Speeches, speeches, speeches, they can make or break a wedding honestly - either you're laughing hysterically, moved to tears or bored stiff. Either way, an essential element to making the wedding speeches go down well is plenty of liquid lubrication and for this you need some lovely bubbly.
Wedding bubbly doesn't have to be champagne per se - there are all sorts of sparkling wines that can be just as good - prosecco is well known but sparkling chardonnay or pinot noir are also really good and very affordable options.
So what are the options and what does it cost?
The ones I've found are all available retail so check with your hotel or venue what they are offering, and if there is the option of supplying your own and paying them corkage.
We like to cater to all tastes and budgets so if you're feeling flush (or mad) then why not pop onto Booze.ie and check out their 1998 Vintage Pink Dom Perignon at €320 a pop (!) or some Krug Rose NV at €350 - but you can get a discount if you buy a case!
If you're a label lover, but Krug or Dom is out of your budget, thewineshop.ie are having a special at the moment on Moet et Chandon Rose - at €49.99 it's very good value for a champagne. Mitchell and Sons go one better with Champagne Montaudon Grande Rose N.V. at €38.95 while Curious Wines offer the award-winning Lallier Premier Cru Rose Champagne for €37.99.
Beyond champagne, there are many pink sparkling wines which offer the style and flavour of champagne and are much more affordable - Bubble Brothers have Veuve du Vernay Brut Rose at €16.50 a bottle or Fine Wines has the perennial favourite Jacobs Creek Sparkling Rose at just €13.99 a pop.
I couldn't forget to mention my personal budget favourite - Prosecco Colli Trevigiani available from Fresh markets at just €9.99, at that price how could you go wrong? Who needs a wedding - think I'll just get some for Friday night.
A word of warning - I am not a wine expert, merely an intrepid researcher for your wedding needs - my advice: taste before you buy a whole case!
