Alcohol is an integral component at almost any wedding. Though there are plenty of couples who opt out of this side of things for various reasons, the vast majority of events will feature booze in some capacity. One of the biggest decisions couples need to make about alcohol is whether or not to bring the bottles themselves. If you do decide to forego the venue’s services, you absolutely want to research the intricacies of bringing your own. Use this guide to get a better idea of buying wine for your wedding.

Why You Should Bring Your Own

The biggest reason people tend to use their venues or caterers to supply alcohol at an event is because it is convenient. More often than not, the luxury of having the work done for you outweighs everything else. However, it is far from the more affordable decision. If you are trying to save money, deciding to bring your own wine can do wonders. Not only is it cheaper, but you also won’t be limited by what the venue supplies and can offer a more robust selection to guests.

How To Gauge the Number

Once you’ve committed to the BYOB lifestyle, you will need to get some numbers. Don’t worry about your budget just yet. The most important number to consider is how many guests will be present at the event. Experts suggest taking this number and dividing it by either 2.0 or 2.15, depending on how much work you want to do with rounding the final number. This means that a wedding of 200 people would require between 90 and 100 bottles in total. 

Obviously, you will need to pick wine out before you have received all of your RSVPs. Use the number of guests invited rather than how many will actually show. Buying more wine than you need will always be better than not having enough to go around.

What Wines To Buy

If you don’t know the first thing about selecting wine, you might not be sure how to buy for such a big event. To make it easier, consider breaking the list down by types of wine. On a basic level this will include reds, whites, and bubblies. Experts in the party planning industry advise having about 25% of the bottles be sparkling wines, with the rest being an even split between reds and whites. Obviously, you can change this if it doesn’t work for you. If very few people in your life drink white wine, buy more red instead. 

You might also want to add a rosé to the mix for some events. If you’re having an outdoor wedding or an event that takes place during a warmer time of the year, rosé is a perfect drink to complement the atmosphere.

How To Pick the Perfect Bottles

While it might be nice to think that there’s a simple way to pick the perfect bottle of wine, this is not the case. Every event is different, and your guests will have tastes unique to them. If you know you can get away with buying inexpensive bottles of wine because your friends and family don’t care, then go for the cheap bottles! Conversely, be prepared to spend a bit more when your group only consumes the finest of libations. Use your discretion and you’ll find the answer is quite straightforward. 

Though there is no rule stating you absolutely need to have alcohol at your wedding for people to have a good time, the inclusion definitely tips the scales in your favor. When you decide to bring your own bottles of wine, put some time and thought behind the choice. The more you learn about your options with buying wine, the more it will feel like you’re throwing a wedding your guests will really enjoy.