No matter how extravagant a wedding she may be planning, every bride loves a bargain. Whether you find the gown of your dreams at a final markdown sale, craft a beautiful bouquet from the flowers in your grandparents’ garden or really take advantage of that sweet “something borrowed” rule, there are so many creative ways to save on wedding costs.

It’s even possible to find great deals on wonderful wines for every aspect of the wedding celebration. Chairman’s Selection™ wines — some from world-famous winemakers, some undiscovered gems — are typically 40 percent or more off nationally quoted prices. These unique buys are available only in Pennsylvania, at PA Wine & Spirits Premium Collection Stores and online at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com.

If you know and love wine, you’ll recognize the great deals that are available through the Chairman’s Selection program. If you only know that you want a delicious wine at a great value, Chairman’s wines allow you to explore and buy with confidence: They’re hand-picked by experts who know the good stuff, and use Pennsylvania’s buying power to get amazing deals. You’ll find special wines from all over the world, in red, white, rosé and sparkling varieties.

Here’s how Chairman’s Selections can be a tasteful yet economical addition to your wedding celebration:

By the case. Though each wine in the Chairman’s Selection program is a limited, one-time-only buy, most can be purchased by the case. If you’re buying wine for a big reception, the savings will really add up. Consider a wine like Dry Creek Chardonnay, from California’s Russian River Valley. This classic chardonnay, due to arrive in stores in October, was quoted at $20 in the Wine Spectator, but its Chairman’s Selection price is just $12.99, saving you more than $7 per bottle — or a fabulous $84 in savings on a 12-bottle case.

Just a few special bottles. Planning a smaller get-together, like a shower or rehearsal dinner? Chairman’s savings allow you to splurge on wines your guests will really appreciate. Just one example: Louis Latour Gevrey-Chambertin, quoted at $70, available as a Chairman’s Selection for $29.99, would be an elegant addition to any luncheon or dinner table.

With bubbles. Happily, every engagement brings endless opportunities to raise a glass and drink to love, friends or family. This season, the Chairman’s Selections include various sparkling wines at great savings. Try a crisp, tasty Zefiro Prosecco (quoted at $16, Chairman’s price $9.99) or, for something sweeter, a fun bottle of Toad Hollow Risqué Vin Vivant (quoted at $18.99, just $8.99).

With love. Need to give some gifts? If you’d like to thank a dear friend for helping with your wedding, or want to wow your in-laws-to-be, you can make a big impression at big savings. Upcoming Chairman’s Selections include an awesome Celestino Pecci Brunello di Montalcino, perfect for someone who appreciates big red wines and Italian cuisine, for only $42.99 (quoted at $78). Also in the pipeline, an Ernst Bretz riesling icewine for $24.99 (quoted at $43.99), a rare, refined dessert wine for someone special with a sweet tooth.

Be a savvy bargain hunter, and check your nearest PA Wine & Spirits Premium Collection store regularly – new Chairman’s Selections arrive every week. Ask the in-store wine specialist for recommendations, or browse for upcoming wines even before they arrive in stores, at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com.

Brides-to-be may obsess over seating arrangements, napkin colors and the exact dimensions of the floral centerpieces. But here’s at least one decision that shouldn’t be complicated – what goes in the wine glasses.

It’s easy to find just the right wines to serve with dinner at your wedding reception. Whether you want to keep the drinks simple, or plan choices to delight the gourmets at the table; whether you need wines that are budget-friendly, or have decided to splurge, PA Wine & Spirits Stores and their online store at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com have you covered.

Once you’ve decided on the foods for your menu, you can think about the wines that will complement these dishes best. (If you’re really into this, start with your favorite wines, then choose the food!) And consider the many ways you can incorporate wine into this very special dinner:

A different wine with each course. Food and wine aficionados will appreciate a freshly poured glass to complement each dish. For great suggestions on what wine styles and varietals go with various dishes, browse the food pairing pages at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com. For example: Start with a bright sparkling wine to accompany a shellfish appetizer; a light, crisp white wine with salad in a mild dressing; a full-bodied red to serve with a beef entrée.

More for less. Serving high-quality, well-reviewed wines doesn’t have to be a pricey proposition. Visit PA Wine & Spirits Premium Collection Stores to find Chairman’s Selections™, delicious and often world-renowned wines typically 40 percent or more off nationally quoted prices. Check often to see what new wines are arriving in this program – recent party-friendly picks include festive Italian sparkling wines, California Chardonnays, elegant French reds and serious Cabernets, all at great savings.

