John And Mary Lambert Wedding - Summer 2016

John and Mary contacted Convive while planning their summer wedding in Sag Harbor. In addition to the ceremony the couple scheduled three major events: an Intimate Dinner, a Rehearsal Dinner, and a Sunday Brunch. 

The Challenge

Although John and Mary picked a caterer, a longtime family friend, the couple needed guidance with their beverage service. They didn’t know which wines and spirits to buy, how much they’d need for each event, which wines paired best with their menus, and most importantly – how to handle the logistics of delivering wine and glassware.

Tastings and Planning

Convive jumpstarted the selection process by bringing sample bottles to the couple’s apartment for a private tasting. Together we discussed the budget, guest list, format of events, and logistical issues. With Convive, the couple chose the wedding reception wines and made a basic plan for the remainder of the beverages.

Budgeting and Coordination

Next, Convive spoke to the wedding planner and caterer to suggest food and wine pairings. Convive then submitted a complete proposal, suggesting the wines and the quantities to be served at each event. A final tasting was scheduled to choose pricier wines for the small dinner.

The Events

1) An Intimate Dinner A day before their guests arrived, John and Marry hosted a small family dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant. Convive coordinated with the sommelier to deliver a case of the couple’s favorite wines, and chose some selections from the restaurant’s list. We instructed the restaurant staff on which wines to decant and the proper order of wine service.

2) Rehearsal Dinner The event had 45 guests and featured two selections of white and red wines. Additionally, Convive supplied Champagne for toasting and a few special bottles of vintage Champagnes for the bride and groom’s table. A whiskey bar was set-up at the rear of the venue for after-dinner drinks. We delivered all wines and spirits to the venue and advised the whiskey bar servers on presentation.

3) Wedding Reception The wedding took place in John and Mary’s backyard with 200 guests attending. Guests were greeted with Prosecco. For dinner, a red and white wine were paired with the meal. The wedding reception had more drink options, including wine from the bride and groom’s favorite French regions. They served a Crémant de Loire during the reception and had a full bar of local spirits and Scotch whiskeys.

4) Sunday Brunch Convive selected two rosés and two sparkling wines for the brunch. Additionally, Convive supplied inexpensive, high-quality local vodka for Bloody Marys.

Post Wedding

Convive picked up and stored all leftover wine while John and Mary were on their honeymoon in Italy. Upon their return, Convive delivered all the wine and allowed the couple to exchange excess bottles for different wines from our store.

Registry

With the help of Convive, John and Mary developed a list of wines and spirits at various price points for their registry. Guests contacted Convive for purchasing, and we delivered wrapped bottles with hand-written cards.