How to Create Beautiful Wedding Welcome Baskets
One of the great blessings of my life
is having a mom who gives gifts that look and feel like a work of art. How can I describe, without sounding boastful, my enchanted childhood? When a little girl has a mother like mine, everything that surrounds her is sweet, gentle, graceful, and pure.
Everything, from the clouds of tulle that float above her canopy bed, to her lovely doll collection. The littlest details of my girlhood were exquisite—my pretty hair ribbons, my whimsical wardrobe, even the peanut butter and honey sandwiches in my school lunches, bore the imprint of my mother’s love. Every day, I received a little a note in her beautiful handwriting, telling me I was loved. And I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was true.
I do not have my mother’s special touch on life—her gift of grace, of charis, the ‘it factor’ that defines everything she does. Her taste is exquisite, beyond anyone’s. But it’s more than that: when she gives you a gift, you feel she has seen inside your soul. No one has ever understood me like this, you think, as you unwrap something so tender and personal, and feel, for one unadulterated moment, that you are adored.
Although I will never have the gift in the same way she does, being the daughter of such a mother has instilled in me a love for the art of gift giving. Of extending something so pure and sweet to others, they bask in the beauty of it for days afterward. She gives these gifts also to those who are not particularly receptive to or appreciative of them, and yet she continues to extend the gesture, elegant and unperturbed. A beautiful spiritual parable, if ever there were one. This, more than anything else, defines the essence of the gift: this giving with no expectation of thanks or reciprocity.
All of this brings me to the wedding welcome basket: a most elegant opportunity to express grace and gratitude.
“In their highest form, they are an utterly charming expression of grace and gratitude."
I adore these baskets, everything about them. In a world that is so frequently complicated and disappointing, these little gifts are simply lovely, uncomplicated, and sweet. They offer a moment of reprieve from the more stressful and self-consuming aspects of wedding planning. How freeing it is, to momentarily leave behind those cares about décor and dress fittings and simply think of others. Assembling these little baskets, we receive a poignant reminder of how God’s design is truly the best for our souls. Serving others gives us the freedom and peace we yearn for. If we yearn for loveliness, the best way to guarantee it, is to give it away.
Wedding welcome baskets bless the recipient and the giver both, as they are a delight to curate, with their endless opportunities for personalization. Imagine a basket filled not only with lovely treats, like fine teas and exquisitely piped cookies, but also personalized paper goods, like an illustrated map of your wedding destination. These baskets are a token of goodwill, a visually gorgeous display of good etiquette. In their highest form, they are an utterly charming expression of grace and gratitude.
Read on for Chapel Journal’s guide to wedding welcome basket curation, including the essentials every basket should include, and elegant upgrades that will lift your basket to forever-keepsake status.
Destination Flavor
Above all, your welcome basket should communicate the aesthetic and essence of your wedding location. An Aspen-centered wedding welcome basket would involve fur and velvet, hot cocoa and who knows, luxe leather gloves or ski passes. A Kiawah Island basket, on the other hand, would be preppy, beachy, powder blue, and brimming with that Low Country, Southern charm. A welcome basket is a design moment and is, above all, an introduction to your destination. It should exude the style and feeling of your location, with thoughtfulness, charm, and a bit of humor.
Photography, from top left to bottom right: Top Left: Photography by Larissa Cleveland Photography, custom cookie design by Jasmine Lilly Creative; Top Right: Chapel Journal illustration by Emily Mayne edited by Emily Wells; Bottom Left and Bottom Right: Photography by Jose Villa Photography, Planning and Hosting by Laurie Arons Special Events, Floral Design by Honey of a Thousand Flowers- Sarah Winward, Styling by Daniel Tran.
Photography: Larissa Cleveland Photography, Cookie Design: Jasmine Lilly Creative.
2. Something Sweet
If your Instagram feed looks anything like mine, then you already spend a great deal of time absorbed by the frosting art and by the fascinating processes of talented cookiers (how soothing is it to watch someone expertly pipe a cookie?). I marvel at the talent and patience of these designers, imagining the wonder that would overcome me if I ever were to receive or even see these cookies in person. A delicately designed cookie suite carries the essence of a childhood dream or a storybook illustration— something gentle, innocent, dreamlike, and pure. Most poignant is the cookie artistry of Hartwork Cookie Co., a designer who shares her faith with such sweetness. From graceful chapels to crosses and doves, her cookies beautifully express the simplicity and purity, the wonder and majesty, of the Gospel. How beautiful it would be to share one’s faith in such a lovely way, as a gift to wedding guests— a sweet little cookie with a life-transforming message of grace.
Cookie design and photos by Hartwork Cookie Co.
“a sweet little cookie with a life-transforming message of grace.”
