Cheers to Forever: Picking the Perfect Wines for Your Wedding

"Red or white? Champagne or prosecco? Open bar or signature cocktails?" The beverage decisions for your wedding can quickly become overwhelming. With numerous options to consider, choosing the perfect drinks for your big day might have you reaching for a glass before the planning is complete!

Amidst venue tours, menu tastings, and dance lessons, finding beverages that delight your guests while respecting your budget can feel like searching for the perfect vintage in an endless wine cellar.

Don't worry—we've got you covered with expert guidance on selecting wines that complement your menu and creating signature cocktails that tell your unique love story. 

Let's turn this challenging decision into one of the most enjoyable parts of your wedding planning.

Start with What You Love

Your wedding day celebrates your relationship, so begin with beverages you and your partner genuinely enjoy. Do you have a favorite varietal shared on your first date? A special cocktail from the restaurant where you got engaged? Use these personal preferences as the foundation for your beverage selection.

After all, you'll be toasting with these drinks throughout your celebration!

Consider the Season

The time of year significantly influences wine selection. For summer weddings, refreshing whites like Sauvignon Blanc or a crisp rosé like Beaumatin Rosé keep guests cool and refreshed. Fall celebrations call for medium to full-bodied reds that complement the cozy ambiance—like Greetings Merlot or a rich Cabernet Sauvignon.

Winter weddings offer the perfect occasion to serve deeper, more robust reds like Cathedral Creek Cabernet. Spring ceremonies benefit from light-bodied wines with floral notes, such as Sittmann Riesling.

Match with Your Menu

Your wine selection should harmonize with your food choices. For seafood dishes, pair with crisp and citrusy whites like Tobias Sauvignon Blanc. If you're serving poultry, consider a versatile Pinot Noir. Rich meat dishes call for fuller-bodied options such as Method Cabernet.

For dessert pairings, consider a Moscato d'Asti or even a special fortified option like Dom Fazi for your cake course.

Budget Considerations

With thoughtful planning, you can offer quality drinks while staying within your budget:

• Consider wine bundles or cases: Many retailers offer discounts for bulk purchases, perfect for wedding quantities.
• Mix price points strategically: Splurge on wines served during dinner when guests are most attentive to pairings, while choosing more affordable options for the cocktail hour.
• Look for special promotions: Seasonal sales can significantly reduce your overall beverage costs.

You'll need to estimate and plan your bar service and bartending needs. A Party Planning Drink Calculator can help you figure out how much alcohol is needed for your big day and keep your mental math to a minimum.

Wedding Beverage Service to Make Your Day Perfect

From coordinating engagement party refreshments to planning reception toasts, managing beverages for wedding events can quickly become overwhelming. Couples sometimes struggle with estimating quantities, balancing preferences, and arranging timely delivery—all while trying to stay within budget.

Haskell's wedding beverage consultation service helps solve these challenges. Our team will guide you through wine and spirits selection, calculate appropriate quantities, and make sure you have options for all your guests. We can even deliver your complete order directly to your venue, eliminating last-minute stress.

Creating a Signature Cocktail for Your Wedding

To help simplify your planning, we've curated wedding drinks and name ideas that will impress your guests. Whether you prefer personalized drinks or big-batch cocktails, we have ideas for any kind of wedding.

Before turning your kitchen into a full-fledged test bar, consider what type of cocktail best represents you and your partner. Think about where you met, your favorite drink, or maybe a silly memory you both share. These are great foundations for naming your signature cocktail.

Signature Cocktail Ideas

Once you've identified your inspiration, bring it to life with a personalized name. Here are some suggestions to spark your creativity:

• "Main Squeeze" Margarita
• "The Last Name" Long Island
• "Mint To Be" Mojito
• "Perfect Pear"
• "Apple of My Eye"
• "Happily Ever After"
• "Love at First Sip"
• "The [Venue] Sparkler"

Here are a few cocktail ideas that will be perfect for your wedding. These crowd-pleasers will surely entice guests onto the dance floor!

Long Island Iced Tea

• 1/2 oz Farrell Reserve Vodka
• 1/2 oz rum
• 1/2 oz gin
• 1/2 oz tequila
• 1/2 oz triple sec
• 1 oz sour mix
• Splash of cola
• Lemon slice for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Pour vodka, rum, gin, tequila, triple sec, and sour mix over ice; cover and shake. Pour cocktail into a glass; top with splash of cola for color. Garnish with a lemon slice.

"Main-Squeeze" Margarita 

• 2 oz Vizon Blanco Tequila
• 1 oz orange liqueur
• 1 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 fresh orange, juiced
• Kosher salt
• Lime wedge or wheel for garnish

Pour kosher salt on a plate. Rim cocktail glass with lime juice and dip rim into salt. Flip the glass back over, set aside. Fill cocktail shaker with ice, tequila, orange liqueur, lime, and juice from orange. Shake thoroughly. Pour mixture into the salt-rimmed glass and add lime wedge or wheel to garnish.

Hot Buttered Rum 

• 2 oz Tenpenny Spiced Rum
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of cloves
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups boiling water
• Cinnamon sticks for garnish

Use an electric mixer to beat the brown sugar, butter, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl until smooth and blended. Pour mixture into a large measuring cup (at least 4 cups). Add rum and 2 cups of boiling water, then stir until the butter mixture is dissolved. Equally pour the mixture among 4 coffee mugs. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Sparkling Cucumber Refresher (non-alcoholic option)

• 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup honey simple syrup (equal parts honey and hot water, cooled)
• Fresh mint leaves
• Club soda or sparkling water
• Ice

In a pitcher, combine cucumber slices, lime juice, and honey simple syrup. Muddle gently and let sit for 15 minutes. Strain the mixture into a serving pitcher. To serve, fill glasses with ice, add the cucumber-lime mixture to fill glass halfway, top with club soda, and garnish with fresh mint and a cucumber slice. This crisp, refreshing drink offers a sophisticated non-alcoholic option for guests.

Batched Drinks for Larger Weddings

Perhaps you are planning on your wedding being the party of the century and will be inviting hundreds of people to help you celebrate. In that case, a warm cider and rum punch cocktail will definitely leave your guests raving about your wedding. To make it, you will need:

• 1 gallon apple cider
• 3 apples, sliced
• 3 oranges, sliced
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 2-inch piece ginger, sliced
• 2 cups Tenpenny Spiced Rum

In a large pot, combine apple cider, apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and ginger. Bring to a boil over high; reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. (Keep warm over low, up to 2 hours.) Remove from heat and stir in rum. Transfer to a punch bowl; serve warm.

Planning Your Wedding Beverage Consultation

Looking to keep your liquor spending within budget? Our estimate guide will keep you on track. As a bonus, some of the batched drinks can be made pre-wedding, helping keep costs low and save time.

Planning a wedding with no alcohol? No worries. Serve your favorite mocktails, non-alcoholic beers, and more beverage options for non-drinkers with Haskell's. Keep your guests' spirits high with onsite bartending or elevate the experience with a Haskell's wine and cocktail expert.

We'll help you select the perfect wines and spirits, calculate quantities, and arrange delivery and service for your big day. Schedule a complimentary consultation with Haskell's wedding beverage experts today.