Getting married has never been pricier, with the average wedding now costing £19,1841 and alcohol alone taking approximately 10% (£1,800) of the budget[2].

The Which? Cheapest Supermarket of the Year[3] says shoppers can make big savings on their big day by sourcing their wine from Aldi, which can cost as little as £2.25 per person[4].

Proving that you can’t put a price on love and to celebrate these impressive savings, the discounter is offering three lucky couples ‘to be’ 60 bottles of award-winning wine to contribute to their special day – FOR FREE!

To be in with a chance of receiving a mix of white, red and rosé wine supplied by Aldi, all budding couples need to do is send an email to aldiweddingwines@clarioncomms.co.uk with the below details:

  • Full name
  • Proof of age
  • Date and location of wedding
  • 150 words explaining why you think you should receive a selection of Aldi’s wines for your wedding 

Sam Caporn, Mistress of Wine says: “I know myself that when you’re planning a wedding, there’s so much to think about and decisions like choosing the right wine can be overwhelming, especially when budgets are tight.

Together with Aldi, I want to show happy couples that they don’t need to compromise on the quality of wine at their wedding to get a bargain – and by following these few simple tips, it can be a lot easier than couples might think.”

Sam Caporn, Mistress of Wine’s I dos and don’ts of choosing wines for weddings:

Don’t try to match it with the food – A common mistake people make is focusing on matching the wine with the food when actually guests will prefer to stick to one wine throughout.

Plus, the meal is very much just one part of the wedding. It’s better therefore to opt for easy-drinking wines, i.e. not too oaky or acidic, not too high tannin or rich.

A New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (Freeman’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc £6.79, 75cl) or a soft Pinot Grigio such as Aldi’s Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie, available for just £4.49, are sure to be confirmed crowd-pleasers!

Do match the wine to the season – Whether a relaxed outdoor summer gathering or an elegant indoor winter wedding, the season can drastically change what wine to serve.

For a winter wedding upweight easy-drinking but well-bodied red wines such as a Shiraz (Cambalala South African Shiraz £4.75, 75cl) or Malbec-I would recommend60:40 red to whites. Whereas for summer weddings, introduce rosé into the mix (30:30 rosé to whites).

Do opt for alternatives to Champagne – Couples often assume you need champagne for their wedding toast.

However, Champagne for a wedding can get pricey. Think of fizz alternatives such as a Crémant – a delicious alternative, this premium French fizz is made in the same style, by the same methods so you might be surprised how few people notice the difference, especially as often bubbles are pre-poured or obscured by a white napkin. Aldi’s Specially Selected Crémant du Jura (£8.99, 75cl) is a purse-friendly alternative to luxury brands, but equally as tasty. Available in store 11th September.

Don’t splash out unnecessarily – You don’t need to spend lots of money for a delicious wedding wine. Focus on good-quality but great-value favourites rather than expensive, premium bottles.

The style of wines like Premier Crus are often not to everyone’s taste, so focus on more approachable wine. A Spanish Rioja Reserva such as Aldi’s Baron Amarillo Rioja Reserva (£5.99, 75cl) or Argentinian Malbec like the Specially Selected Argentinian Malbec (£6.59,75cl) are great choices for reds.

Don’t forget the non-drinkers – Whether designated driver, pregnant, abstaining or just generally prefer not to drink alcohol, having fun no or low alcohol options will make everyone feel included. Aldi’s 0% sparkling, Zerozecco is just £2.99, tastes delicious and is perfect for the toast.

Entries to the competition are now open until Monday 11th September. To enter now and view the full terms and conditions, visit the Aldi Wedding Wines page on https://www.aldi.co.uk/free-wedding-wine