Marriage is a beautiful adventure that you can embark on together. And to properly organize your wedding reception, which is the first step toward a successful wedding celebration, you’d better make sure you don’t run out of wine and sparkling wine! How many bottles should you plan for?? Which winesshould you choose? It can sometimes be difficult to decide if you’re not an expert on the subject. The Oé team is here to help! For the happy couple, the wedding reception will soon hold no more secrets.
What exactly is a wedding reception?
You’ve just exchanged rings, and unless Shrek walks into the church shouting “I object,” it’s unlikely your wedding ceremony will be ruined. The wedding reception is the drinks reception held between the ceremony and the wedding meal. It’s the perfect bridge to recover from all the wonderful emotions after saying “I do” and to enjoy time with your guests before dinner. The cocktail reception brings all the guests together to toast to your happiness. It’s also an opportunity to thank your guests for witnessing your union and to share a good time with those who are not attending the meal.
It’s not easy to create that famous guest list for your wedding meal, especially if you have a large family and many friends. Generally, you invite the closest members of your circle to dinner. For the wedding reception, however, everyone is invited. It’s the first step of the wedding celebration, and it should be successful and served with the right number of bottles.
How many bottles should you plan for your wedding reception?
Generally, the wedding reception lasts between two and three hours so as not to encroach on the wedding meal. There’s only one rule for this occasion: delight your guests with plenty to drink and eat. As they say: “a full stomach makes for a happy heart”!
For the aperitif, let your caterer’s imagination run wild. Petit fours, surprise breads and gourmet verrines are the Holy Trinity of every successful cocktail reception. In terms of quantities, you should allow about 10 pieces per person per hour. And since we all have sweet-toothed food lovers in our circle, you can offer 4 or 5 sweet treats.
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As for the drinks, you should generally allow one bottle for four people. That’s the theory; in practice, we adapt to everyone’s preferences and circumstances and help you make your choice. Now that you have a good idea of the quantity to plan for, you just need to answer one crucial question: what drinks should you serve at your wedding reception? We’ll tell you all about it here.
Which wines should you serve at a wedding reception?
You know them, no need to introduce them—they’re always there for both small and large occasions: sparkling wine! The wedding reception is the perfect occasion to mark the occasion, and for that, sparkling wines such as Champagne and crémant are often (always) popular with newlyweds. They pair wonderfully with petit fours, and their bubbles will be perfect for a festive occasion.
Have you ever wondered how to tell the difference between Champagne and crémant? Well, it’s very simple: the difference mainly comes down to geography and controlled appellation. We’ll tell you more. To make Champagne, the Champenoise method involves creating the mousse and bubbles during a second fermentation. It’s the same technique as the traditional method used to make crémant. A mixture of yeast, sugar, and aged wine is added to the bottle before it’s corked, and you’re done. However, the Champagne appellation is reserved for sparkling wines from the region of the same name. Champagnes also have a longer aging period. The variety of grape varieties used to make crémant is broader, however, ranging from Alsatian Riesling to Bordeaux Cabernet Franc in addition to the usual Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. There, you know it all.
So, should you necessarily buy the most prestigious Champagne to celebrate this special occasion? As clothes don’t make the man, price doesn’t determine taste. Every budget can find something suitable, and a crémant is sometimes better than a Champagne. Our Crémant d’Alsace has already won over many newlyweds and their guests. With its white-fleshed fruit aromas (apricot, pear), it is the first sparkling wine in our range and will be perfect for the wedding reception.
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Although Champagne and crémant are undisputed stars of the wedding reception, you can also opt for other drinks such as the famous kir royal, fresh and organic fruit juices or organic wine. In any case, don’t forget to offer soft drinks for those who don’t drink alcohol or don’t like sparkling wine.
Want to break with tradition? How about opting for homemade cocktails? Our team loves the mimosa. No, this cocktail has nothing to do with our partner MiiMOSA, with whom we set up a campaign to help one of our winegrowers with their projects. A mimosa is a cocktail made with Champagne or crémant and chilled citrus juice, traditionally orange juice. Perfect for a little fruity break and a sunny wedding. Are you more into a rustic style? A good Champagne soup is the answer to your desires: bottles of Champagne or crémant, a little cane sugar, lime, and Cointreau, and you’re done!
Organic wine for your wedding reception?
Want to move away from traditional sparkling wines and offer organic wine to your guests during your wedding reception? Our team says yes. A wedding reception isn’t just an opportunity to pop corks; it’s also a chance to break with tradition and push boundaries.
Choosing organic wine for your wedding reception is one more step for the environment. With our organic, vegan, and pesticide-free wines, we offer you the perfect combination for a wedding that’s good for your guests and good for the planet. If you have fresh vegetable-based appetizers, offer your guests a glass of Corbières. For small flexitarian portions, le Vaucluse Principauté d’Orange will be perfect for your savory bites.
You can also choose to highlight the region where the reception is held. At Oé, we work hand in hand with winegrowers who are committed to expressing the beauty of the terroirs of our beautiful regions. If the wedding takes place in the Rhône Valley, let your friends taste a good Côtes-du-Rhône rouge. If you’re in the Bugey, honor the terroir with a good bottle of Bugey blanc. No matter where your union takes place, we are committed to offering you the best gems for your wedding reception and we will deliver them to your reception venue within 48 hours.
Offering regional wines also goes hand in hand with the regional specialties you can serve on your guests’ plates. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your small producers or local caterers.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to enjoy yourself. There is no recipe to follow to the letter to make your wedding reception a success. Take the time to think about it and discover our red wines, white wines and rosé wines, to delight your guests’ palates.
Discover all our organic wines to celebrate your wedding reception!
Tips for a successful wedding reception
Our team recommends choosing different reception venues for your wedding reception. The closer you are to the church or town hall, the sooner you can toast (and walk there).
The wedding reception is generally a standing buffet, unlike the wedding meal. Remember to provide chairs for pregnant women, children, and elderly guests.
Being organized is good, but thinking about entertainment is even better! For example, a tasting stand with a sommelier to introduce the wines you’ve chosen, culinary entertainment, or even a chocolate fountain. There’s no shortage of good ideas—we’ll leave you to find yours.
And for even more ideas on organizing your wedding, you can find them here!
Oé takes care of your wedding reception
Oé is committed to enhancing your special day. We guide you in choosing your wines, we define your preferences and budget together, and we select the best organic wines for your wedding reception and your meal.
We help you choose the number of bottles to plan based on the number of guests, the venue, and the atmosphere you want, and we advise you so that you make the best choices. The tasting is also deducted from the overall invoice. We are here to help you find the wines you want and the right quantities to plan. Trust us!
Contact us at hello@oeforgood.com to discuss your wine choices with Thomas and use your preparation time to discover our different appellations available on our site. See you soon!
