Gift Baskets & Welcome Gifts

Looking for the perfect idea for a welcome gift?
We've got a tactical plan for you...
to create a great gift.

#1- Consider how many you will need (who will receive them)

bridal party
hotel guests
out of town guests
reception guests
children's activity bags
vendors
parents

#2- Consider how they will be distributed

Are you handing them out?
Will the hotel distribute them at the desk? 
Will they be displayed on a table to grab?

#3- Consider what the recipients have done up to this point in the day.

Have they been traveling all day? Are they hungry? Thirsty? Tired, maybe they could use bath salts.

Kids who are bored would love a mini coloring book and crayons, candy that takes forever to chew but they won't choke on is awesome for quiet too :)

A box with a bottled water, a Cliff Bar, mints, a soda or iced coffee and a thank you note- would be awesome for vendors.

#4- Consider what is unique about your location or your event

Location themed baskets for hotel guests as they arrive. 

Colorado almond toffee, Eldorado Spring water with a note about Altitude, a pair of New Belgium Beers

Utah- Bath salts from the salt flats, Honey, from local bees with Tea to go with it, a cute Utah Rocks! key chain.

Or consider your event...

A dessert reception could send guests home with a bag of nuts, crackers and sparkling water for a late night snack.

A mountain wedding could include waters and hiking maps.

Tailor it to you! You're guests will love it! Think snacks, drinks, tips, relaxation and fun (playing cards anyone?)

#5- Consider budget

Notice how this wasn't first? Ahh, what a relief! You can create a perfect gift no matter the budget.

A great note with a warm welcome and local hot spots is fine if your budget is tight.

The dollar store may have great plain bags you can use.

Check your receipt at craft stores, they often have a coupon attached you could use for boxes and ribbons.

Check Pinterest for great creative ideas that won't break the bank.

#5- Time & Temp

How long will they last? Are they perishable?
If so plan ahead all you can and have someone else add the perishable items at the last minute.
Do they need to be kept cool? Melted chocolates aren't so great.

Useful Favors

Favors can be overwhelming for many people. What to give and how to make so many is often a bit much to deal with. It often comes at a time when you are beginning to be overdone with so many details.

Here are some guidelines-

#1
You do not have to give favors. Really. Your budget is much better spent on food, drink and music.

#2
Favors began as something useful that your guests needed and that you as a wonderful host provided. Often with a very cute tag to let them know what newly married couple thought of their needs. Most favors were often matchbooks that your guests could carry around with them to smoke. Now that we know this leads to lung cancer it has thankfully not been the gift anymore. "No thank you- enabler!"

#3
Consider your event and 'walk through it' as a guest will. Think about what they might need or enjoy during your event or on the way home.
Some ideas...

• A very cold bottle of water for the road. Fill a galvanized bin with bottles of water (specially labeled if you have the time.) Then pour ice over them and place them conveniently on the way to the parking lot for your guests to grab.
• A fan for your guests is the perfect gift if your church lacks AC. You do not have to have them for all guests but it can be a very sweet gesture to provide some. "We're aware it's hot, we're sorry. We love you"
• Crayons and a mini coloring book might be a great idea if there will be lots of kids. Especially if you think there will be lots of sitting for them and no room to run around.
• A bag for your guests staying at a hotel might be very helpful after a long flight. Include a small bag of nuts or trail mix. A little bag of m&ms and a bottled ice tea or lemonade. A thoughtful note of the best places to go for an ice cream, coffee or pre-event snack is great as they will not have to spend their energy trying to find something good.

Think through your event like a guest and see if you can provide something for them to make their day or weekend nicer. If your budget doesn't allow for presents for them, notes of help are great. Schedules, phone numbers, restaurants, etc.

Show your guests how happy you are that they've come and that you truly want them to enjoy your event too.

Nevermind, Just Send Gifts.

Former UCLA Basketball Coach Steve Lavin is getting married to actress Mary Jarou.
They have some great ideas for your wedding!


1. Pick a drop dead gorgeous resort location.
2. Invite everyone you ever met with an engraved invite.
3. Register at Tiffanys and Lexus.4.send an email and let them all know you changed your mind and you don’t want them to come.
(Be sure to include an address to mail your gifts to you at.)

