Wedding Shower Wine Gift

Question: you said in a previous blog post about a wine gift a friend had given to you. this sounds like a fabulous idea! how was the gift set up (in a basket)? and what did the notes say...ex: drink this wine _____? i think it would be a great bridal shower gift or even a christmas gift. and with the holidays fast approaching, i need all the ideas i can gather!

Answer: Before my shower, Barbie kept telling me (joking, I'm not sure) that her present would be my favorite. I'll agree that it was right up there with the best of them. If anything one of her gifts was one that I look at EVERY day (it's a framed map with pins to mark places we've been - it has a cute plaque that says "the world travels or ryan and alicia kennedy") - I love it and it got placed above our fireplace. Another portion of her gift was a pail? (I'm not sure what you would call the container) that was decoupaged with pieces of paper that matched out wedding theme and pictures of Ryan and I. It was/is great. Currently the pail is in our pantry holding misc. items, but eventually we are putting shelves in our front living room and it will be displayed there. I love it! Obviously if you do this gift, you can use a basket, a box, whatever,

But anyway... the pail was full of bottles of wine wrapped in different colored tulle. Each color matched the 'theme' of the wine (i.e. black tulle and a 'boxed' wine for first fight). I have the poem around the house somewhere ( I think in my wedding memory box) - but for the sake of not running around the house I found something similar online... this may or may not be the same poem but it's pretty close:

Wedding Night (white ribbon)
The night you have dreamed of is finally here,
The future surrounds you with hope and yet fear.
You’ve been to the chapel and married your soulmate,
So sip this wine and toast this date.
The night is meant for you each to share,
Mary and John – a perfect pair.

First Dinner party (gold ribbon)
You’ll open your home for guests to eat,
A place for old friends to catch up and new ones to meet.
When the night is over two hosts share this wine,
Don’t sit down yet – pull up your sleeves – it’s clean up time.

First fight (black ribbon)
When fights occur and tempers are steaming hot,
Pour a glass, take a sip and be thankful for what you’ve got.
For in a marriage it would certainly be a bore,
If everyone agreed and said nothing more.

First Christmas Eve (red and green ribbon)
A wise man once said wine is better than beer,
Now is the season for friends and family to draw near.
Pop the cork for a toast when the night is through,
Kiss goodnight, close your eyes and Santa will be good to you.

First Anniversary (cream ribbon)
On your first anniversary you’ll wonder where the time goes,
No longer are you newlyweds, soon you’ll be pros.
The days have found you in good health and spirit,
Keep saying “I love you” – one always needs to hear it.
Now raise your glass to this date as the first, not the last,
And as you build your future don’t ever forget the past.

1st Baby (pink and blue ribbon)
The news that a baby will soon share your life,
Will make you a mother not only a wife.
You’ll see the child through good times and bad,
Mary the loving mother and John the dearest dad.
Now John must drink this one alone, Mary with an empty glass.
Sit back and relax nine months quickly pass!

I think it's a great shower gift! Or you could make up your own poem and do something for the holidays (new years, thanksgiving, next christmas, maybe a case of beer for the 4th of july, etc) and it could be good for a holiday/christmas gift.

The map I mentioned:

And the wine bucket...

And just a few more:

I will add that I was 100% truly shocked/surprised when I walked in the door. They played the whole thing off soooo well. I was convinced that I was going to go look at cameras with Barbie and then go to Meghan's for the shower. I was also convinced that Barbie didn't know that I 'knew' the shower was that day. It was awesome - I remember trying to play it off cool when the camera store was closed like "alright, well I know we need to stall - do whatever Barbie suggests". I honestly remember walking through the restaurant thinking 'why the hell are they sitting us all the way in the back???' and then thinking "whatever - just go with the flow - don't eat too much, there will be plenty of food at the shower...". So fun - such great friends.