Now that wedding season is in full swing, you may find yourself tying up a couple of loose ends, such as deciding on the champagne or sparkling wine you'll serve at the reception. Toasting the happy couple is an important part of the day and should be commemorated with an equally special wine -- perhaps the champagne you shared on the night he proposed or the bubbly your parents drank at their own wedding? Whatever your decision, there are a few things you need to consider.

How much will you need?
We try to stay away from math as much as possible but sometimes there's no avoiding it. A standard bottle of wine is 750 mL (or approximately 24 oz). Most champagne flutes hold 4 oz of wine nicely, so this tells us that one bottle pours about 6 glasses. So if there are 120 guests invited to the wedding you'll need 20 bottles of bubbly to pour 1 glass each or 40 bottles if you wish to refill. Depending on how many toasts or speeches you're planning you may need less or more. But before you take this as gospel, contact the caterer and find out for sure what size glasses they're using -- they can come in larger sizes too, potentially throwing off all of these invaluable numbers!

Champagne or sparkling wine?
If budget is an issue, and let's face it, it usually is, than this decision is an easy one to make: sparkling wine. It's difficult to find a good champagne for less than $50 a bottle. Multiply that (we know, more math!) by 20 or 40 and you're looking at an all-inclusive week in the Caribbean -- and that's for cheap champagne. Good stuff will set you back even more -- though if you've got deep pockets or someone is footing the bill, nothing else comes close to good champagne.

Having said that, there are some very good sparkling wines from Canada, Italy and Spain that are much more budget friendly and that are well made and taste great.

What to choose?
If you don't already have something in mind, think back to an occasion where the two of you sipped champagne on vacation or toasted each other on the anniversary of your first date and purchase the same wine. If you can't remember what you drank or don't know where to begin, drop by your local liquor store and choose three or four bottles of bubbly in your price range and do a tasting at home. That way you'll be able to select the wine that best suits your taste and you'll have a great time trying four different wines.

If you live near wine country, another great option is to visit a few vineyards, taste a few of their sparkling wines and order directly from the winery. Often it'll be cheaper buying directly and you may be able to choose something not available in wide release. Serving rare sparkling wine has caché all its own!

Here are a few fine examples that will suit everyone's price point, in descending order, of course.

When money is no object
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Rose 2002 ($350, 750 mL)
This wine is for a true princess and a fairytale wedding. This salmon-coloured rosé made from the stellar 2002 vintage is light and fruity with delicate floral notes. This is a wonderfully balanced champagne with great finesse and silky texture.

Grand dame
G.H. Mumm Grand Cru ($89, 750 mL)
This is an exceptional wine made from the best of the best grapes in the Champagne region, or the Grand Crus. The colour is a clear, lively yellow that overflows with fine bubbles. With aromas of citrus, honey and white flowers, it's a bold wine with an overpowering affect on the palate -- but has a long, delicate finish. A truly wonderful champagne.

Almond joy
Desiderio Jeio Prosecco Colmei ($21.95, 750 mL)
Perhaps the name doesn't roll off the tongue but a taste of this Italian sparkler and your tongue will be too busy tasting its remarkable fresh apple flavour. With hints of almond and vivacious bubbles it's satisfying and refreshing -- perfect for an outdoor reception.

Spanish love
Codorniu Reserva Raventos Cava Brut ($16.95, 750 mL)
This fruity and fresh sparkling wine from Spain has pronounced citrus flavour with notes of herbal tea and floral touches. Fresh acidity and a frothy mousse make for an easy drinking wine with an equally refreshing price.

Local gem
Jackson-Triggs Proprietor's Reserve 2004 Sparkling Cuve Close ($15.15, 750 mL)
One of the best sparkling wines at this price, thanks to a beautiful straw colour complemented by floral and citrus notes, offset with a crisp, green apple flavour and loads of bubbles. This is a remarkable wine for the budget conscious.