A wedding is one of the big occasions — and the wine selection can quickly cause frowning when you need to find wines that appeal to many guests with widely different taste and budget. Here is a complete guide.
Basic rule for weddings: Buy excellent wine in the mid-price range rather than mediocre wine in the top price range. 100-200 kr per bottle provides far better experience for the money than 300-500 kr bottles for a party with 80 guests.
Welcome drink — sparkling wine
Start the wedding with a glass of sparkling wine. You don't need Champagne for everyone — a good Cava from Spain at 60-100 kr or a Crémant d'Alsace at 80-120 kr are excellent choices. If you want the big lift, a Champagne Brut Non-Vintage from a reliable house is classic and always impressive.
White wine for starter and fish
For a classic wedding starter — shrimp, salmon, asparagus or light salad — a fresh white wine is the safest choice. A Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or Loire, or a Chardonnay from Mâcon, works for most things. See our guide to wine for fish for inspiration.
Red wine for main course
For the classic wedding main course, a soft, fruity red wine is the safest choice that appeals to the most possible guests:
- For beef and steak: Malbec from Argentina or Merlot from Bordeaux. See wine for steak
- For lamb: Rioja Reserva or Côtes du Rhône. See wine for lamb
- For pork or chicken: Pinot Noir from Bourgogne or Oregon. See wine for chicken
How many bottles should you buy?
A good rule of thumb: half a bottle per guest for a three-course dinner with 4-5 hours of celebration. This equals 3-4 glasses per person. Buy 10-15% extra as buffer. For 80 guests: approx. 40 bottles white wine + 40 bottles red wine + 15-20 bottles sparkling for welcome.
Dessert wine for the cake
A cold, sweet sparkling for the wedding cake is the classic choice — a Moscato d'Asti from Italy is light, lightly sparkling and not too alcoholic. An alternative is a Prosecco Dolce.
Frequently asked questions
What is a realistic wine budget for a wedding?
100-180 kr per bottle is a good starting point. This gives you access to wines of real quality without breaking the budget. Sparkling for welcome can be a bit higher, 120-200 kr, as it's what guests taste first and remember best.
Should you have one wine for everyone or several wines?
At least three: a sparkling wine for welcome, a white wine for starter and a red wine for main course. If you have a cheese board, gladly add a dessert wine or port wine. This gives guests options and a better match to the food.
When should you buy wine for a wedding?
Order minimum 4-6 weeks in advance, especially for large quantities. Many wine dealers offer return rights on unopened bottles — ask about it before you order.
What are you serving for the wedding dinner?
Describe menu, number of guests and budget — the AI assistant creates a complete wine list.
Try the AI assistant →