Alternatives for wine in a Love Letter Box for a wedding ceremony?
May 1, 2011 12:10 AM Subscribe
We're planning on having a love letter and wine box ceremony for our wedding, but I don't like wine that much (although a sweeter wine that lasts that long could be an option). What else could we put in the box that would last for 25 years and still taste good/be nice to have? Doesn't have to be food or drink, I'm open to anything.
Best answer: You may not like wine that much now, but who's to say that your tastes won't change in the next 25 years? Most bottles of wine that you are likely to buy now will probably not be good 25 years later. However, a nice vintage port (which would be a little sweeter) can be enjoyed that far into the future.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:38 AM on May 1, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:38 AM on May 1, 2011 [4 favorites]
One of your invitations, your guest list. Maybe you could invite the same people to your 25th anniversary party. Pictures of "then and now" could be fun.
posted by Cranberry at 1:14 AM on May 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Cranberry at 1:14 AM on May 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
A piece of your wedding cake, if you're having traditional fruitcake.
In the extremely likely event that you're not having a fruit cake, you could have a small one made up and iced like your wedding cake.
posted by PercyByssheShelley at 1:37 AM on May 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
In the extremely likely event that you're not having a fruit cake, you could have a small one made up and iced like your wedding cake.
posted by PercyByssheShelley at 1:37 AM on May 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
A little vial of your wedding day or everyday perfume. Scent memories are great, and it's likely that in 25 years your perfume will have been discontinued.
Press your wedding flowers, although I'm not sure how well they'll hold up over 25 years.
posted by acidic at 2:46 AM on May 1, 2011 [6 favorites]
Press your wedding flowers, although I'm not sure how well they'll hold up over 25 years.
posted by acidic at 2:46 AM on May 1, 2011 [6 favorites]
$100 to go out to a meal. Of course, by the time you use it, hopefully it'll only buy McDonalds.
posted by b33j at 3:09 AM on May 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by b33j at 3:09 AM on May 1, 2011 [1 favorite]
Huh, is this box to be opened after 25 years, or when the marriage is in trouble? (that's what it sounds like from the link).
If the first, maybe clippings from the newspaper on the day of your wedding? Or letters from your family and friends? (Especially those that are older and may not make it to 25 years in person).
If the second, maybe some silly gift that you know the other person loves?
posted by Salamandrous at 5:52 AM on May 1, 2011
If the first, maybe clippings from the newspaper on the day of your wedding? Or letters from your family and friends? (Especially those that are older and may not make it to 25 years in person).
If the second, maybe some silly gift that you know the other person loves?
posted by Salamandrous at 5:52 AM on May 1, 2011
Seconding the idea of vintage port - my husband I bought some vintage port around our first anniversary and plan to open it up on our 10th and 20th anniversaries. Of course we also honeymooned in Portugal the year the last vintage was bottled, so that makes the port extra special because it was being bottled while we were there.
posted by echo0720 at 5:54 AM on May 1, 2011
posted by echo0720 at 5:54 AM on May 1, 2011
Another vote for vintage port. Ages for decades, is sweet and not winey, very classic for celebrating long-term anniversaries. Be aware that you cannot buy 2011 vintage port right now -- it is usually a couple of years behind the calendar due to the way vintage is selected and bottled. The 2008 vintage is just now hitting the market, and should be good to age for the next quarter-century.
My wife and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in December, and I wish we had thought to do something like this then. Maybe we'll borrow your idea for our 50th. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
posted by briank at 6:38 AM on May 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
My wife and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in December, and I wish we had thought to do something like this then. Maybe we'll borrow your idea for our 50th. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
posted by briank at 6:38 AM on May 1, 2011 [2 favorites]
If I'm reading it right, the box is opened if the marriage is in trouble. The letter is to remind you why you got married in the first place, and the wine is to give you time to reflect on the decisions before you. So maybe, some snapshot photos of the two of you young, happy, and in love? Or maybe letters from your parents (if appropriate) talking about times their important relationships where troubled, and the wisdom of not making rash decisions (or other wisdom from elders about facing difficult times)?
I think the idea is to slow you down, not to help celebrate an anniversary? If you are modifying this to be an anniversary thing, it's pretty common to set aside one bottle of champagne/sparkling wine, and those can be pretty sweet if you like.
posted by Houstonian at 6:50 AM on May 1, 2011
I think the idea is to slow you down, not to help celebrate an anniversary? If you are modifying this to be an anniversary thing, it's pretty common to set aside one bottle of champagne/sparkling wine, and those can be pretty sweet if you like.
posted by Houstonian at 6:50 AM on May 1, 2011
Honey keeps essentially indefinitely, though I would recommend using a glass jar rather than plastic.
Less seriously: Do you like whisky? Are you very wealthy? You could have a distillery lay down a private barrel for you and age it for 25 years.
posted by jedicus at 9:35 AM on May 1, 2011
Less seriously: Do you like whisky? Are you very wealthy? You could have a distillery lay down a private barrel for you and age it for 25 years.
posted by jedicus at 9:35 AM on May 1, 2011
Best answer: I did not know this until hearing about a cache of 150 bottles recovered from a centuries old shipwreck, but better champagnes can age well in the bottle under the right conditions.
posted by y2karl at 9:41 AM on May 1, 2011
posted by y2karl at 9:41 AM on May 1, 2011
I would definitely go with a port, as even wine haters tend to like some of them.
This is a pretty neat alternative to the unity candle (which we did in 98) or the sand ceremony. Congratulations and best wishes on your marriage.
posted by SuzySmith at 11:31 AM on May 1, 2011
This is a pretty neat alternative to the unity candle (which we did in 98) or the sand ceremony. Congratulations and best wishes on your marriage.
posted by SuzySmith at 11:31 AM on May 1, 2011
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posted by polyhedron at 12:31 AM on May 1, 2011