2025 wedding wine trends unveiled by Laithwaites

Laithwaites, the UK's leading online wine merchant, has revealed the top five wedding wine trends of 2025. Created by experts from Laithwaites' wedding wine service, this list reflects the current vogue for unique, cost-conscious wedding celebrations that leave a lasting impression on guests.

"Couples are coming to us looking to create experiences that focus on value, showcase their personalities and give their guests a great time. It's so often the food and drink that makes a great wedding stand out," says Greg Roberts, Wine Educator at Laithwaites. Wedding wine trends for 2025.

1. Personalisation
"Personalisation is a big trend in weddings and we're seeing that extend to wine choices. Couples are coming to us looking to make their day truly their own, whether that's reflecting their lifestyle with vegan wines, honouring heritage or adding colour with bottles from favourite travel destinations," says Greg Roberts, Wine Educator at Laithwaites. "Guests appreciate the personal touch a small, thoughtful selection brings. Just like choosing a music playlist for the reception, wine choices reflect a couple's tastes and can add to the atmosphere of the day."

Greg adds, "We've even seen couples adding information about the wines to the wedding table stationery. It's a great idea for adding personalisation. This might include tasting notes or a little story about why they chose each wine. It's a thoughtful touch that can help make the wedding wine experience even more memorable."

2. Mindful drinking
"We're definitely seeing a shift towards lower alcohol wines – and even no-alcohol wines – becoming a key part of wedding wine lists. This can be because of taste preferences, food pairings or cultural reasons." Laithwaites wedding wine expert Dawn Fisher says, "You'll want to give your guests a nice drink with the wedding breakfast, but perhaps not something that's at the top end, with an ABV of 14.5-15%. Enter lighter reds such as Beaujolais, Pinot Noir or a gorgeous Sicilian Frappato. They sit comfortably around 13% ABV."

"No alcohol options are also becoming a wedding staple, particularly as a glass on offer at the drinks reception," adds Greg. "Producers are getting better and better at producing high-quality alcohol-free fizz and many couples want to provide that for their guests."

"The trend towards smaller, more personal weddings has also allowed for a greater emphasis on sustainability and local sourcing, with many couples opting for European wines to reduce their carbon footprint."

3. Savvy swaps
Weddings are expensive. It's a fact. Laithwaites wedding wine expert Ross Donaldson emphasises the importance of balancing budgets with quality, especially as many couples face cost-of-living constraints when planning their celebrations.

"Most people on a budget give us a range, and it's usually between £8 and £12 per bottle, which allows for some really lovely selections without breaking the bank," says Ross. "There are some great swaps to be made to make the pounds stretch even further: Crémant over Champagne (it's made the same way), looking beyond the traditional regions (hello, Portugal) and exploring under-the-radar grapes (Sicilian Carricante over North Italian Pinot Grigio)."

Ross's top tips for couples? Avoid unnecessary costs by calculating how much wine you will need in advance with a drinks calculator, and look for a good sale or return policy so you can order a little extra, just in case. If you're bringing your own wines to your venue, be mindful of corkage fees. Serving wine from magnums can be a cost-effective strategy – these larger bottles hold more wine but incur only one corkage charge.

4. Rosé reimagined
Once a rare sight at weddings, rosé has a place at the table thanks to its versatility and 'fun-factor'. "I think the potential for rosé to be a crowd-pleaser is greater now than it ever has been," says Greg. "Something you could do is to swap your second white wine for a rosé option."

"The quality of rosé from Provence is very good, but if you're after a lower price point, look for an alternative from other regions close to Provence in the south of France – they produce rosé in a similar way," he adds. "Depending on your budget, another excellent rosé comes from over the border in Spain, such as Flor de Muga Rosado."

5. Memorable moments
Sauternes with dessert, limoncello with speeches, cocktail hours and Champagne towers... Laithwaites' experts are seeing more and more couples looking to craft those "wow that's different" moments for their guests with their wine choices.

"One option is to consider a dessert wine," says Greg. "If you can stretch your budget a bit and want to make your wedding a little bit different, go for a sweet wine paired with your dessert. It's not for everyone, but it is often a missed trick," he says. "My top pick is a Sauternes – a delicious, sweet French wine from the Bordeaux region, loved for its rich, golden colour and honey, apricot and peach flavours."

Top 5 trending wedding wines at Laithwaites By Greg Roberts, Wine Educator
1. Crémant "Crémant is the closest you can get to Champagne without compromising on quality and flavour."
2. Sauvignon Blanc "The popularity of this vibrant, gooseberry-packed white just keeps climbing."
3. Riesling "More adventurous couples ask for Riesling all the time. Its dry acidity makes it endlessly pairable with food."
4. Portuguese reds "These reds are absolutely worth exploring for many couples as they overdeliver on flavour for the price – and they tend to be crowd-pleasers too."
5. Bordeaux "It's a classic for a reason and a great food wine. There are some really good deals this year to be found if you know where to look."

Laithwaites is here to help couples create the perfect wedding wine list with their bespoke wedding wine service. Tastings, expert advice and sale or return options are all available nationwide.