How Much Wine Do I Need for My Wedding?

When in the middle of wedding planning, the inevitable question regarding alcohol, and more specifically, wine, comes up. Unlike the wedding reception bar, which you might pay a supplier to handle (or have a paid bar), it's typically on you as the couple to choose the wine served at your wedding and foot the bill.

Yes, the catering or venue staff will serve it for you during your reception meal, but you have to purchase it first, either by yourself or from a dedicated supplier, meaning you'll need to get the correct amount.

Therefore, to make sure you don't over (or under) buy, consider the following tips on how much wine to have for your wedding.

How Much Wine Should We Get for Our Wedding?

The amount of wine you decide to purchase for your wedding will depend on several factors, including the number of guests, your budget, and how much wine you're allocating to each guest. If you're feeling generous, you can allocate one bottle of wine per guest. If the budget is tight, however, then you might allocate one glass (a quarter of a bottle) per guest.

There's no right or wrong amount, and it will largely depend on your family, friends, and other wedding guests. If they're all wine lovers, they may be underwhelmed if you only provide them with one or two glasses each. However, if many children are present and/or people don't drink alcohol, you can get away with providing less (if you want to).

Of course, your overall wedding budget will play into your decisions, and you may need to factor in the cost of other drinks, like prosecco for toasts or a signature cocktail provided on arrival at the reception venue.

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend budgeting for around half a bottle to one bottle per guest. This will ensure that everyone has enough to drink without going overboard and ending up with too much wine left over.

If you're unsure whether you've ordered enough, it's wise to up your wine order by 10% to account for any spillages or guests who drink more than their "allocated amount." It's also worth talking to your supplier to see what their policy on unused wine bottles is and whether you can recoup costs on those not used on the day.

How Much Should I Spend on White Wine vs Red Wine and Rosé?

Once you've calculated how many bottles you'll need, you can start thinking about what types of wine to serve. The most important factor here is your own preference. This is your day, and you should book some wine tastings to ensure you love each selection.

However, your guests should also have some sway, as should external factors such as the time of year. Summer sees people preferring white wine and rosé, while the cooler months lend themselves better to red wines. Likewise, if most of your friends and family are staunch white wine drinkers, there's no point in having a 50/50 split between red and white, for example.

Lastly, your choice of menu items might also influence your division of wine. Certain dishes go better with red wines, while others are more suited to whites or even rosé wines. Speak to your caterer about their food and wine pairing recommendations to get a better idea of what to serve.

Getting the Correct Amount of Wine for Your Wedding is Possible with a Little Planning

When working out how much wine to buy for your wedding, you mustn't get too stressed about it. Yes, you want to ensure your guests have enough to drink, but it's not the end of the world if you don't cater to every guest's every whim.

You're on the right track as long as you have a good selection of wines and you've considered your guest list, menu, and budget. With a bit of planning, you can be sure to get the perfect amount of wine for your wedding day. And if you do end up buying more than you need, you can often keep the excess you've paid for (to drink at your pleasure) or recoup some (or all) of the costs of unused bottles from your supplier.

Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy the process. After all, trying out different wines in the lead-up to your big day can hardly be considered a chore!