What is a wine box ritual?

The wine box ritual

When couples meet with me to plan their ceremony, we look at everything from how they want to come in to who is going to be involved, how they would like to personalise everything and which traditions they are going to ignore. 

One of the questions I always ask is would you like to include a ritual? And it seems that rituals are like Marmite. Couples either love them or they don’t. Not forgetting that the ring exchange is a ritual. (But I haven’t met a couple who doesn’t want one of these - yet!) Handfasting or handtying is very popular at the moment and many of my couples opt for this. You can read more about handfasting here.

If this is not quite you and you would like another idea, there is the wine box ritual. It’s like a romantic take on a time capsule with some wine thrown in. It would work with whisky or another spirit but probably not with beer as it has a shorter shelf life. You will also need a wooden presentation box.

Do it after the vows

You can put the wine box ritual in at whichever point you wish but it works best after the vows. The idea is that you read your vows to one another then place them into the wine box with a bottle of wine. This is a particularly lovely touch if you are celebrating your marriage in a vineyard or have visited one at some point together and it forms a special part of your story.

Then on your first, fifth or fiftieth wedding anniversary, you open the box, drink the wine and read your vows to one another. It’s a beautiful opportunity for you to reminisce about your wedding day. It’s also the chance for you to reflect back upon everything that has come to be since you read those words to one another and gave your guests chills.

You can write some new vows, place them in the box with another box of wine and re-seal it for another milestone anniversary. It’s such a lovely ritual and your guests will absolutely love it. 

Seal your vows with a kiss

If you want to add a playful element to the ritual, you can seal the vows with a kiss before you place them in the box. Georgina and Tim did this and Lisa Jade Photography caught the moment beautifully. Their wine box had a hinge and a clasp. Traditionally, you are supposed to nail it shut with a hammer but let’s not invite disaster to the wedding.

Your guests will adore this moment - every time a couple has chosen to include this ritual in their ceremony, their guests have loved the moment. If they weren’t crying happy tears already, this is what started them off. It makes for such a beautiful moment and one that everyone will remember.

All the important details

Georgina and Tim’s wedding ceremony took place at Old Gore Barn near Circencester, Gloucestershire. It’s a classic Cotswold Barn venue with a great atmosphere and amazing food. The team is ever so accommodating and wants to ensure that your day runs smoothly.

If you are interested in hearing more about the wine box ritual, or any other ritual for that matter, get in touch. I can’t wait to tell you about all of the different ways you can bring a gorgeous element like this into your ceremony.