Wine Tasting Shower?

emilyloulou

So being the youngest in a big family, I have been to a ton of showers. So for my wedding I always wanted to do something that is a little out of the ordinary. I found this company called STL Wine Girl. This woman comes to your house cooks you a four course dinner and does a in-home wine tasting. The only thing it cost $40 dollars a person. Would it be totally out of the question to make people pay $40 dollars and then give a gift?

Beachy730

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wine-tasting-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:083716a5-34b2-478b-9d34-93da9b09e887Post:48e534b6-d4f0-4694-a87e-114010388ea9">Wine Tasting Shower?</a>:
[QUOTE]So being the youngest in a big family, I have been to a ton of showers. So for my wedding I always wanted to do something that is a little out of the ordinary. I found this company called STL Wine Girl. This woman comes to your house cooks you a four course dinner and does a in-home wine tasting. The only thing it cost $40 dollars a person. Would it be totally out of the question to make people pay $40 dollars and then give a gift?
Posted by emilyloulou[/QUOTE]

Yes.  If its not in the hosts budget to pay for everyone (which I'm assuming is not in most people's budgets) then don't do it.  While I do think its a cute idea, its not appropriate to ask your guests to pay anything. 

kikibaby

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wine-tasting-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:083716a5-34b2-478b-9d34-93da9b09e887Post:48e534b6-d4f0-4694-a87e-114010388ea9">Wine Tasting Shower?</a>:
[QUOTE]So being the youngest in a big family, I have been to a ton of showers. So for my wedding I always wanted to do something that is a little out of the ordinary. I found this company called STL Wine Girl. This woman comes to your house cooks you a four course dinner and does a in-home wine tasting. The only thing it cost $40 dollars a person. Would it be totally out of the question to make people pay $40 dollars and then give a gift?
Posted by emilyloulou[/QUOTE]

A) You don't throw your own shower

B) You don't make people pay to attend said shower

Soooo..if you really want this party, suggest it to a BM/MOH (don't insist, SUGGEST that this would be fun) then let them take the ball.  If they plan it, great.  But your guests at your shower should not have to pay $40 to attend it.

opalsky007

I agree with everyone else. A $40 per head shower could get pretty costly for whoever's hosting though, so I wouldn't even suggest it, personally. 

What about a less expensive alternative? It would be much more cost-effective for the host to have some appetizers, and buy some wines to pair with each, and you'd get the same feel.

Celles

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wine-tasting-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:083716a5-34b2-478b-9d34-93da9b09e887Post:48e534b6-d4f0-4694-a87e-114010388ea9">Wine Tasting Shower?</a>:
[QUOTE]Would it be totally out of the question to make people pay $40 dollars and then give a gift?
Posted by emilyloulou[/QUOTE]

Yes. Totally out of the question.

emilyloulou

Okay glad I asked!

Beachy730

I do like the idea of a wine or cocktail themed shower though if your BMs are open to it.  One of my favorite showers I've ever been to was a Happy Hour baby shower and a bbq place.  But like PPs said, you shouldn't be planning in it, so you can only suggest ideas to them.

mica178

To me, wine tasting sounds more like a bachelorette party thing than a bridal shower thing.  But as PPs said, you shouldn't be planning these things.

LowerEastSiiide

Just suggest it to whoever is hosting. You definitely cannot ask guests to pay anything. If your mom is hosting then I would slip it into conversation. It may be too steep to ask your friends, if they are hosting, to pay for.

In my circle, moms pay for their daughter's shower. $40 a head is pretty average. But in other circles, it's customary for MOH to pay. I can't imagine how this works unless showers are casual and in homes, because that seems like a lot of a younger person. Showers are more lavish in NY- always hosted in a restaurant with a 4 course meal and open bar.

cm42878

I agree that you can not do this and it would be very rude! Maybe you could just do it one night with a couple of your close couple friends as a saturday night date night activity.

squirrly

A four course meal is too much for a shower, IMO.  But whomever is hosting your shower can for sure pick up several different wines and do a tasting sort of a thing.  Or, if you have a local winery, they might be able to host the shower there.  We did a group event at one, and the winery provided fruit, cheese, crackers, wine, and a souvenir glass for everyone for $10/person.  It just depends on what the hosts want to do, and what's available in your area.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_wine-tasting-shower?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:083716a5-34b2-478b-9d34-93da9b09e887Post:da375764-a438-49d8-968d-6958c5cea5ab">Re: Wine Tasting Shower?</a>:
[QUOTE]A four course meal is too much for a shower, IMO.  But whomever is hosting your shower can for sure pick up several different wines and do a tasting sort of a thing.  Or, if you have a local winery, they might be able to host the shower there.  We did a group event at one, and the winery provided fruit, cheese, crackers, wine, and a souvenir glass for everyone for $10/person.  It just depends on what the hosts want to do, and what's available in your area.
Posted by squirrly[/QUOTE]

Agreed! I'm hosting a mini wine-tasting party next month with snacks, but not a 4 course meal. I looked up the woman who does this and she also does tastings alone without the dinner. Just get some finger food and host it in the afternoon or after dinner.

Or, if you don't want a traditional shower, maybe people could all bring 2 bottles of wine - one to crack open for the party and then one for you to keep, in lieu of a registry gift. But only if your MOH asks what kind of shower you want and she's open to it!

LowerEastSiiide

The four course meal thing is probably a NY thing. It's usually appetizers for the table followed by salad, pasta, your meat and then dessert. It's kind of tiring- it gets done for every restaurant occasion, birthdays, anniversarys, showers, engagement parties and funerals. But it's sort of expected