How much wine and Champagne for your wedding?

How much wine and Champagne for your wedding ?

If the happy couple want to make sure their guests never go without, it is essential to calculate wine and Champagne quantities precisely, while keeping within your budget. The quantity of drinks depends on the number of guests, the menu and the preferences of those attending. Follow our advice to estimate the number of bottles needed and discover our selection of wines from the finest appellations, estates and growers for your celebration.

Step 1: estimate the number of drinkers among your guests

Start by listing all your guests: those attending the drinks reception and the meal. Determine who will be drinking alcohol, excluding children, pregnant women and non-drinkers. Also plan soft drinks such as fruit cocktails, along with plenty of still water, sparkling water and soft drinks for all your guests.

Then estimate:

 Light drinkers - who will limit themselves to one or two glasses throughout the evening.

 Those driving home - who will naturally drink less.

  Guests staying overnight - who will be able to enjoy more at their leisure.

The sommelier rule: always count 6 glasses per 75 cl bottle, whether for white, red or rosé wine. For Champagne, count 6 flutes per bottle. This calculation base applies to every moment of the meal.

How many bottles of red wine for a wedding ?

If the main course is meat-based, red wine will be the most served wine at the meal. One bottle of red wine provides approximately 6 glasses.

 Standard service, allow 1 bottle for every 2 guests.

 If most guests are staying overnight and the mood is festive, plan for 2 bottles for every 3 guests.

How many bottles of white wine for a wedding ?

White wine typically accompanies the starter and the cheese course. Consumption is therefore lower than for red wine.

Starter + cheese course: allow 1 glass per guest for each service.

Fish-based main course: plan for 2 to 3 glasses per person, equivalent to 1 bottle for every 3 guests.

How many bottles of Champagne for a wedding ?

One bottle of Champagne provides approximately 6 flutes. Champagne may be served at several key moments:

 Drinks reception: allow 2 flutes per person (or 1 flute if other drinks are served alongside).

 Dessert and wedding cake toast: plan for 1 to 2 flutes per guest.

Quantity estimates by number of guests

For a wedding of 50 guests

Drinks reception

17 bottles of Champagne · 8 bottles of white or rosé wine

Meal : 

Starter: 8 bottles of white wine · Main: 25 bottles of red wine · Cheese: 8 bottles of white wine

Dessert + wedding cake

12 bottles of Champagne

For a wedding of 100 guests

Drinks reception

33 bottles of Champagne (2 flutes per guest) · 15 bottles of white or rosé wine

Starter

17 bottles of white wine (1 glass per guest)

Main course

50 bottles of red wine (≈3 glasses per guest) or 35 bottles of white wine if fish-based

Cheese course

17 bottles of white wine (1 glass per guest)

Dessert + wedding cake

25 bottles of Champagne (1 to 2 flutes per guest)

For a wedding of 150 guests

Drinks reception

50 bottles of Champagne · 25 bottles of white or rosé wine

Meal

Starter: 25 bottles of white wine · Main: 75 bottles of red wine · Cheese: 25 bottles of white wine

Dessert + wedding cake

37 bottles of Champagne

For a wedding of 200 guests

Drinks reception

67 bottles of Champagne · 35 bottles of white or rosé wine

Meal

Starter: 34 bottles of white wine · Main: 100 bottles of red wine · Cheese: 34 bottles of white wine

Dessert + wedding cake

50 bottles of Champagne

Wedding tip: always add 10 to 15% extra bottles on top of your initial estimate. It is far better to have a few bottles left over than to run out during dessert. Unopened bottles can generally be returned to your supplier or kept for another occasion.

What drinks and quantities for the drinks reception ?

The drinks reception is a key moment, often better attended than the meal itself. Some guests will only be present for this part of the day, so it is important to have a good variety of drinks available. In addition to Champagne or sparkling wine, offer a very chilled white wine, a light rosé, some soft drinks and fruit cocktails.

As a general rule, for a drinks reception of around two hours:

1 bottle of wine (white or rosé) for every 3 to 4 people

1 bottle of Champagne or crémant for every 5 to 6 people

A wide selection of fruit juices and sparkling water available throughout

How to organise drinks for your wedding

Organising the drinks is as integral to a successful wedding as the dress, the venue or the seating plan. Planning your wine quantities in advance allows you to respect your wine budget while offering a convivial experience for all your guests. Ideally, think about the drinks reception, the meal (starter, main course, cheese, dessert and wedding cake) and the end of the evening separately. If you are working with a wedding planner, do not hesitate to ask them to help refine the bottle counts based on your reception format, seated dinner or standing reception.

