How Many Bottles of Wine to Plan for a Wedding? The Smart Guide

How Much Wine to Plan for a Wedding? 🍷💍

How many bottles do you need for a wedding? If you're in the middle of planning, this question is probably at the top of your to-do list. Don't panic: we'll help you see clearly, with concrete guidelines, practical advice... and even tips to avoid running dry (or having too much).

The Basics: How Many Glasses Per Bottle? 🍷

  • A standard wine bottle (75 cl) = 6 glasses of 12.5 cl
  • For champagne or sparkling wine: count 7 flutes per bottle
  • For sweet or dessert wines (aperitif or dessert): 8 to 10 small glasses per bottle

Which Wine for Which Moment? 🥂

  1. Cocktail Hour/Reception

Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours
Plan 1 glass of sparkling or white wine per person every 30 minutes
👉 About 1 bottle for 3 people

  1. Meal

Generally, 1 or 2 wines are served (often a white then a red)

  • Count 1 bottle for 2 to 3 people, about 2 glasses of each wine per guest
  • If you only have one wine (e.g.: a red), count 1 bottle for 2
  1. Dessert
  1. End of Evening/Next Day Brunch
  • Plan a few extra bottles (rosé, light white, sparkling): you can never be too careful 😉

Summary Table 🧮

Moment

Recommended Quantity

Cocktail hour

1 bottle for 3 people (white or sparkling)

Meal

1 bottle of white for 3 / 1 red for 2

Dessert

1 bottle for 6-8 people (sweet or sparkling)

Extras

10-15% extra margin for unexpected needs

👉 Example for 100 people:

  • 35 bottles of white wine or sparkling for cocktail
  • 35 bottles of white wine for starter
  • 50 bottles of red wine for main course
  • 15 bottles of sweet wine or sparkling for dessert
  • 20 "buffer" bottles for evening and brunch

Our Bonus Tips

  • Adapt to your audience: young party-goers? sober families? The profile of guests matters as much as their number.
  • Choose versatile wines: a crisp white, a fruity red, quality sparkling... and you're set.
  • Prefer large formats if you have many guests: magnum bottles, quality bag-in-box for some simple rosés/whites.
  • Plan for temperature: keep whites and sparkling chilled (backup fridges, coolers, cellar).

Our Special Wedding Selection 🎉

Need concrete ideas to build your big day wine collection? Here are 4 essential bottles, selected for their accessibility, generosity and excellent value:

🥂 To Open the Ball

Champagne Maxime Blin "Carte Blanche – Nos Moments" Brut
A grower champagne full of finesse, with elegant bubbles and aromas of citrus and white flowers. Perfect for a sparkling cocktail hour.

🌸 For Aperitif or Next Day Brunch

Domaine Sainte-Marie – Cuvée Paparazzi Rosé
Fruity, fresh, delicately saline: a charming Provençal rosé that pleases everyone. The ideal companion for toasts, grilled foods and sunny moments.

🍋 To Accompany Starter or Light Dish

Domaine des Chenevières – Mâcon-Villages 2021
A Chardonnay full of suppleness, both floral, lemony and round in the mouth. The perfect match with poultry, fish or cold buffet.

🍒 For Sauced Dish or Roasted Meat

Domaine Mont Chavy – Morgon 2020
A fruity, supple and elegant red, with aromas of cherry and sweet spices. A Beaujolais with character that pleases both enthusiasts and novices.

One Last Sip for the Road 🏁

Planning the right number of bottles for a wedding is a clever mix of foresight, conviviality... and moderation. The important thing is that everyone has the pleasure of toasting — and remembering this big day for the right reasons 🥂