Happy Friday: Frugal Wedding Basket
Sent from reader, Kristen:
Hi Collin.! I just wanted to share the frugal wedding gift I recently created for my cousin’s wedding shower! I took a laundry basket, weaved a burlap ribbon through it, and filled it with goodies I scored for free or close to it!
I also came up with a little story for her future! And yes, I wish I could take credit but all credit goes to Pinterest!
HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀
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My oldest daughter just got married last month and she asked me if I would make a basket of “goodies” for the restroom. I found a nice size straw basket at goodwill and painted it, put a pretty cloth in it and stuffed it FULL with things that I paid next to NOTHING for like: bobby pins, shout-to-go pen, combs, brushes, sample aize mouthwash, those cute little toothbrushes with toothpaste in it, tums, Tylenol, lint roller, breath mints, lotions, lip balm, body spray, clip-on bug repellant, hair spray, needle and thread, butterscotch candy, really small bottles of water, and several other things that I can’t remember. The bridesmaids (as well as some guests) kept commenting on how awesome the basket was and my daughter was so happy with it too.
What an awesome idea. I will definitely use your idea for my daughters up and coming wedding.
Also suggest tooth floss. c: I needed hairspray at a wedding and would have LOVED to have found some in one of these baskets, as Kidsallgone included.
Basically, anything your ladies might need and not have with them could be useful here. Don’t know if the younger generation still wears hose/nylons to weddings, but if so, a bottle of clear nail polish (to stop any runs) could also be useful.
I did the same for a friends wedding, for more bath & female, it was a hit….although all the children took the packs of gum. The baskets I made were pretty big lol
I love this basket. And also that they said it was their favorite gift. I seem to stock up on extra products planning on giving it as a gift then never do. Your note was very cute.
This is a great Wedding shower or House warming gift, better than some junky crystal that you never wanted in the first place. I would buy a regular gift for the wedding or give money at the wedding but this is just perfect for a shower gift.
My thoughtful daughter gave me an adorable tot with several pockets. Each pocket had a sample goodie or coupon deal, even extra coupons! I loved it!!!!! People need to appreciate the thoughtfulness and not the price or if they requested it. That’s a spoiled self centered response to a gift! How would they feel if their gift was so rudely criticized? Sorry, had to state a fact! 🙂
One of my old coworkers was getting married & moving and she actually asked me for something similar sense she knew I did deals. I ended up getting her a mop bucket and filled it with a mop, dish towels, floor cleaner, multi surface spray, Lysol wipes, air fresheners, candles, dishwasher tabs, and a few other household things. Ties it with a bow and she loved it it all depends on what you need. I also made a diaper cake for my SILs first baby shower, and it was very special to her. I did a baby bathtub gift basket for her 2nd LO.
When my cousin and her fiance moved into their home I found a rectangular shaped basket and dived it in half by filling it up with his and hers themed gifts: razors, shaving cream, deodorant, bodywashes, battery operated toothbrushes, toothpaste, even small boxes of feminine products, and some candles, deluxe hand soaps, and snacks for the house. She absolutely adored it and couldn’t wait to show it off! It was kind of a last minute thing I thought she might like and I never would have guessed her reaction, it made me feel really good that my savings went to something she appreciated so much, sometimes it’s just the little things that count 🙂
This is so cute. Thanks for sharing your idea. My sister is getting married soon and i would love to make her this!! 😃
As I have gone through these comments I see how selfish and self-centered our nation has become! When my husband and I got married 8 years ago we received something similar and we were SO thankful. Every little thing helps when you are starting off with nothing. As one commenter stated above, ‘my mom raised me better than that!’ I was taught to be thankful for everything you receive and to never make someone feel ‘bad’ for something they GAVE you. My goodness that is totally selfish to say you wouldn’t want something like this…..and no we are not low class people. I have to say I’m blown away at the negative comments.
Great idea Kristen!
