My dad passed away last fall after a short fight with cancer. He LOVED to make wine. He had over 2000 bottles in the cellar when he died, and it really is pretty good wine. He and my mom would drink, between them, a bottle in an evening on a semi-regular basis. But, now he's gone, and she's had some thyroid issues and has stopped drinking. So there's an awful lot of wine, that my dad used to love to brag about and share with everyone going to waste, and it kills me.
So, this wedding has been a little hard to plan since dad won't be there. One idea I had, was to have a table with some of his wines. I was thinking of inviting people to take a bottle with them as a favor, and maybe a short and sweet note in his memory, maybe asking them to toast him.
Couple other notes -- this will NOT be the primary favor. My FH loves the idea of a candy bar, and we had some other ideas. The wine was just going to be optional and supplemental. Also, we can't serve it at the venue for legal reasons. That's why we thought about just inviting guests to take a bottle if they wanted to.
This would be a way for his wine to be shared, the way he liked to do, and not go to waste, and also maybe be a way to include him in my day. But... I'm pretty emotional about this, and I have a hard time gauging if this is appropriate or not. I was hoping to get your thoughts. I know you'll straighten me out if this is ridiculous!
Re: Very unusual favor... is this tacky?
Since you have guests that are sensitive to alcohol, it would be a same for them to get a bottle & then for it to go to waste. I like the idea of putting enough bottles out for everyone to take one and then whatever is left over you can take home & drink yourself or pass out to friends & family for special occasions.
Just a thought, it might be nice to save a few bottles for yourself. Maybe you & mom can share a special private toast to dad the night before as your own private way to honor & remember him.
I love this idea! My FIL makes wine and he provided it as favors for our wedding. Nothing makes him happier than people enjoying his wine. This is a wonderful way to honor your father.
Also, *hugs*
I think you definitely need to save some bottles for your family though. There are always going to be occasions where your dad's wine will make you happy. If you have enough to share and still keep some, go for it. Otherwise, maybe just use it for a toast at the beginning of the night?
Since he did his own labels and everything you could just add a small tag to the top of the bottle!
If you are serving alcohol at your reception and the wine bottles are corked, I think chances are pretty slim people will try to open them.
I went to a wedding where wine was a favor. No one tried to open the bottles. At our wedding we had wine as a favor. No one tried to open them.
Someone would have to be a little ambitious or clueless (for lack of a better word) to be at a wedding with an open bar and take a bottle that looks like a take home favor because it has a tag on it and then try to find a corkscrew and empty glass to drink it.
Our first venue said bringing the bottles was OK as long as they were corked (corked is harder to open than twist off). They also encouraged us to have the DJ announce for everyone to get their favor and make sure to enjoy it after the reception. That venue shut down and moved us to a replacement venue. The replacement venue was like you are having wine favors--that's great. No big deal.
Just putting in my 2 cents that you may be over thinking the people opening the bottles thing.