Want to add some extra romance to your wedding ceremony and incorporate a unity ritual? Think about including a wine box ceremony in your wedding itinerary. And there are a million different ways to customize it, so it’s a great way to put a personal stamp on your big day! We especially love it for a winery wedding or when spouse-to-be are wine lovers.
A wine box ceremony is a non-religious wedding ritual in which a bottle of wine is enclosed in a box, creating a time capsule for you and your partner to open after a few years together. Some couples opt to add an extra layer of meaning by including love letters to each other and sealing them in the box alongside the wine.
It’s easy to see the appeal of a ritual highlighting a couple’s belief in a long and prosperous future together and a reminder to couples to keep celebrating their relationship long after the wedding day has passed. So when the time comes, open the box, read each other’s sweet letters, and pour some wine as you reminisce about your wedding day.
Ahead, we share a handy guide keeping the details of the wedding wine box tradition and how to incorporate one into your wedding.
Photo: Andrea Migliorini
How do you have a wine box ceremony?
During your ceremony have the wine and the box on display on a table near the altar, along with anything you wish to include in the box – like love letters to each other. Then, at some point in your service, have your officiant – man or woman – announce and explain the significance of the wine box ceremony ritual and tell which wine you’ve chosen and how long you plan to save it. This can be done before or after your vows. Then you and your partner will each place the wine and any accompanying items into the box and lock it.
The box is usually sealed by nailing it shut, which can pause the ceremony. So, you could also choose a box with a latch and a lock, which you could more quickly close with a key mid-ceremony.
Photo: Gillian LeBrun
What type of wine should you select? When do you get to open it?
The first step is to find a bottle of wine you want to preserve. Then, you can pick a specific date upon which you’ll crack open the box and drink wine together. Couples usually choose a milestone anniversary – on their 5th wedding anniversary, 10th wedding anniversary, or another special date. Or even if you and your partner hit a rough patch, you also can open your capsule sooner and remind yourself of why you started this journey together.
The wine can hold special meaning for the couple. For example, the selected wine will remind you about the first date, commemorate a romantic vacation, or will be served with dinner at the wedding reception.
Red wines typically need longer to reach maturity than whites. But as a rule, they age better than white wines, but that doesn’t mean you can’t age white wine. Furthermore, some red wines age better than others. There are many reasons for this, but one influencing factor is the grape variety. A wine’s natural traits of acidity and tannin create a sort of runway that allows it to evolve (and even improve) over time. Also, maturity will depend on the wine’s structure, its producer, and, of course, the way it’s stored – you may well have a wine absolutely ripe for aging, but if it’s not stored correctly, it will never reach its potential.
One of the best red wines with 5-15 years of potential is cabernet sauvignon, merlot, grenache, and syrah. Of course, other wines with robust structures will also age well, but we zeroed in on these three as our top choices for the cellar treatment. Anyway, consult an expert before picking a specific bottle.
Wed Vibes Reco: Take note of Avaline wines. Avaline is a company founded by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power on raising the standard of what goes into your glass. The company makes clean, delicious wines using organic grapes and listing everything their wine doesn’t contain right on the label. Transparently produced, full of natural goodness, and free of unnecessary extras.
Photos: Avaline
Photo: Avaline
Cabernet Sauvignon – a bold, fruity grape with lots of rich cherry and red currant character, as well as warm tannins that give off a subtle spice and chocolatey smoothness.
Pairs well with a cozy evening with a love one around the table.
Photo: Avaline
You wouldn’t think it to be the case, but Merlot ages just as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. Wines become softer and often more smoky with age. A smooth, easy red with a medium to full body and notes of cherry and a hint of black tea.
Pairs well with your favorite takeout and a view of the glowing sunset.
Photo: Avaline
Cameron’s favorite Red: it has a light to medium body with hints of cherry and a touch of spice. It perfectly combines Grenache and Syrah grapes:
Grenache – smooth and lean, this grape has black cherry aromas, tart raspberry jam on the palette and a hint of cinnamon on the finish.
Syrah – bold and inky grape, adding structure to the ble.
Pairs well with candlelight and a starry night. Or watching old but gold romantic comedy The Holiday and imagine Cameron will say “Cheers to both of you”!
What do you need for this ritual besides wine?
You can include a copy of your vows, notes of what you’re looking forward to about married life with your new spouse, or love letters to each other written on the day or week of the wedding. You might also want to include photos from the beginning of your courtship, engagement photos, or other memorable relics reminding you about any great moments you shared. Some couples ask close friends and family members to write well-wishes notes, which is so lovely!
Lastly, you’ll need a decorative wine box to keep everything in.
Photo on the left: Matteo Coltro. Photo on the right: Nina Gorshunova
What should you consider when selecting and storing a wine box?
Find a suitable box for the ceremony, along with anything you may need to seal the box – a hammer and nails or a key if required to seal the box. Some will have a simple clasp or sliding cover.
First, your wine seller can suggest one. Also, many options are available online, from ones bespoke engraved with your wedding ceremony date to velvet-lined options that come with two wine glasses for you to save and celebrate when the box and bottle are opened. Check them on Etsy. You can also DIY the box in some way. For instance, add a phrase that has a personal meaning for you and your partner on the lid.
Most bottles are best stored horizontally, so the cork stays moist and in a cool, dark place. Bottles with screw-cap-closure can be stored in any position. The ideal temperature for storing wine is between 12-16° C. At high temperatures, your wine matures faster, and vice versa at low temperatures. The worst place to store your wine at home is on top of the kitchen cabinets because of the heat from the stove, the oven, and the fridge. Fortunately, most kitchen designers have gradually learned this. The high relative humidity is also preferable, ideally between 65-75%.
Photos: Avaline
Photo: Avaline
Wed Vibes Tip
If you’re big wine lovers, buy 5 or more bottles (depending on the date of opening the box), enjoy a bottle every year on your anniversary, notice how the wine develops and ages with time, and remember each new year of your joint life. Like a good wine, a good relationship mellows and improves with age.