I thought it was a nice and thoughtful gift. I love gift baskets. And I am thankful for ANY gift that someone gives me– for whatever occasion. And nice for you to give an additional gift off their registry. I think registries have gotten out of hand and given ppl such a sense of entitlement. They are good for ppl if they have no clue what to get you, but being ungrateful bc you didn’t “register”‘for it? Glad we skipped this part– we eloped!
Well said!
Kristen, this gift is awesome. Whether or not you know the couple. Whatever their ages. Even if you didn’t also get something off their registry. Even if you didn’t use coupons. (Gasp.) The message is the real gift – the time you took to search Pinterest, customize it to the couple, clip/save/shop and assemble. The items that went along with the advice/sentiments were just bonus. Taking the time for things like this is rare and precious, no wonder it was their favorite gift. Memorable, practical, personalized and very clever. Bravo!!!
I love this! Not the best gift for every couple, but I think it’s great for many. And a big thumbs down to those greedy and selfish enough to turn their noses up to a thoughtful and well intentioned gift!
KRISTEN—
I love your idea! It is cute and thoughtful. The items are very useful and any gift a couple receives they should be grateful for. Everyone is entitled to their opinions about this, but unfortunately some people are rude about it and makes me wonder, “who peed in their Cheerios?” 🙂
When my cousin got engaged it was going to be a year before the wedding so I started with a container for each room, bucket for the garage, laundry basket or the washroom and so on. Hold on to your seat I was not much into couponing then about 10 years ago. Each time I went shopping I bought 1or 2 things extra on my list that was at least on sale toothpaste, a package of pens or scotch tape or the junk drawer, hangers for the closet, some food for the pantry anything and everything you could think of. By the time the wedding/bridal shower came around the containers got changed over to large moving boxes labeled for each room and then wrapped. Two 20 yr olds just moving out of their parents house on their own for the first time they needed everything.3 yrs latter when they told me they were pregnant she asked if I could do the same type of gift for the baby shower. I did
I love it!! I want one:)
I’ve been saving items to do this for the next baby shower I go to! I got a rattle from the clearance section at target, a box from citrus lane for $7, the free baby bottle with a $10 purchase toys r us, the onsie for $1 with that recent Hallmark credit, and that pile of baby items from the last costco freebie. It will probably be a while before I have someone to give them to, but I will have one of the best gifts there for a great price!
I have done the gift basket for three of my friends when they gave birth. I had loaded them with personal care items and they loved them. They all called me the next day and thanked me which made me feel good. I like the note though.`
Actually I think this is wonderful. To many times now you are getting invited to an engagement party, a wedding shower and then your to bring usually money to the actual wedding. If you go to all 3, it gets to be too much! The last wedding I was invited to they also included a thing online that you could help pay for their photographer. I think it’s crazy the stuff that people think they should get just because they are getting married. I got married when I was 20 (5 years ago!) which with starting off a life at 20 we had barely anything and I decided to just have a very small wedding shower (maybe 25 people) and I was so insanely grateful for the little bit I received.
I recently did this for my cousin’s bridal shower– but I made a “bridal emergency kit” for any last minute “issues” she and her bridal party may have on her big day (all of which I couponed for!). I included scissors, mending kit, bandaids, hairspray, deodorant, tylenol, pepto-bismol, bobby pins, hair ties, stain remover kit, lint roller, safety pins, nail file, nail polish remover, toothbrushs/toothpaste/mints, etc. I made an “emergency kit” for my wedding day and SOOO many items came in handy. For me, being prepared was so helpful in keeping calm! My cousin LOVED the gift, and was so thankful I took the time to make sure her big day ran smoothly.
I did this almost 10 years ago at a bridal shower for a friend of mine using all cleaning type products so they could set-up the house they were buying. My friend says that it is still the best shower gift that she got because everything came in really handy and saved them a lot of money. I even added a smoke detector for “don’t sound the alarm when something goes wrong” or something similar in the poem. It was really cute and several people asked me for the poem so they could reuse it at future showers.
What an awesome idea. Definitely I will use your idea