Buying champagne for a wedding: quantities, budget and selection
Champagne sets the tone for the three key moments of a wedding: the reception, the meal and dessert. Choosing the right amount of champagne helps you avoid the two classic pitfalls — running out halfway through the evening, or tying up your budget in unnecessary cases. Here are our tips as wine merchants.
How many bottles of champagne are needed for a wedding?
A 75 cl bottle serves around 6 glasses. The standard quantities per guest are:
- Reception drinks: 1.5 glasses per person → 1 bottle for 4 guests;
- Champagne with the meal: 2 to 3 glasses per person → 1 bottle for 2 to 3 guests;
- Dessert and wedding cake: 1 glass per person → 1 bottle for every 6 guests.
Example for 100 guests: around 25 bottles for the reception drinks + 17 for dessert, making a total of around 40 bottles if wine is served with the meal. Allow for a 10 per cent margin: a successful wedding rarely ends with empty glasses.
What budget should you set aside for buying champagne in bulk?
For a wedding reception, the sensible choice is often a non-vintage brut from an independent winemaker (€20 to €35 a bottle) for the reception drinks, complemented by a more refined cuvée — blanc de blancs or rosé — for the bride and groom’s table or dessert. Our winemakers and leading houses cater to all styles and budgets.
Your benefits when ordering in bulk
- Free delivery on orders of €300 or more in mainland France;
- €40 off on purchases of€500 or more;
- €100 off when you spend€1,000 or more;
- Careful dispatch in reinforced packaging, delivered directly to the delivery address if required.
Can’t decide between two vintages? Order them individually to taste them before finalising your bulk champagne purchase for the big day — that’s the advice we give to all soon-to-be married couples.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you order the champagne for the wedding?
Two to three months before the big day: plenty of time to sample the food, approve the menu and have it delivered with peace of mind, with quantities adjusted to the final number of guests.
How should you store the bottles in the run-up to the big day?
Store away from light and heat, either lying down or upright, ideally at a temperature of between 10 and 15 °C. Chill for just a few hours before serving.
Should we serve the same champagne throughout the wedding?
Not necessarily: an affordable brut for the reception and a more refined cuvée for dessert is the most popular option — and the most sensible choice from a budget perspective.
