As a wedding guest do we always expect to receive free wine with our meal?

Truthfully, the answer is probably 'yes'.  Providing guests with wine at the wedding meal has probably become an expectation, however, it is not compulsory.

Some couples:

1. Don't offer it

2. Provide each guest with a glass of wine/champagne for the toast

3. Leave a bottle of red & white wine on each table

4. Provide wine throughout the entire meal leaving extra bottles on the table

5. Parents buy a round of drink for the entire wedding party.

Are wedding guests greedy when it comes to the FREE wine?

I think it is fair to say 'yes'. Have you witnessed guests who don’t drink wine or even like wine, take a glass, or maybe they have taken an extra glass for their partner. Have you witnessed wine lovers drinking as much free wine as they possible can, resorting to mixing wines which they would not normally do. I think we can all relate to one of the above.

One hotel advised that the bride is best to set a limit on the number of bottles to be served to the tables rather than leaving this open to the number of bottles the guests drink. I think this is a very wise recommendation for anyone that it looking to control costs.  Another option available to couples is to ask for bottles of shloer to be served to the tables or even limit it to jugs of juice or water.

Has anyone ever been to a wedding were they have been served something different? i.e. a shot

In my own experience it is usually always red or white wine that is served to the table however I must say I am a lover of rose wine.

Some hotels allow couples to provide their own wine and pay a corkage fee, however some no longer offer this service anymore. You may find that for those that do, the corkage fee does not work out much cheaper than the cost of wine supplied by the hotel.

Having contacted a couple of hotels to check out these prices I found that a bottle of house wine costs:

Glenavon Hotel Cookstown - £10.95

Beechlawn House Hotel Dunmurry - £12.95

Neither of the two hotels allow couples to bring their own wine.

We are interested to hear your comments on serving wine with the wedding meal and what decisions you have made!!!