Creative and Fun Wedding Ideas Made Simple Creative and Fun Wedding Ideas Made Simple
Wedding favors are for everyone. But bridal gift baskets are for those extra-special members of the entourage, as a way of expressing a heartfelt thank you. They are also perfect for extending a gracious welcome to out-of-town wedding guests, and pampering them with a thoughtful collection of gifts for their stay.
Teeming with goodies, these gift baskets are actually quite easy to put together. The secret is to focus on the occasion’s theme. Gather a selection of items based upon that, arrange them artfully in a woven basket, and the presentation is ready in five minutes flat!
For inspiration, here are three wonderful gift basket ideas—each created around a distinct theme and beautifully decorated with tasteful touches. Note that, in assembling the items to fill the baskets, the guidelines to keep in mind are ease, practicality, and presentation. » Click to view slideshow
Idea #1: A Vineyard Wedding Picnic Basket
Use a palette of warm autumn colors for this picnic basket-style presentation, filled with delicious treats—plus wine and roses.
The homey, rustic look of a picnic basket filled with treats is just so appealing. This makes it the ideal gift basket idea for a relaxed, outdoor destination wedding set in a lush vineyard or at a quaint wine country inn.
Basket fillers
Take a cue from the “picnic” concept and fill the gift basket with edible goodies such as:
– Jordan almonds in an organza gift bag
– Hazelnut chocolate truffles in 12″ olive fabric
– Freshly-baked breadsticks
– A slab of parmigiano reggiano cheese wrapped in a bright burnt orange wrap
– A bottle of Chianti—the main highlight of the basket
– A gold leaf frame with a romantic print or memorable photo
– Fresh roses for a romantic touch
If the occasion has an Italian flavor, treats like a loaf of focaccia bread, a box of Amaretti cookies, and a bottle of Pinot Grigio would be wonderful additions to the basket. Finish it off with a bouquet of roses that adds a romantic touch to the presentation!
Decorating tips
When adding decorative accents, continue to keep the theme in mind. Select ribbons, flowers, and a gift tag all within the autumn color palette or in wine tones to complement the basket’s rustic look. The tag may be printed with the couple’s names or a simple “Thank You” in gold ink—again within the palette of fall colors.
Idea #2: A Summer Wedding Beach Bucket
Bring memories and smiles with a “gift bucket” filled with thoughtful, beach-inspired goodies for guests at a seaside wedding party.
Nearly everyone treasures childhood memories of playing on the beach and building sandcastles. See the smiles on guests’ faces, then, when they arrive for a seaside wedding and receive, not a basket, but a bucket full of beach-inspired gift items. Not only is the presentation charming, the thought behind it is gracious as well—the guests’ comfort and enjoyment during their visit. » Click to view slideshow
Bucket fillers
Go stylishly seaside with gift items such as:
– An assortment of seashells bundled in aqua organza wrap
– A sea-scented bar of soap and a bottle of liquid milk bath gel
– A favor box containing luscious chocolate truffles
Decorating tips
The childhood charm of a blue plastic bucket needs no elaborate embellishments. Something as simple as wrapping twine around the handle makes the bucket instantly “look the part” and gives the entire presentation that organic, tropical feel. Little gems of imagination like this, sparked by the occasion’s theme, are what can transform an assortment of gifts tossed into a basket, box or bucket into something tasteful and original.
Other bucket fillers one can substitute or add:
– Think “summer tourist” and provide sunblock, lip balm, flip-flops, a hand towel, a sun visor, maps of the area, a ring for hotel keys, and even a deck of playing cards.
– Personalize each bucket according to each guest’s favorite sun care products. These can include facial moisturizers, soap cleansers, and tanning lotions.
– Find clever ways to personalize the gifts in each bucket. For instance, put a sticker on each item with the guest’s name or the couple’s names and the wedding date. Or repackage personal care products in handy containers—by buying suntan lotion, bath gel, and moisturizing lotion in bulk and transferring them into pretty little travel bottles available at drugstores. This not only lessens the cost, it instantly ups the personality and charm of the gifts.
Idea #3: A Fun Spa Party Hat Box
Go elegant with a hatbox-style presentation of spa gift items, each dressed up in the loveliest packaging.
Bid guests goodbye with a warm “thank you” at a spa-themed bridal shower. In a stylish hatbox-inspired container, present them with fun spa gifts as mementos of the party. The items themselves need not be expensive. It’s the thoughtfulness behind them, as well as the pretty presentation, that spells the difference.
Gift box fillers
Extend the shower’s spa experience by filling the box with treats that guests can pamper themselves with at home:
– Chocolates in a beribboned embroidered sachet – a scented candle in a shimmering organza wrap
– Fragrant bath beads in a dainty pomander-shaped bag
– Sugared almonds resting inside a silver keepsake box
Decorating tips
A box of any shape will do. But to capture the elegance of a hatbox, use a round box approximately 12″ in diameter and 6″ in height. Dress it up with fabric or textured wrapping paper, tie an elegant ribbon around it, and use a faux daisy for a whimsical finishing touch. Again, remember to keep within the color scheme of the shower for the right look.
Other spa items one can add:
– A loofah scrub set
– Tubes of herbal shampoo and conditioner
– Luxurious body lotion
– Petite bottles of toner and facial moisturizer
– A CD of relaxing spa music
Got 5 Minutes? Create a Gift Basket!
The countdown to the wedding day often includes the rush to prepare gifts for special guests and family members. Thank goodness, then, for gift baskets—and buckets and hatboxes! With a thoughtful selection of gift items and a stylish presentation within the occasion’s theme, no one will ever guess they’re so easy and quick to put together.
I’m just in love with the beach bucket idea. We’re getting married on a yacht and I will be giving out little buckets filled with all sorts of themed goodies!
Does anybody know where I can get some small beach buckets? I am using them for an engagement party with a tropical theme. Filling the buckets with flipflops, a small face towel, and a sachet of chocolates!
That’s a great question. You can probably find buckets at places like Oriental Trading Co., but I also think that you can get them at stores like the 99 Cents Store, Michaels, or even Walmart.
Another great and easy way to use those wraps is to use fruits, nuts, or even granola mix. A healthy alternative to candy!
Luv the spa party box idea! Really great for a bridal shower. I’m thinking of doing something similar for my bridesmaids. Filling the boxes with their favorite pampering products from Body Shop. I’m also putting in some chocolates and cookies.