The bride and groom might be the stars of the show - but the food and drink play a crucial supporting role at every wedding. And, while so many couples happily lose hours debating the merits of the scallops over the chicken p�te or the red wine jus over the lemon and parsley sauce, a crucial element of this heavenly fusion of flavours - the drinks - is often overlooked.
Green Photographic
Let us implore you now: treat your guests to a decent tipple. Granted, the budget is a crucial factor in choosing your drinks menu so - before you find yourself left with a few meagre quid to buy some bargain-basement booze - ensure you allocate a substantial figure for the drinks at an early stage.
Consider how you would like to break down the costs of your drinks menu; for example, do you want to splash out on something special for the toast and opt for an economical option for the drinks reception? Ensure you do your research to secure good value for money. Really think hard about the budget and what you get for your pound," advises Nigel Ede of Experience Wine (experiencewine.co.uk). "Very little wine now appears at �5 per bottle and approximately 67% of this price goes towards the tax and duty element. If you increase your spend to �6 per bottle, then the duty and tax element is down to about 58% and you've increased your spend on the actual wine element by 50%! If you can afford to spend a little more it will pay off hugely in the quality you are drinking."
So pour a little thought into your budget and choose some tasty wines and refreshing drinks accordingly. A taste bud-tickling reception begins here.
Ben Photography
THE DRINKS RECEPTION
The ceremony is over. Now comes the time for your guests to mingle, wow over each other's outfits and - you guessed it - enjoy a drink. "Sparkling wine or Pimm's is the tradition here, but why not be inventive and put your own twist on your reception drink?" advises Nigel.
Think carefully how to incorporate that personalised flavour. It might be a wild hibiscus flower placed in each glass of sparkling wine, which infuses the liquid with a hint of pink and faint taste of raspberry - perfect for a pink themed wedding. Fruit punch and pink lemonade served from Mason jar drink dispensers creates a country fete vibe, while mead fizz makes a sweet and satisfying tipple for a Cornish celebration. You might even go for a bespoke cocktail menu for a lip-smacking - and coolly creative - option. "Cocktails can be more refreshing on hot days, but keep an eye on the alcohol levels," Nigel warns. You might invent your own cocktails - imagine the fun you'll have experimenting - or you could rename classic cocktails based on your names, venue or theme of your wedding. If you've chosen a vintage theme, research the cocktails of the era or choose concoctions based on your colour scheme.
THE WEDDING BREAKFAST
Now's the time to serve some carefully chosen wines to complement your menu. First things first: keep your order simple. It's easy to agonise over the percentage of red wine versus white wine drinkers amongst your guests, but a complicated order often leads to wastage and most wine merchants will offer a sale-or-return policy.
The food is the most important factor to consider. "If you are going for set courses, you can serve wines which will complement the dishes. Alternatively, if you are offering an assortment of dishes, you may wish to go for wines which are more flexible for a variety of foods," says Nigel. "This might sound a bit serious, but certain wines will complement certain dishes, whereas some wines can clash with certain dishes."
Don't blow your budget on gallons of wine without a tasting session first. "Choosing the wine for the day can be great fun. Everyone has slightly different tastes, so it's worthwhile inviting a few friends and family members around to taste the wines and getting an overall opinion. Sample the wines with food which is as close as possible in flavour to the dishes on your wedding menu," says Nigel. Remember, the final decision concerning the wine should be made by you and your fiance - not your sweet-toothed granny or wine aficionado father.
Inspire Hire
THE TOAST
You've cried at the heartfelt and hilarious speeches. Now it's time to officially toast your union by raising a glass of something delectable - so crack open the statement sparkler. Champagne is the traditional and endlessly popular choice. "Champagne is lovely, but the costs are going up and up," Nigel comments. "I would advise against buying cheap champagne because it has champagne on the label. You are much better spending the same money on a top-end sparkling wine."
Consider striking a celebratory chord with a locally sourced flavour. "If you have the budget, Camel Valley Brut is a great local alternative to champagne: delicious, crisp clean fruit with refreshing notes. Polgoon Aval is another local favourite; this is apple-based but still produced in the champagne method," recommends Nigel. Don't leave the non-drinkers with yet another bland soft drink while everyone else sups on a decadent number. Choose a refreshing drink produced in Cornwall for that extra stamp of local identity: "Cornish Orchards' Elderflower Presse is a great non-alcoholic alternative for the toast," suggests Nigel.
THE EVENING RECEPTION
As night falls and the dance floor beckons, the drinks will be flowing as guests prepare to pull some serious shapes. So what are the best options for oiling those limbs? "It's very easy to get carried away with a huge variety of options, and again it is really down to your budget. I would definitely run with wine, but you could opt for a more economical option than the wedding breakfast wines," says Nigel. Go for quaffable, crowd-pleasing options.
