Port Wine At Weddings, A Timeless Tradition For Celebrating Love

Weddings are a celebration of love, unity, and new beginnings, and the choice of wine plays a significant role in setting the tone for the occasion. Among the many options, port wine stands out as an elegant and versatile choice that can add a timeless, sophisticated touch to any wedding celebration. Whether it's used for toasts, pairings with dessert, or as personalised gifts and favours for guests, port wine is a perfect addition to the big day.

We explore the different ways port wine can enhance your wedding, creating lasting memories and unique experiences.

Port Wine For Wedding Toasts

When it’s time to raise a glass to the newlyweds, port wine is a luxurious and refined choice for the wedding toast. Traditionally served in smaller glasses due to its richness and higher alcohol content, port offers a unique alternative to champagne for couples seeking something a little different.

• Vintage Port: For a truly memorable toast, vintage port is an exceptional choice. Known for its depth of flavour and complexity, it’s a wine that symbolises longevity and strength - perfect metaphors for the marriage itself. A special port vintage year could even coincide with the couple’s engagement or wedding year, adding a personal touch to the occasion.
• Tawny Port: For couples looking for a more approachable option for larger weddings, tawny port, with its nutty, caramel flavours, is a crowd-pleaser. Its subtle sweetness makes it a great choice for toasts that can flow smoothly into dessert service or after-dinner drinks.

Pairing Port Wine With Dessert

One of the most popular ways to incorporate port wine into a wedding is by pairing it with the wedding cake or other desserts. Port's natural sweetness and rich flavour profile make it the perfect complement to sweet dishes, enhancing the dessert experience and adding a touch of indulgence to the reception.

• Ruby Port: With its bold, fruity flavours, ruby port pairs beautifully with chocolate-based desserts or dark fruit tarts. Its deep, rich red colour also adds a dramatic and romantic touch to the presentation, making it ideal for couples who want to make a statement.
• Tawny Port: Known for its smooth, nutty notes, tawny port is an excellent match for caramel, toffee, or nutty desserts. It pairs especially well with wedding cakes that feature layers of almond or hazelnut flavours, creating a luxurious combination of sweetness and depth.

For a unique touch, some couples choose to serve a port and cheese pairing as an alternative to traditional wedding cake. The balance of sweet and savoury is an exciting way to surprise guests and offer something a little out of the ordinary.

Port Wine As Wedding Favours

Port wedding favours are a beautiful way to thank guests for being a part of your special day, and port wine makes an elegant and memorable choice. By gifting your guests a taste of something refined, you leave them with a lasting impression of your wedding.

• Miniature Bottles Of Port: For larger weddings, consider gifting guests miniature bottles of port wine. These small bottles, whether filled with ruby, tawny, or white port, offer a charming and thoughtful keepsake. Not only do they reflect the sophistication of your wedding, but guests can also enjoy the port at their leisure, reminding them of the celebration even after they’ve left.

Port Wine As Wedding Gifts

Port wine also makes a thoughtful and sophisticated gift for those closest to you on your wedding day. Whether you’re thanking your bridesmaids, groomsmen, or offering a keepsake for the couple themselves, port wine is an elegant and personal gift choice.

• Engraved Bottles For The Couple: A bottle of vintage port makes for a unique and meaningful wedding gift.  Vintage port ages beautifully over time, so the couple can open it on a future anniversary - perhaps their 1st, 10th, or even 25th. This timeless gesture turns a bottle of port into a memory they’ll cherish for years to come.
• Gifts For The Wedding Party: Bridesmaids, groomsmen, and parents of the couple deserve recognition for their support throughout the wedding journey. Gifting them a fine bottle of port, whether it’s a classic tawny or a bold ruby, shows your appreciation in a sophisticated and heartfelt way.

Port wine as a gift symbolises celebration, togetherness, and luxury, making it the perfect offering for the important people in your wedding.

Personalised Engraving: A Special Touch

To elevate the sentiment of both favours and gifts, consider incorporating personalised engraving on the bottles of port wine. This thoughtful detail adds a unique and memorable element to your gifts and favours.

• Engraved Wedding Favours: Customise miniature bottles of port with engraved labels featuring the couple’s names, wedding date, or a short, heartfelt message. This simple yet elegant touch transforms a bottle of wine into a cherished keepsake that guests can treasure long after the wedding is over.
• Engraved Gifts For The Couple And Wedding Party: Engraving bottles for the couple or the wedding party adds a layer of personalisation that makes the gift even more special. Whether it’s the couple’s initials or a meaningful quote, these engraved bottles become unique reminders of the special day, perfect for future celebrations.

Port Wine For The After-Party

If your wedding celebration is extending into the night, port wine is a wonderful choice for the after-party or as a part of a late-night bar. Its richer, warming qualities make it a great option for evening or winter weddings, giving guests a comforting nightcap to wind down the festivities.

• Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port: A more affordable and accessible option than vintage port, LBV offers a great balance of richness and drinkability. It can be served in smaller pours to keep the celebration going without overwhelming the palate.

Having a special port wine bar set up for the after-party adds an element of luxury and relaxation, allowing guests to sip and enjoy the slower, more intimate part of the wedding celebration.

Port Wine For The Wedding Ceremony

For couples who want to incorporate wine into their actual ceremony, port wine can symbolise unity and shared sweetness. A growing number of couples are choosing to include a "wine ceremony" in which they pour and share a glass of wine together as part of their vows. Using port wine for this ritual adds a unique and elegant touch.

• White Port: For a lighter option during the ceremony, white port offers a crisp, refreshing alternative. With floral and fruity notes, it’s a fresh take on the traditional wine ceremony that can be enjoyed by both the couple and their guests during an outdoor or daytime wedding.

Make Port Wine Part Of Your Wedding Day

Port wine offers a versatile and elegant way to enhance your wedding day, whether you’re using it for toasts, dessert pairings, favours, or gifts. Its rich flavours, romantic history, and variety of port styles make it an excellent choice for couples looking to add something special to their celebration.

From the ceremony itself to the last dance, port wine can elevate every moment of your big day. Explore our range of wedding port wines, including vintage, tawny, and ruby, to find the perfect bottle to complement your wedding. Whether you’re toasting your union, gifting a keepsake, or treating your guests to a luxurious favour, port wine ensures your celebration is as memorable as your love. Personalised engraving adds an unforgettable touch to your wedding, turning each bottle into a unique piece of your special day’s legacy.