Weddings and Champagne are inseparable !
For generations, no celebration of this kind has been complete without a glass raised in a toast. That pairing is not about to disappear: Champagne remains the quintessential symbol of life's great moments, and a wedding is the most obvious example.
Yet looking for a Champagne for your wedding is no simple matter. Between choosing the cuvée, deciding on quantities, personalising the bottles and organising delivery, the questions soon pile up. This article goes through each of them.
The choice is not limited to a single bottle. A wedding has several high points (the drinks reception, the meal, dessert and the evening party), and each calls for a different style of Champagne.
For the drinks reception, a fresh, light Champagne that every guest can enjoy is generally the best choice. For the meal, a more structured Champagne that pairs with a variety of dishes is often recommended. For dessert, and especially with a wedding cake, a sweeter demi-sec works better with sugary treats. Some couples choose a different cuvée for each stage while staying with the same Champagne house, to keep a consistent style throughout the day.
Budget also plays a part. Champagnes from the large houses generally cost between €50 and €70 a bottle, while those from winegrowers or small family houses are often more accessible, at around €35 to €50, without necessarily sacrificing quality.
This is one of the most common questions from engaged couples, and the guidelines vary with the time of day :
For a wedding of 100 guests, for example, you should generally count on 50 to 70 bottles to cover the whole day, with a further 10 to 15% margin to avoid running out during the evening 🙂
Personalising the back label has become one of the most sought-after options among couples preparing their wedding. It lets you add the date of the event, the names of the couple or a personal message, turning a "standard" bottle into a keepsake that guests will directly associate with the day.
This personalisation can take several forms: simple text with just the names and the date, a design in the colours or theme of the wedding, or even a photo of the couple printed directly on the label. A detail like this is easy to arrange and often has a strong effect on the memory guests keep of the moment they raised their glass.
Once the cuvée is chosen and the labels personalised, one logistical question remains: how to make sure the right quantities arrive in the right place at the right time. Delivery directly to the reception venue, within the time needed for the preparations, spares the couple from handling the transport and storage of the bottles themselves in the days before the ceremony. For weddings abroad, delivery also involves customs, excise duties and longer lead times, so it is best to plan well ahead.
If you would like to take the thought further
For couples who would like some guidance in this process, we can offer tastings at the estate to compare different cuvées before choosing, as well as a service for personalising labels and organising delivery. These services are for those who prefer to take the time to choose a Champagne that suits them, rather than settle for a default choice. It is also a good opportunity to come and discover Champagne ;)
If you are preparing your wedding and would like to talk through these points, please do not hesitate to contact us !