‘Proper’ gifts for all the big celebrations

With every celebration vying to have the most unique, Instagram-able features, attention to detail is key.

The Proper Bottle Company, created by Bayport resident Jennifer Meyn, provides that showstopper giveaway or bespoke event marker to elevate the aesthetic of any occasion.

Meyn creates works of functional art with her decorated champagne and wine bottles as commemorative but also beautiful keepsakes.

Typically, LaMarca champagne bottles are used, both standard-sized or mini-sized, for wedding favors.

“We pay as much time to the craftsmanship and detail of every bottle. That’s how we came up with a name for the company—I’d finish creating one and we’d say, ‘That’s a proper bottle,’ or ‘that’s a proper gift,’” said Meyn.

With a multiple-decade resume as a successful professional photographer, Meyn’s awareness and subtlety with composition, color harmony, and eye-catchers is abundant in her designs of decorated bottles.

Her most popular design so far has been the wedding monogram that has captured both the imagination and heraldry sought by brides.

Customization is available, e.g., matching the wedding color scheme, but Meyn finds that many clients are not necessarily aware of what they want, but can express the effect they want to have on their attendees.

“Clients will often come to me after seeing a design and they’ll say, ‘I like this part, but not that part,’ and we realize after speaking that their vision was totally different,” said Meyn.

Wedding champagne bottles must be ordered at least four months in advance as they typically require over 100 bottles.

Standalone custom orders should be placed at least two weeks before the event.

The process to paint and layer artwork and cure typically takes two days.

“I’m a very tactile person. I make my own varnish to have a self-leveling effect, and I will sand it if it doesn’t come out exactly as I want it,” said Meyn.

The final product, which feels like it comes directly from a manufacturer, typically sells out in a couple of days after being posted on social media.

Influencers and wedding planners have discovered The Proper Bottle and begun to offer them in their packages for brides.
“I am very honored to be a part of the big day. It’s very humbling with all the things that go into a wedding to have your work be chosen to be in it,” said Meyn.

Recently, Meyn has started to add additional customized pieces to the bottles, including locally sourced oyster shells with coordinating designs.

“We call it the ‘proper topper,’” said Meyn.

Originally started as a hobby and creative outlet, Meyn said she did not set out to start a business, but the bottles were so popular on social media with requests for other customizations, it became the natural path.

Meyn has also donated a number of bottles for local fundraisers and said she was thankful for the support and interest from the community.

Prosecco and champagnes make up about 85 percent of the orders placed and have ranged for occasions such birthdays, weddings, baby and bridal showers, a new home gift, college logos, and theater opening night gifts..