James Allen News Center

So you're tying the knot and you've invited friends and family from near and far to attend your wedding. It's a nice idea to have some surprise wedding gifts for your out-of-town guests to welcome their arrival. After all, they've made an effort to come to your wedding.

Show your out-of-town guests you care by dropping off some goodies in their hotel room or wherever they are staying.  Gift baskets are fun and easy to make. And you can personalize them for each guest. Keep in mind that gift baskets don’t need to be expensive. You can shop for items at discount stores and even make some of the treats yourself!

Here are some ideas on what to incorporate in your wedding guests’ gift baskets.

• Sweets: you can’t go wrong with sugared surprises. Fine chocolates, coated almonds, cookies, and mints are a sure way to sweeten your guests’ arrival. If your guests have young children, include some fun candy like colorful and fizzy treats or fruit-flavored jellybeans.


• Scented Delights: after hours on a crowded airplane or a long drive, your guest will definitely want to relax and freshen up. Nothing beats a beautiful bar of handmade, organic soap and some aromatic shower gel. You can even include some samples of facial products such as face masks, moisturizer, and toner.


• Wine: It made sound extravagant, but your guests deserve the best. Consider including a small bottle of quality wine. After all, what gift basket is complete without an alcoholic beverage?


• Salty: You can’t have sweets without the salt. And your guests will need something to nosh on with their wine. Some favorite salty treats include: roasted nuts, pretzel sticks, and baked potato crisps.


• Night on the Town: When your guests aren’t attending your wedding, they are going to want to explore the sights and sounds of your city. Include a map with a list of local hot spots and consider helping them out by treating them to a movie or local play. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to find two tickets to an entertaining event with a caring note attached?

These ideas are meant to inspire you in your gift basket artistry. Invite some girlfriends over, if you need the company, and get started!