Family style. For informal and inexpensive wine service, select food-friendly varietals (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot) in three- or five-liter boxes, and decant into pretty pitchers for each table. Boxed wines are green-friendly in every possible way: One thrifty three-liter box contains the same amount of wine as four standard, 750-mL wine bottles.

Nothing but bubbles. Fans of Champagne and other sparkling wines are always happy to argue that Champagne goes with everything. So if you’re a believer, start with a light sparkler, then move on to a fuller-bodied vintage or sparkling rosé to pair with the entrée.

Mark a very good year. Provide one big serving at each place setting with 187-mL wine bottles bearing your personalized label. These quarter-bottles make great placeholders and wedding souvenirs. Choose from a variety of special-occasion labels, personalized with your names and date, at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com.

And don’t forget dessert. A semi-dry or sweet sparkling wine is a stylish and refreshing accompaniment to wedding cake. A true dessert wine, such as a vintage Sauternes or luscious ice wine, alongside cookies or other pastries will conclude your reception on the sweetest note of all.

The Champagne toast is a thrilling moment of the wedding reception. Servers bustle about, pouring a splash of sparkling wine for each guest. The best man rises to say a few words. Glasses are raised, a sip is tossed back – yum! – and then it’s done.

But what if you really love sparkling wine? The experts at PA Wine & Spirits Stores can show you why there’s no need to limit yourself to a toast – you can serve sparkling wine through every part of your wedding celebration. The right sparklers can be served with almost anything you want to eat, come in styles appropriate for brunch, dinner or dessert and can cost as little, or as much, as you like. Come on, party people – there are plenty of great reasons to keep the bubbly flowing.

Brunch. Don’t wait for nightfall to pop the cork. If you’re planning a morning reception, or perhaps brunch the morning after the wedding, many sparkling wines fit the bill. The crisp, bright taste of any dry sparkler is a perfect complement to rich egg dishes like creamy quiche or cheese-filled frittata. True Champagne, made in France’s Champagne region, is a classic companion to shellfish and fish courses. Inexpensive Spanish cavas or Italian proseccos will provide that festive feeling for less.

Throughout dinner. If you’re a true fan of sparkling wines, you’re already convinced they go with everything! Ask a PA Wine & Spirits expert for a delicate wine to serve with seafood, or a more full-bodied vintage to pair with veal or poultry. Look for French Champagne houses that have established vineyards in California, providing elegant Champagne-style wines to complement traditional cuisine at a fraction of the cost of the French versions.

Dessert. Nothing adds to the delight of wedding cake like sparkling dessert wine. Pick a style that’s slightly sweet: If you choose French bubbly, find sec or demi-sec that indicates sweetness (those marked brut are dry, best with savory foods); Italian Asti and other sparkling moscatos are sweet companions to all types of cake, pastry and fruit-filled dessert.

Because you love pink. Many delicious sparkling wines are rosés, adding flavor and a burst of lovely color to your table. These too come in domestic and imported versions, dry – wonderful to serve as an aperitif or with a lamb entrée – or sweet – a picturesque pairing with dessert.

Gifts. Don’t forget everyone else who loves bubbly! Special bottles are terrific gifts that say “thank you” to members of your wedding party, your officiant, or a treasured guest who’s come a long way.

Need more info on sparkling wine? Chat with the wine specialist at a PA Wine & Spirits Premium Collection store, or browse the educational pages of FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com. You’ll find budget and splurge-worthy selections, plus more ideas for how to serve them. Share the sparkling wines you love throughout your wedding celebration. Your guests just may raise their glasses to toast your good taste.

Not eloping, right? So you’re probably planning a rehearsal that will take you and your wedding party through all the steps of your wedding ceremony. And that rehearsal, attended by immediate family and closest friends, is a perfect excuse for one last get-together the night before the wedding — the rehearsal dinner.

Your ideal rehearsal dinner might be a catered affair kicking off a long wedding weekend. Or it could be a simple backyard potluck that leaves plenty of time for everyone to get a good night’s sleep. Either way, you’ll want to use the occasion to celebrate your friends and family with good food and festive drinks.

Talk with the experts at PA Wine & Spirits Stores about the many options you have for wines to serve. They’ll help you determine how much you need, help you find a special wine to mark the special occasion, and get you something bubbly to get the toasts going. Remember:

Have enough to go around. First, take a look at the party-planning calculator at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com to determine the right amount of wine for the number of guests you’re having. Have a crowd coming? Consider impressive 1.5-L bottles, or magnums, of wine. These contain twice the wine as the standard 750-mL bottle, and are available in a wide range of inexpensive red and white table wines.