How to manage wine service during a wedding ?

To keep control of consumption while making sure everyone is happy, plan for table service by the glass. Count an average of 6 glasses per bottle, whether white, red or rosé. Brief the caterer or waiting staff on the planned quantities, the rotation of cuvées and the key service moments, in particular the switch to Champagne flutes for dessert. Also plan for unlimited non-alcoholic drinks: fruit juices, alcohol-free cocktails, soft drinks, sparkling water and still water.

Which wines to choose for a wedding ?

Beyond quantities, the choice of cuvées is essential. For a wedding, a well-curated, coherent wine range is better than a large number of different references. Aim to offer at least one white wine, one red wine and if possible one rosé wine, plus one or two sparkling wines for the drinks reception and dessert. For the meal, opt for accessible, crowd-pleasing wines: a supple, fruity red wine, a dry, aromatic white for the starter and cheese course. On the bubbles front, alongside the Champagne, a Crémant de Bourgogne adds a festive touch without stretching the budget. Find our full wine recommendations in our complete guide to choosing wines for a wedding →

Where to buy wine for your wedding ?

You can buy your wines directly from the estate, from a wine shop in your area, or through an online wine merchant. The latter option is ideal for comparing prices, appellations and cuvée styles without leaving home. At Avenue des Vins, you order through a direct supply model, with delivery straight from the estate to your home or your reception venue. A practical solution for your wedding planning that gives you access to the finest cuvées at estate price, while supporting independent growers.

Frequently asked questions - wine quantities for a wedding

How many bottles of wine do I need for 100 people at a wedding ?

For a wedding with 100 drinking guests, plan approximately: 33 bottles of Champagne for the drinks reception, 17 bottles of white wine for the starter, 50 bottles of red wine for the main course (or 35 bottles of white if fish-based), 17 bottles of white wine for the cheese course and 25 bottles of Champagne for dessert. Always add 10 to 15% extra to avoid running out during the evening.

How many Champagne flutes per bottle at a wedding?

A standard 75 cl bottle of Champagne fills approximately 6 flutes. For the drinks reception, count 2 flutes per person, 1 bottle for every 3 guests. For the dessert and wedding cake toast, plan for 1 to 2 flutes per guest, 1 bottle for every 4 to 6 people. For a more generous service or a very festive evening, adjust these estimates upwards accordingly.

How many bottles for a wedding drinks reception ?

For a drinks reception lasting around 2 hours, allow 1 bottle of white or rosé wine for every 3 to 4 people and 1 bottle of Champagne or crémant for every 5 to 6 people. Add a generous supply of fruit juices and sparkling water throughout. Remember that some guests will only attend the drinks reception, make sure you have enough for this moment, which sets the tone for the whole celebration.

Can crémant replace Champagne at a wedding ?

Yes, absolutely. A Crémant de Bourgogne, d'Alsace or de Loire made using the traditional method offers fine bubbles and aromas comparable to an entry-level Champagne, at a price typically 30 to 50% lower. For a wedding of 100 guests, replacing Champagne with crémant for the drinks reception can represent a significant saving without sacrificing quality. You might choose to keep the Champagne for the dessert toast and wedding cake moment.

How many bottles of red wine for a wedding ?

For a meal with a meat-based main course, allow 1 bottle of red wine for every 2 guests under standard service. If most guests are staying overnight and the atmosphere is festive, plan for 2 bottles for every 3 guests. For 100 guests, this represents approximately 50 bottles of red wine. Choose a supple, fruity red rather than a highly tannic wine to please the widest possible range of tastes.

How much rosé wine should I plan for a wedding ?

Rosé wine is typically served at the drinks reception and sometimes alongside the starter at summer weddings. Allow 1 bottle of rosé for every 3 to 4 people at the drinks reception. If you plan to offer rosé throughout the meal, count 1 bottle per 4 guests. A light, fresh Provence rosé is ideal for a summer wedding, while a more structured Languedoc rosé pairs better with grilled meats and Mediterranean dishes.

How far in advance should I order wine for a wedding ?

It is advisable to order your wedding wines at least 4 to 6 weeks before the date to ensure the chosen cuvées are available and to organise delivery without stress. When ordering through direct supply, lead times can vary by estate. Use this time to organise a small tasting of the selected cuvées with the couple, to confirm the choices before placing the final order.

With accurate quantity estimates and a well-considered choice of cuvées, you give your guests an experience to remember, from the very first toast at the drinks reception to the last Champagne flute shared at the wedding cake. At Avenue des Vins, order your wedding wines through direct supply, at estate price, shipped directly from the grower's cellar.