BYO Wedding Wine and Corkage
If you’re in a position to buy good wedding wine yourselves, ask your venue if you can bring your own. Hotels and restaurants will almost always say no as this is one of their key revenue streams, but other places – particularly those which are weddings-only venues and work with outside caterers – might agree.
Bringing your own will probably incur a corkage fee to cover service, glassware and breakages, usually applied per bottle, although it can be per person. If you’ve got the chance to get really decent Champagne at a good price, though, it may be worth paying corkage – equally, it could wipe out any savings you’ve made elsewhere. Recently, however, there’s been an increase in the number of venues actively promoting ‘no corkage’, so if this sounds appealing, add it to your criteria list when you’re venue hunting.
The trend for couples to personalise elements of their wedding has moved into drinks choices, too. ‘I believe 2020 and beyond will see couples choosing wines that mean something special to them,‘ says Sam Tyson from wine and Champagne club, Winebuyers. ‘So they might serve the wine they shared on their first date, or one that comes from a vineyard at one of their favourite holiday destinations – either way it will be a wine that tells a story.’
Choosing Your Bubbly
Champagne is as traditional as top hats and confetti at weddings, but it’s not the only fizz in the frame. Prosecco has long been Champagne’s more affordable, slightly sweeter cousin – and it’s particularly popular for cocktails such as Kir Royale or Aperol Spritz. Other sparklers are getting in on the cork-popping act too, with an increased interest in good-quality Spanish Cava (made by the same method as Champagne), Crémant (sparkling French wine made outside the designated Champagne region), plus brilliant British varieties. And a fabulous harvest in 2018 means some great English choices – perfect if you’re watching your green credentials.
‘English wine only has to travel a short distance to get to any wedding in the UK, so less transportation energy reduces its environmental impact,’ says Alex Rabagliati, winemaker from the Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex. ‘The quality is internationally recognised, too – we’re frequently beating our international counterparts in competition – and it’s the perfect accompaniment to seasonal, local produce. Generally, English wines share a style that’s suitable for summer, marquee weddings, which is to say fresh, floral, fruit-focused, light and easy drinking.’