Champagne Ideas

tereghan · July 2013

Does anyone know of any good deals on champagne for the guests (under $10 a bottle), and maybe something for the head table that's nice but not overly sweet? I must admit this is not my area of expertise, and while I tend to prefer sweeter wines and ports my fiancee doesn't like sweet drinks and leans toward reds. Thankfully I have learned to like a lot of what he does, and we could get two cheaper bottles for the head table to make most of the wedding party happy.

Also, I think we need to throw champagne tasting parties. We're testing out a few different brands and once you pop the cork on a bottle it doesn't really go back in. We don't want it to go to waste after all... After the first night of downing a bottle between the two of us, I think we need help!

WinstonsGirl · July 2013

I would suggest a Prosecco (sp??) over Champagne if you want a cheaper version. I think it tastes better too

ZeroOrchestra · July 2013

You can actually get champagne stoppers, they work well though you can't let it go for too long.
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/10211446035747767190?q=champagne+stopper&client=safari&hl=en&biw=320&bih=416&sa=X&ei=vnXfUf_QIqKRygHBhoDoAQ&ved=0CG0Q8wIwAQ#hsec:overview

Look into Cava as an affordable champagne alternative.

harper0813 · July 2013

Go to Trader Joes - you can buy it by the case!

But will all guests be able to drink it? I'm worried that you're only serving it to the head table...

AddieCake · July 2013

I'm with Zobird. You're not just getting champagne for the head table, I hope.

tereghan · July 2013

Well, I'm leaning towards the Andre Blush for the guests as it's still sweet but has some flavor to it, that brand's Extra Dry doesn't impress me much. We can get that for about $4.19 a bottle in bulk, but then I was thinking I could put one of each on each table and let people pick and choose? But that may just lead to people upset that they didn't get whichever one they wanted, which would be eliminated if we just stuck to one flavor for the guests. We also tried a Brut that was about $7 a bottle, but it wasn't that great and even my non-sweet-loving fiancee wasn't a fan.

LiLe422 · July 2013

tereghan said:

Does anyone know of any good deals on champagne for the guests (under $10 a bottle), and maybe something for the head table that's nice but not overly sweet? I must admit this is not my area of expertise, and while I tend to prefer sweeter wines and ports my fiancee doesn't like sweet drinks and leans toward reds. Thankfully I have learned to like a lot of what he does, and we could get two cheaper bottles for the head table to make most of the wedding party happy.

Also, I think we need to throw champagne tasting parties. We're testing out a few different brands and once you pop the cork on a bottle it doesn't really go back in. We don't want it to go to waste after all... After the first night of downing a bottle between the two of us, I think we need help!

Are you serving your head table something different than your guests?

AddieCake · July 2013

tereghan said:

Well, I'm leaning towards the Andre Blush for the guests as it's still sweet but has some flavor to it, that brand's Extra Dry doesn't impress me much. We can get that for about $4.19 a bottle in bulk, but then I was thinking I could put one of each on each table and let people pick and choose? But that may just lead to people upset that they didn't get whichever one they wanted, which would be eliminated if we just stuck to one flavor for the guests. We also tried a Brut that was about $7 a bottle, but it wasn't that great and even my non-sweet-loving fiancee wasn't a fan.

This still sounds like you are doing something different for the head table, which isn't cool.

kaos16 · July 2013

This is just a pet peeve of mine, but i'm throwing it out there. You are most likely looking at sparkling wines. Champagne is only from the Champagne region of France. For instance, the Andre you mentioned (which in my experience causes wicked headaches and hangovers) is made in California and therefore a sparkling wine. Cava, Prosecco, etc. . . . all sparkling wines, not champagne.

In any event, a yummy sparkling that is easily accesible and inexpensive is Barefoot Bubbly, IMO. It's tasty and they have different varieties. Maybe try that for your head table AND all your guests. You shouldn't serve something different to the wedding party than the other guests.

Lastly, I have never met anyone who can get a cork back in a sparkling bottle. . . . They are in there under so much pressure (hence the pop when the cork comes out). If you don't finish the bottle, as PP suggested, you need a champagne stopper. That should buy you a day or two.

courtski2004 · July 2013

I would definitely not supply two bottles of champagne per table, so much will go to waste. A lot of people don't like champagne and will maybe take a sip and go back to their drink of choice once the toast is over.

I will always remember seeing hardly touched glasses of champagne sitting on tables after wedding toasts when I worked in banquets years ago at the Marriott. Champagne toasts just seemed like such a waste of money, unless of course you know that all of your guests are big champagne fans.

amaryann210 · July 2013

Spumante is my favorite sparkling wine and I lean toward reds and drier wines. It's sweet, but not overly so. It's what I'd prefer as an alternative to champagne.

smalfrie19 · July 2013

kaos16 said:

This is just a pet peeve of mine, but i'm throwing it out there. You are most likely looking at sparkling wines. Champagne is only from the Champagne region of France. For instance, the Andre you mentioned (which in my experience causes wicked headaches and hangovers) is made in California and therefore a sparkling wine. Cava, Prosecco, etc. . . . all sparkling wines, not champagne.

In any event, a yummy sparkling that is easily accesible and inexpensive is Barefoot Bubbly, IMO. It's tasty and they have different varieties. Maybe try that for your head table AND all your guests. You shouldn't serve something different to the wedding party than the other guests.

Lastly, I have never met anyone who can get a cork back in a sparkling bottle. . . . They are in there under so much pressure (hence the pop when the cork comes out). If you don't finish the bottle, as PP suggested, you need a champagne stopper. That should buy you a day or two.

Thank you! This always kinda drives me crazy too. And that is what we are serving

tereghan · July 2013

Well, everyone we asked about prices assumed we would do so, but I hadn't read up on the etiquette of the thing. You really think people would be offended?

edit: That looks different on the page than it sounded in my head. I meant, thanks for the tip as I don't wish to make anyone (especially out of town family) uncomfortable. My direct family is not the most classy, and they keep pushing the, "It's your day." stuff. As are all our vendors. Trying to keep a logical and level head around that is a bit crazy-making.

tereghan · July 2013

Oh yeah, I really doubt what they sell in the grocery store is "real" champagne even though they're labelled as such.

People have put up some great-sounding alternatives! And being from California myself I must say we have some great wineries around here (though sadly all are out of my price range).

We're doing the wedding itself at a church and the attached reception hall so they have a rule of "Champagne toasting only," with no other alcohol allowed, but I'm pretty sure they'd let us substitute something else.

Ajuliana · July 2013

I like the sweet stuff. Gallo purchased Ballatores which has always been good to me! Plus we live near the winery and know some of the family so get a good deal on bulk.

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