Wine wine wine

There are a variety of little ceremonies couples incorporate into their weddings. You may have heard of the unity candle ceremony, or the sand ceremony and even the hand fasting ceremony. They are all very romantic and symbolize the couple coming together as one ... I just have a hard time with that concept. Blame it on my divorced parents or blame in on my natural skepticism, but I don't want to stop being me on my wedding day. And I don't think it is realistic to suggest that everything will be perfect from that day forward. I went searching for a ceremony that acknowledges the hard work and the dedication a marriage needs to survive. Here is what I came up with:

BOX, WINE, AND LETTER CEREMONY

(to the audience) XXXX and YYYY have chosen as a couple to perform a box, wine and love letter ceremony.

This box contains a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a love letter from each to the other. The letters describe the good qualities they find in one another, the reasons they fell in love, and their reasons for choosing to marry. The letters are sealed in individual envelopes and they have not seen what the other has written.

(to us) XXXX and YYYY should you ever find your marriage enduring serious hardships, you are to as a couple, open this box, sit and drink the wine together, then separate and read the letters you wrote to one another when you were united as a couple. By reading these love letters you will reflect upon the reasons you fell in love and chose to marry each other here today.

The hope is, however, that you will never have a reason to open this box. And if this is the case, you are to open this box to share and enjoy on your 10-year anniversary!

XXXX and YYYY, please seal the box.

(Personalized wine box is $28.99.)