For further liquid refreshment, again, look to the superb selection of local producers, from flavoursome ales from your favourite Cornish brewery served from the barrel to scrumptious ciders produced on the verdant slopes of the county. A cocktail bar serving a selection of simple and refreshing concoctions is sure to be a hit; you could even hire some expert mixologists for excellent drinks with a twist of entertainment thrown in.
The Cocktail Caravan
CORNISH MOBILE BAR COMPANY
Independent microbrewers St Ives Brewery produces a delicious array of unique tipples stylishly served from their brilliant mobile bar. Boasting extensive experience in the bar trade, director Marco Amura tailors the perfect drinks package to each event; from intimate parties to grand-scale celebrations, The Cornish Mobile Bar Company takes a highly versatile approach which allows you to choose from a pre-paid, pay bar or equipment hire package.
A tantalising choice of Cornish and national wines, spirits, champagne, Prosecco and cocktails - as well as St Ives Brewery's top-tasting beers - will ensure your guests' thirsts are quenched in flavoursome and professional style. You might even opt for some people-pleasing cocktails; from Kir Royales and Cosmopolitans to Margaritas and Mojitos, you are assured well-crafted and moreish concoctions that are guaranteed to delight your guests. What's more, the super-stylish bar comes with illuminated letters, making for a very cool focal point for your party.
www.stives-brewery.co.uk/cornish-mobile-bar-company/
SOFT TOUCH
With a delicious selection of soft drinks now being produced in Devon, there's no excuse to be serving non-drinkers flat cola or tooth-achingly sweet squash. Blended from the very finest ingredients, Luscombe Drinks produces a selection of award-winning drinks. From fabulous fizzes ranging from Sicilian Lemonade and Raspberry Crush to Hot Ginger Beer to flavoursome juices - think Apple Juice with Elderflower, Apple and Pear Juice and Carrot and Orange Juice - treat your guests to lip-smacking, booze-free beverages.
TOP CORNISH TIPPLES
BOILERS ALE
Perfect for: The drinks reception and evening party
Taking its name from the 'Boilers', the only remnants of the shipwrecked Alba, which creates a barrelling wave renowned by St Ives' surfers, St Ives Brewery's flagship Cornish Real Ale is an easy drinking, golden coloured beer which blends rich malt and hop flavours with a fruity finish.
www.stives-brewery.co.uk
TARQUIN'S GIN
Perfect for: The drinks reception and evening party
The first gin to be crafted in Cornwall for a century, Tarquin's Gin gives the taste buds a royal treat courtesy of bright juniper and hints of orange blossom. Infused with fragrant Devon violets fresh from the garden and blended with spring water from the north Cornish coast, it's a flavoursome and exclusive little tipple only made in small batches for top-notch bottled brilliance.
www.southwesterndistillery.com
SPARKLING AVAL RASPBERRY
Perfect for: The drinks reception and toast
Produced at Penzance's award-winning vineyard and orchard, Polgoon's Sparkling Aval Raspberry is made with English apples in the champagne method and infused with pure raspberry juice to produce a unique sparkling cider. With its light pink colour and deliciously delicate flavour, it makes an ideal accompaniment to dessert or a statement sparkler for the toast.
www.polgoon.co.uk
CORNISH GOLDEN LAGER
Perfect for: The drinks reception and evening party
Corona meets San Miguel with a delicious dash of Cornish flavour in this quaffable golden lager - a summery and thirst-quenching drink for your wedding bar.
www.stives-brewery.co.uk
SPARKLING ELDERFLOWER WINE
Perfect for: The drinks reception and toast
Described as 'an English summer meadow in a glass', Polgoon's celebrated Sparkling Elderflower Wine is a fabulous floral fizz. Superior fruit is pressed and fermented to produce a light, dry sparkling wine, which is finished with a subtle splash of sweet elderflower juice. Divine.
www.polgoon.co.uk
CORNISH PASTIS
Perfect for: The drinks reception and after-dinner drinks
Gold medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2014, Cornish Pastis is the UK's first ever offering of its kind, presenting a modern version of the French anise classic. Foraged gorse flowers from the Atlantic clifftops and fresh orange zest fuse to create its fresh and enticing aroma. Finished with a hint of liquorice root for colour, the drink is a silky smooth, sweet-tasting addition to any celebration.
www.southwesterndistillery.com
MADELEINE ANGEVINE WHITE WINE
Perfect for: The wedding breakfast
A recent addition to Polgoon's sumptuous selection, this white wine is a light, fruity and refreshing tipple; pair it with a Cornish seafood feast for a locally sourced wedding breakfast with a luscious twist.
www.polgoon.co.uk
words Rebecca Matthews, Hannah May and Nigel Ede
Copyright Wed magazine 2014
