The best Champagne and sparkling wines to bring out for your wedding celebrations.
There are only a handful of truly special occasions in your life that can be marked with an equally special drink. The first toast to your marriage is one of them. Whether it’s the glass you sip straight after you say “I do”, or served as you deliver a wedding speech that leaves no eye dry, bubbles are a must.
Here, we share top tips from the Dan Murphy’s Customer Events Team, who, in case you don’t know, provide a free wedding planning service (check it out here). So, if you’re wondering how to choose the best bubbles to toast your wedding, read on.
Champagne can certainly be the first bottle served at the reception, but, in modern weddings, it’s more often poured right after the ceremony and as the first toast to the newlywed couple. Why is toasting Champagne even a thing? “It’s that first glass that sets the tone for the whole evening,” says Alarna Thorncraft, Dan Murphy’s Customer Events Team Lead. “Usually everyone’s a bit emotional and elated from the ceremony, and everyone’s focused on the same thing. Everyone sips and tastes together, so it calls for something a bit more special.”
If your reception is fully catered, this may be the only wine you need to outsource, so it’s also an opportunity to show your style as a couple with a bottle that means something to you. That could be because it’s the bubbles you popped when you got engaged, it comes from a region you love, or simply because it’s your favourite. If you want to make a real spectacle of it, pour a Champagne tower, although we recommend having an expert on hand as it’s harder than it looks.
Click image to shop
Find your sparkling-wine style
Choosing the right Champagne is all about personal taste. For Alarna, that means a toasty sparkling. "I like the Veuve du Vernay Brut NV, and the Lanson Black Label Champagne NV, which is a real crowd pleaser,” she says. “But you should pick something that’s really your style that you will love to drink in years to come when you’re reminiscing about your big day or maybe celebrating your anniversary.”
Don’t have a sparkling style? Go classic. If your budget allows, Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne is a wonderfully festive drink – it was designed that way by Madame Clicquot herself. It’s sure to be a hit with guests.
Consider how the bottle looks (and tastes)
“Toasting Champagne is often the only drink of the event where guests see the bottle,” Alarna says. “Cameras are out, and the bottles are usually on display rather than behind a bar, so I like to go for a bottle that looks pretty or complements your theme.”
That doesn’t mean you have to stick to fine French fizz – there are brilliant other options when it comes to sparkling wine. Belvino Prosecco DOC is an affordable sparkling that comes in a stunning clear, bevelled bottle. Similarly, Freixenet Prosecco is an Italian sparkling in a very romantic diamond-embossed bottle. “For a really glam wedding, I love the gold bottle of Veuve Alary Gold Sparkling, or the gold and black of the Haute Couture French Sparkling,” Alarna says.
Click image to shop
Click image to shop
Work the budget
If we do some quick math, the average wedding in Australia costs $30k for 100 guests. Half of that goes to catering ($15k), with about half of that amount going on alcohol. “Of course, it depends on your guest list, but for 100 people we usually recommend a starting cost of $5k,” Alarna says. “Specifically for the toasting drink, you want to work off 1.5 glasses per person. For 100 people, that’s 25 bottles. You might want to spend a little more per bottle than at your reception because that special first drink will be on display, but you can work with your budget to get something delicious.”
For value Champagnes, Charles Orban Blanc de Blancs Champagne and Louis Auger Champagne Brut are both serious quality for their price. For a standout in a lower price bracket, look to the A by Arras Premium Cuvee – it’s from one of the best wineries in Australia, which has also won global awards for its sparkling wines.
1. How much Champagne do I need for a wedding toast?
For a wedding toast, a standard 750ml bottle generally serves six to eight guests, whereas for larger weddings, allow one bottle for every six to eight guests to ensure there's enough Champagne for everyone to raise a glass.
2. Champagne or sparkling wine – which one should I choose for a wedding?
You can choose Champagne if your budget allows, as it gives a luxurious touch to the occasion. Quality sparkling wine is a great alternative if you have a lot of guests or a tighter budget, allowing you to serve more guests at the wedding without compromising on the sense of occasion.
3. What Champagne is best for a wedding reception?
Classic Brut Champagne is a great choice for a wedding reception as it offers a crisp, dry and crowd-pleasing wine. At Dan Murphy's, we have a range of options like Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne, Veuve Du Vernay Brut NV or Louis Auger Champagne Brut. Find more of our Champagne selection here.
