I purchased two dozen votive candles, cut corks from Stonehouse Vineyards longways, and glued them to the candles with E6000 glue. So I crafted cork votive candles that could also be used after the wedding. The wedding reception venue, the Parador in Houston, allowed candles. These were arranged on the cork board and affixed each table sheet with upholstery nails, which would be used as decorative “thumb tacks” in their home. I printed the guests on gold vellum paper, adorned each sheet with a wine label, and cut the edges with decorative edge scrapbook scissors. I covered the back of the frame with thick wrapping paper, just for aesthetics. For anyone trying this at home, I recommend first gluing the corks together in pairs, as not all corks are created equally (in height, specifically). I purchased an open frame from Hobby Lobby, cut a pegboard to fit, then used a glue gun to cover the entire board with a lattice of corks. I also made a cork board that would double as a table number assignment board and as a wedding present for the bride and groom. I put a wine label on each of the three sides on each of the 20 table numbers, and used vinyl stickers for the numbers (also on each of the three sides). I bought gold paisley scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby and tri-folded them at the 3.5″ mark, 7″ mark, and 10.5″ mark (with a 1.5″ lip for taping). They sent five different wine labels that I was able to divide among the table signs in groups. The gorgeous vineyard where Monica and Bret got engaged was gracious enough to send some unused wine labels for us to use for the table number signs.
TRANSLUCENT PAPER HOBBY LOBBY PLUS
Finally, I glued a flower (or small bunch of flowers) plus one leaf into each of the corks, and let them dry overnight. I then glued the corks to high magnetic strength ceramic magnet discs with E6000 adhesive, and let them dry overnight. I used a Swiss army knife blade to core about a half inch into the corks. Half were adorned with Forget-Me-Nots, and half with Marigolds. I crafted 220 wine cork magnets for their wedding favors.
She hoped to share their love of wine with their wedding guests, and I would happily help her make that happen. Enophilia was already a big part of Monica and Bret’s lives together, as they had made many a memory at vineyard and wineries across the country, were active members of quite a few wine clubs, and had even gotten engaged at Stonehouse Vineyard near Austin, Texas. I was much obliged to help her enhance the wine theme that she had begun working on. After doing my own wedding, a dear friend of mine asked me to help her with some minor wedding reception decor and favors.