Pairing food and wine for your wedding

You’ve found your perfect partner, set the date, chosen the venue and may even have decided on the menu… but have you considered what wines to serve for your wedding?

A special event as exciting as your wedding day calls for the perfect wine. Perhaps you’re looking for something delicious to complement your appetisers, wines to pair with your main dishes and bubbles for toasting.

Making smart wine choices will help make your special day one to remember, whether you prefer easy-drinking reds like Merlot, a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or a delicate Provençal rosé.

Navigating the world of wine might seem like a challenge, especially when considering all the other things that must be organised for your wedding.

But we’re here to make selecting the best wedding wines a pleasure.

Read on for our top tips, and you’ll soon find your perfect match.

Tips for how to pick your wedding wines

Aside from your own tastes – your wedding will reflect you and your partner, after all – you’ll want to choose wines your guests love too. It’s a good idea to try a selection of wines ahead of your big day to avoid making a rushed decision.

When it comes to choosing wedding wines, here are a few things to consider:

When you’re getting married

When you hold your wedding can play a significant role in choosing the perfect wines. Hot weather often demands light, refreshing wines such as rosé and crisp whites, whereas full-bodied reds can better suit a winter wedding. However, most wines work well with the popular spring and autumn wedding seasons.

The wedding venue

Your venue of choice isn’t just somewhere to celebrate with your friends and family – it could also help you pick the right wine for your special day. For example, if you’re having an outdoor wedding on a beach or in a vineyard, a refreshing white or rosé might fit the bill. But a rich red or luxurious sparkling wine might work for you if you’ve chosen an indoor venue.

The wedding menu

When pairing wine with food, it could be a good idea to pick versatile wine choices. However, you could follow some wine-pairing guidelines to inspire well-balanced pairings.

These include:

• Considering the texture and richness of your meal – Lighter dishes call for lighter wines to avoid being overpowered and vice versa. A delicate Sauvignon Blanc might suit a light salad, while a robust Cabernet Sauvignon can complement a hearty steak.

• Choosing complementary or contrasting flavours – You could pair or contrast similar flavours. For example, a buttery Chardonnay works well with a creamy chicken dish, while an off-dry Riesling can balance spicy dishes.

Check out our complete guide to the basics of food and wine pairings.

The number of courses

You would only need to consider this if you are having a sit-down meal rather than a buffet. If you are planning on having several different courses, such as a fish course and a soup course, you may wish to select different wines to complement the majority of your menu. You might also decide to serve sparkling wine when you’re cutting the wedding cake or for toasts during speeches.

Your guest list and budget

If you’re having an intimate wedding with fewer guests, you might wish to splash out on a few premium bottles. However, if you have many guests to celebrate with, more affordable wine choices might work better for your wedding budget.

How much wine do I need to buy?

The amount of wine you’ll need for your wedding will depend on how many guests you’ve invited and how much you think each person might consume.

As a general rule of thumb, one bottle of still wine provides five glasses of wine, and a bottle of sparkling wine provides six glasses.

Need help with the numbers? Use our handy drinks calculator to help you decide how much wine you need for your celebration.

Best wines to serve at weddings

Starting your wedding wine journey? Consider some of these delicious choices – but remember, the best wedding wines are the ones you feel work best for your unique occasion.