We were speaking to our mayor today and he told us of an interesting ceremony he has seen at a wedding at which he officiated. It is the Wine Box Ceremony. Maybe you have heard of it, but it was new to us. Basically, the box contains a bottle of wine and love letters to be opened a prescribed number of years after the wedding or in times of marital trouble.
What you need:
- A wine box - A wooden box is pretty much essential for this ceremony and can be decorated to match your ceremony's decor.
- A bottle of your favorite wine. If you made or purchased a special wine for your wedding, you may want to use one of those.
- Two love letters, each sealed in separate envelopes.
- A small hammer and several nails (or a screwdriver and several screws.)
What you do:
A few weeks before the wedding, each of you take some time to write a letter to the other, expressing your thoughts about the good qualities of the other, the reason(s) you fell in love with him/her, your dreams for your future as a couple and the positives of your relationship with one another. Seal the letters in separate envelopes addressed to the other. Do not read each other's letter at this time.
The box should be large enough to contain the bottle of wine and the letters at the least. You may want to be more creative and add wine glasses and a cork puller. (It would be a shame to not be able to open the bottle when the time comes.) It is best to create supports for the bottle and glasses with foam or other soft padding and the box may be lined with satin or some material left from the construction of the bride's gown. The contents of the box can be expanded to make it a "time capsule." Perhaps a CD with "your song", a DVD of "your movie", favorite photos of the two of you, mementos of special events in your life as a couple. Maybe the napkin from the restaurant where you had your first date, got engaged, or both, could be included. Use your imagination. You might want the glasses to be a replica of your toasting glasses or small tasting glasses (or could be the actual glasses if placed in a matching box) and you might want to decorate the cork puller to match the hammer and glasses.
The outside of the box can also be decorated to your taste. Maybe decoupaged on the cover could be your wedding invitation, a photo of the two of you, or a talented artist could paint a rendition of the place where you were married. You can add ribbons and florals to match your ceremony's decor. Again, use your imagination. Do not seal the contents in the box at this time. The hammer (or screwdriver)may be decorated to match the box or decorated with ribbons and a silk floral arrangement to match your toasting glasses, cake knife or unity candle. It would be helpful if in decorating the box, a loop is created to secure the hammer to the box (or for a screwdriver, if you opt for a "quieter" option.) It is suggested that the sites for the nails and screws be pre-drilled so that the box does not split while assembling during the ceremony. Bent nails are not so pretty.
During your ceremony, the Officant will state the purpose of the Wine Box Ceremony and elaborate on it as the love letters are placed in the box with the other contents. It should be emphasized that no one has read the letters but the author of each letter and that they describe the reasons the couple fell in love and their reasons for marriage. The Officiant will also tell about when the box is to be opened and that the hope is that the box will never need opened before the appointed anniversary. The box will then be nailed shut. The Officiant places the first nail, followed by the Bride and Groom. Each member of the wedding party can add a nail to seal the box.
Keep the box in a place of honor as a reminder of your love and commitment to each other. The box is to be opened on your 5th anniversary. Others decide to keep the box until the 10th anniversary. Just be sure that the wine selected will keep that long and that the equipment to play the CD or DVD is still functional and in the household at that time. However, if you hit a really rocky time in your marriage before that, before you do something really irrational, open the box.
Sit down together, open the box, uncork the wine and unseal the envelopes. Go to separate rooms to read the letters after sharing a first glass of wine. The hope is that even if you are not in agreement at the time, it will remind you of all the reasons you two chose to commit to each other. The romantic sentiments and clear thoughts expressed so long ago will serve as a reminder of your early times together and how your life has diverged or fulfilled your plans for life together.
A word of caution about the wine. Care should be taken that the wine not be overheated or it will degenerate. Likewise choose a wine that will stand the test of time as some just naturally deteriorate at a rate faster than others. Therefore, a red wine is suggested. Don't let the box sit in the sunlight, near a furnace register , on top of the TV or the fireplace mantel. Keep it at a moderate room temperature.
To add to the significance of the wine box, after it is opened, the two of you may want to have a recommitment ceremony (private between the two of you or public), add new letters, new wine, new mementos and reseal it for a future anniversary.
I love this idea! But I know some people who wouldn't make it to the five year mark ;-)
Posted by: Christa Terry | 08/26/2010 at 02:35 PM
There is actually a beautiful product for this.. check out this link
http://www.allweddingitems.com/wedding-personalized-love-letter-keepsake-ceremony-set-gift-box.html
It's an amazing product for this ceremony.
Posted by: Jenica Suresh | 06/22/2011 at 12:54 AM