Buy by the case. If the wine you like is available in quantity, any PA Wine & Spirits employee can help you assemble one or more cases. Don’t forget Chairman’s Selections™ by the case — these specially purchased wines are typically priced at least 40 percent below nationally quoted prices. These savings let you serve a really special wine at a great value, and the more you buy, the more you save.

One special bottle. You’ve gathered the perfect group with which to share one important bottle of wine. Perhaps one from a place you know and love? A vintage with a meaningful date? Or simply a highly rated and coveted bottle, to mark the special evening? Consult the wine specialist at a PA Wine & Spirits Premium Collection store, or visit the Collector’s Corner at FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com.

Say it in writing. Delight your rehearsal guests with wine bottles bearing a custom label noting the date and the special occasion. These 187-mL cuties provide one to two glasses of wine and make a memorable keepsake of your rehearsal dinner.

Raise a glass. Ready to say a few words to your nearest and dearest? Offer a toast with a glass of sparkling wine — a fine French Champagne, if you’re a purist about these things, or a tasty Italian prosecco, Spanish cava or California sparkling wine. There’s a sparkling wine for every budget. If you’d like to kick off the evening with flutes of bubbly, look for a dry sparkling wine for your apéritif. If your toast will accompany dessert, look for a slightly sweet Moscato or Asti. Cheers!

They’re your closest friends and family. You’ve chosen them to help you plan and celebrate your wedding. They’re going to work hard to make your engagement and your wedding day very special. So by the time your wedding is over, you’ll want to say a warm “thank you” to the members of your wedding party.

Why not continue the spirit of celebration by presenting them with gifts of fine wine or luxurious spirits? While you’re off on the honeymoon, your hardworking bridesmaids and groomsmen can be raising a glass to you one more time — and this time, they’ll be toasting with your thoughtful gift.

Whether some of your party simply enjoy a good bottle of wine to share with dinner, or are serious students of the winemaker’s or the distiller’s art, you can find the perfect gifts for them at PA Wine & Spirits Stores, or the stores’ online home, FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
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Thoughtful Service for Philadelphia Weddings and Events …

At The Rittenhouse, we have hosted some of the most prestigious Philadelphia weddings. We are prepared to indulge you and your guests, showering you with the attention you expect and deserve on your special day.

Featuring 8,470 feet of total event space, our Grand Ballroom can accommodate Philadelphia weddings and social events for up to 275 guests, complete with dining and dancing. Please click the link below to view a number of floor plans for the wedding of your dreams:

Rittenhouse Hotel Floorplans

Discover the first-class facilities and service that distinguish The Rittenhouse from other wedding halls in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From exquisitely elegant, newly renovated ballrooms to some of the city´s finest catering, The Rittenhouse is a five-diamond destination for unforgettable receptions and ceremonies. The incomparable features of our Philadelphia wedding hall include:

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The Rittenhouse Hotel is the perfect setting to realize your dream wedding!

Meet Your Team

Catering: Rema Giordano
My masterful staff of experienced professionals and I will assist you with each and every detail, creating a seamless and exquisite affair. We will plan the perfect menu to suit your particular style and taste and oversee your day with a keen eye and a hand to hold. I will personally ensure your precious memories that will last a lifetime. We will be with you every step of the way. Relax and enjoy.

Banquet Service: Bruce Mullen
From your rehearsal to your dessert my team will take care of your every need and make sure your plans are carried out expertly — just as you imagined! My promise is to exceed your expectations.

Culinary: Chef
Under my direction, my culinary team, unmatched in their dedication and talent, prepare food that is unsurpassed in both quality and presentation. I use only the finest and freshest ingredients and whenever possible I prefer to use our local farms. My pastry team will craft your wedding cake into a classic work of art. Ask to see our photos! It is with passion and precision that we will serve you on your special day.

Concierge: Frank Marandino
My expert Concierge staff and I will be available to assist you and your guests with any requests seven days a week. A Rolls Royce limousine, a Lear Jet, a private Philadelphia tour, a needed seamstress, a simple bow tie — nothing is out of the realm at the Rittenhouse. Let us do the work!

To book your appointment with your team, contact Lori Maslowksi, Assistant Directory of Catering at LMaslowksi@rittenhousehotel.com.