest, and
children appreciate being included in toasts. Quantities for
sparkling wine, champagne, or cava should be lower, with only one
pour per guest—enough for a toast. For 200 guests, you would need
about four cases.