Baskets for your wedding guests are a nice touch for out-of-town guests or guests attending a destination wedding. Explore lots of ideas for themes and styles, such as morning coffee baskets, toiletries often needed or baskets filled with midnight snacks. With a little forethought, you can create the perfect gift baskets for special wedding guests.
Welcome Guest Baskets
Traveling for a wedding can get expensive for guests who choose to undertake the adventure. Let them know their presence is appreciated by creating a welcome basket that is given to them upon check-in at their hotel.
A guest basket does not have to be an actual basket. In fact, guests who are traveling may not appreciate a basket that is difficult to pack on a plane or stuff in a suitcase, only to find it crushed. Save wedding money and choose bags or totes that cost less and are easy to transport. Keep this idea in mind when choosing items for the basket, too. Items should be used during the wedding activities or be easily transported home.
Basket Themes
Save time and trouble by making all of the welcome baskets the same. Theme them around the overnight trip, the destination city, or incorporate the wedding theme itself into the basket.
The Overnighter
The easiest basket theme is one for overnight travel. Pack items that come in handy during a trip. Think of toiletries like toothbrushes, toothpaste, slipper socks, shower gel, travel shampoo and conditioner, lotion, hand sanitizer, and tissues or wipes. Children at weddings might enjoy a small coloring book or puzzle. A few tokens for the hotel arcade are another great way to keep kids entertained when no wedding activities are scheduled.
Welcome to City
Exotic and exciting cities are often the choice for destination weddings. Pick items out that reflect the theme of the city or area. Tropical soaps are perfect for beach weddings, while mittens and earmuffs will be appreciated at a ski lodge in January.
A map of the city, brochures to local attractions, and a list of recommended dining spots is perfect for a destination wedding. Couples who are getting married abroad might want to include a sheet with commonly used phrases in the native language, along with phonetic pronunciation tips.
Wedding Welcome
A wedding that has an overt themed can choose to fill a basket with items that relate back to the theme. Wedding supplies catalogs make it easy and affordable for couples to incorporate their theme into the guest baskets. Choose soaps, candies, wine glasses, and water bottle labels that all have particular graphics, colors, or sayings that are throughout the wedding. Just be sure not to duplicate any wedding reception favors that will be given out after the ceremony.
Items for Wedding Guest Baskets
A wedding guest basket should always include a personal thank you for coming wedding poem from the bride and groom. A little handwritten message will make guests feel special.
Items that are perfect for any wedding welcome basket include:
- Homemade cookies
- Mini water bottles
- Mints or gum
- Fresh fruit (apples, oranges, pears)
- Aspirin
- Gift certificate to a local diner
- Breakfast bars
- Wedding itinerary
- Maps and directions for wedding activities, like wedding rehearsal dinner and reception
- Stain remover pen or wipes
- Mini sewing kit
- Gourmet coffee or cocoa
The amount of items and expense of items put into the baskets depends upon not only the wedding budget, but also how many guests are coming from out of town. A large budget with small guest list will allow couples to include additional items, like movie tickets or museum admission, while that budget will not go as far when double the guests are staying at the hotel. Plan the baskets accordingly.
Put the baskets or bags together several days before the wedding. Call the hotel(s) to find out exactly how many rooms were booked under the reserved block, and make a few extra. Drop the baskets off 24 hours before the first guest's expected arrival. Make sure that the hotel staff understands which guests are to get the baskets when they check-in.
Wedding guest baskets are a lovely gesture for greeting guests that have come from afar. Busy brides and grooms can even order Welcome to Our Wedding Gift Baskets from companies online if they are in a pinch. Whether homemade or purchased, the gift will be much appreciated by guests who have traveled to the wedding.