You think we’re kidding?

Following is their actual email.
I don’t believe in Karma but this must have serious repercussions.
~
Update from the Jarou/Lavin wedding headquarters in Newport Beach. Unexpectedly we have received a stunning 95% RSVP on sent out wedding invitations. As a result, our wedding guest list has far exceeded the maximum capacity for a traditional ceremony and reception at The Montage Resort. After giving serious consideration to alternative plans we have decided the best option at this late stage is to head to Europe to create a magical wedding day. Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconveniences this change in our wedding plans may have caused you. We are sorry that we will not be able to share our big day with family and friends. We will be sure to send you photos of our wedding upon our return from Europe. Please confirm that you received this email. Thanks in advance for your understanding. Warm regards, Steve & Mary
~

To translate…
“I wanted you all to know about the hottie I’m marrying and wanted you to send us a fab gift, didn’t think you’d really spring for it, oops.”

We have some more ideas for the etiquette challenged.

go to the resorts web page and send an e-card http://www.montagelagunabeach.com/newepostcards/ecard.php?clear=1

Send them a gift card (http://www.montageshops.com/giftcards.php) and tell them "Here hope this pays the taxes on your room you already booked."

Just stick a post-it note to their office door “Hey, the bash is off, Steve”

These people are idiots.
Emily Post is rolling in her grave as we speak.


thanks to the following for finding the story first.
http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2007/7/9/154310/7296
http://www.withleather.com/post.phtml?pk=3318

by the way… if you like the pictures goto http://www.montagelagunabeach.com/index.html and book yourself a room, I hear they have openings.

A Little Creativity

Fan Programs:
1. Print pages
2. Cut into 5 equal triangles
3. Punch a hole in the bottom
4. Secure with a pretty rivet from your local fabric store

A little thought and a lot of cutting and you'll have a detail to remember.

Great Idea
Guest's will love it.

Our only advice. Consider the time... 1 looks cool. 100 gets annoying to cut.

Favors and Placecards

Your placecards and favors are one of the details at your wedding where you can get creative. If you're a pilot, an air traffic controller or even just an airplane aficionado you could do something similar to the picture on the left.

It's a good idea to arrange placecards alphabetically with the table number on the back, also like the picture on the left. This will help you to avoid everyone circling the tables trying to find their placecards, and it will prevent someone getting to the table 6 first and switching your know-it-all aunt Sophie to a different table.

When it comes to favors keep it simple and elegant. You don't want your guests to feel like they just got something out of a Cracker Jack box, but at the same time you can't afford to buy everyone a pair of diamond earrings. (If you're reading this Oprah, it doesn't apply to you.)

Just To Inspire- Kids

Occasionally we will give you some great pictures just because they are soooo cool.

Oh, and also because more pictures equals less writing.


Kids love it when there is anything especially for them.

Plus, they are quieter when distracted.

The Cost of a Guest

How much does it cost to invite a guest to your wedding? If you haven’t thought about it, now is a good time to do so. Here are some categories to think about and a ballpark figure to do some preliminary calculations.

• Caterer $45


• Alcohol $25


• Cake $7


• Stationary $5


• Rentals $16 (Chair $8, Table $1, Linens $2, Place Setting $5)


• Centerpiece $8 (Flowers, Candles, etc.)


• Favors $4


• Shuttle Service $2


• Staff $6

All totaled up that’s almost $120 per wedding guest! Which means that the cost for inviting your cousin, his wife and their two kids to your wedding is fast approaching $500 – and the kids probably won’t even eat the food, let alone like it!

Parents who are footing the bill for a wedding are notorious for adding long lost relatives to the guest list and then grumbling that the budget has ‘mysteriously’ increased since the last time they were consulted. In reality, there’s nothing mysterious about it at all: E=MC squared and MG=M$ (More Guests = More Money).
Perhaps you should think of your guest list as an investment, sure invite the rich uncle who doesn’t know what to do with his money, but you might want to think twice before you invite that broke cousin who gave your sister the pastel green candy dish… or was that a single martini glass? I guess the ambiguity is part of the charm.