On one of the most important days of your life, attention is given to every detail. From the dress to the flowers, food to the centerpieces, guest list to the limo, every facet is researched, contemplated, double-checked and finalized. However, some may tend to overlook one very important aspect of the reception – the wine. Wine can help set the tone for the event.

Lunch or dinner, hors d'oeuvres or dessert

One of the first steps to selecting your wine is to consider the timing of the event. At afternoon weddings, guests tend to drink less and at evening weddings more. If you decide to have a dessert reception, a sweeter wine will stand up to the sugar.

Red or White?

You should consider serving one red and one white still wine if the reception includes a meal, hors d'oeuvres or dessert. The format, type of food and weather can all be used to help you determine the varietal.

Chardonnay continues to be the top-selling white wine in the U.S. Some like the buttery oak flavor, however unoaked wines are a better complement to food and are more refreshing in the spring and summer. An alternative, Sauvignon Blanc is a versatile white that can be served with seafood, chicken and salads.

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most popular red wine in America, a perfect companion to hearty meats. Pinot Noir is lighter, and may suit a wider variety of menu options.

Champagne

If you really want to make a statement, serve a traditional French champagne. There are good ones available starting at $30. If you would like to save and little, consider a Cava, a sparkling wine from Spain.

Wine Temperature and Decanting

Frequently, red wines are served to warm and whites to cold. To enhance the flavor of your wines, you or your caterer may want to consider temperature. It’s suggested that red wine be served at room temperature (a cool room temperature!): 60°F to 65°F. Reds often could use some time to decant before they are served, allowing the flavor profile and bouquet to come alive.

According to 2beasnob.com:

General Temperature Guidelines

• Simple, fruity red wines should be consumed at the coolest temperature of the other reds.
• Complex, heavier wines should be consumed at the warmest temperature (but still cool) of the other reds.
• More expensive, higher quality wines should generally be served at the warmer temperatures.
• Less expensive wines generally need to be served at lower temperatures.

The important thing to know is that a red wine needs to be warm enough to experience all of the flavors, but cool enough to be refreshing. Never drink a red wine above 68°F (20°C) if you can help it.

While red wines are often served too warm, white wines are sometimes served too cold. If a white wine is allowed to warm up a bit, you can often taste more of its flavors. If possible, serve white wines cool but not cold.

How much is enough

When determining how much wine to buy, keep in mind that – per bottle of wine – there are five five-ounce servings. Are you serving mixed drinks and beer? Do your guests tend to drink more or less? The decision regarding how much to purchase is up to you but it’s a good rule of thumb to estimate one glass of wine per person per hour. For a four-hour reception, you may want to have one bottle of wine per person. It sounds like a lot but people may sample wine, leaving left over in the glass. Also, it’s better to have too much then to run out.