These intricate cookies will make a wedding welcome basket look and feel like a surprising, delightful, and deeply personal work of art. How apt they are to embody a wedding’s aesthetic, color palette, style, and essence. Picture emerald and tartan cookies for Ireland, and ice skating and skiing scenes for St. Moritz.
And if you’re marrying in Vail, please adorn your cookies with The Golden Bear—the symbol of Vail Valley and a design that, frankly, would make for the most adorable cookie of all time.
Photos, from top left to right: Top Two Images from Pinterest, images uncredited and sources unknown; Bottom Left: SweetAmbs, Bottom Right: Shuler Studio (visit their Pinterest page here).
Photo & cookies by Catherine Marie Cake as featured on Love Catherine
3. Something Salty or Savory
Round out your treat basket with a little something salty, whether a designer popcorn (my savory treat of choice), pretzel kit, nut mix, or a retro bag of chips. Nothing is quite as beautiful as a fragrant, crusty baguette, especially if you are designing a picnic hamper, and especially if your wedding is in France. Olive oil loaves or cakes are lovely for Greek and Italian weddings.
When sourcing packaged items, make sure these have some personality (no generic name brands, please) and, if possible, a dash of local flavor. It may seem silly to say that a bag of chips could add to (or take away from) your welcome bag aesthetic, but trust.
If I could include one nonnegotiable ‘must’ for this (and other welcome basket items): please remove labels!
Cover water bottles, treat packages, and more with a personalized label bearing your wedding crest or venue painting. (Some exceptions apply to recognizable or designer labels, like those on a champagne, rosé lemonade, or Pellegrino bottle). If you follow no other piece of advice, please follow this one— custom labels will lend your wedding welcome basket a certain cachet, an extra bit of polish and finish.
Watercolor artistry and gift design by The Welcoming District as seen on her blog here.
Photography by Molly Carr and illustration by Every Little Letter as featured on Martha Stewart.
4. Something Refreshing
Never underestimate how direly your guests will want something to drink on arrival. The moment someone anticipates and provides exactly what is most helpful and needed— oh, this is one of those small acts of grace that makes all the difference. Bottled water is a must, but make sure it’s a pretty bottle (extra points if you have a custom label made with your wedding crest or venue painting!!). Remove generic labels, and consider a sparkling option for an added air of luxury. And for British locations (or any sophisticated wedding destination), a luxe breakfast, herbal, or blended tea is always a thoughtful inclusion.
Photography | Left: Jenny Quicksall, Right: Photography: Ashley Rae Studio, Event Planning and Event Design: Brooke Nicole Events.
5. Custom Stationery
A custom stationer can create some of the most lovely and welcoming pieces of your welcome basket-- and of the overall guest experience. This is where working with a custom illustrator is so valuable. How beautiful would it be if, tucked inside your guests’ welcome basket, there was an illustrated map of your destination? Along with historic landmarks and gorgeous natural scenery, an illustrator can even include destinations that are personal to you and your fiancé—whimsical little details that reveal your personalities, love story, and hosting style. Imagine a watercolor map of the Amalfi coast, with terracotta homes and chapels carved into lush hillsides, and sweeping seaside view. Such a map would include the location of the world’s best pizza, and daytrips that lead to ancient vineyards and lush rose gardens.
Photos | Left: stationery by Emily Mayne Studio; Right: photo by Ashley Ludaescher, stationery by Jolly Edition.
Perhaps, instead, you give guests a wintery map of Vail. The finest ski runs are marked on mountain peaks and an enchanting village reveals best après scenes, shopping, outdoor ice skating, and opportunities for hot cocoa. There could be no more delightful way to welcome guests and foster anticipation for the weekend to come.
Left: Photography: Laura Murray Photography, Invitation and Paper Goods by Maeve and Peach Paper Goods; Right: Photography: This Modern Romance.
6. A ‘Thank You’ Note
Along with custom maps, a short and sweet welcome note always adds grace to these motifs. Thank your guests for supporting you during this special and sacred time. Be sure to add your personalized wedding crest wherever appropriate; these look particularly beautiful on wax seals that adorn letters, paper goods, and even pretty snack packages. A wedding crest is like the proverbial Ralph Lauren polo player or Louis Vuitton monogram, a design that brands your wedding and immediately captures the essence and style of your event. It also acts as a particularly chic signature with which to close beautiful letters.
I love the idea of working with your calligrapher to write a Bible verse with special meaning—one, perhaps, that expresses your love and gratitude for your guests and the support they’ve shown you.
Chapel Journal Illustrations by Emily Mayne Studio, right photo edit by Emily Wells.
7. A Luxury Wearable
For ultra-luxe baskets, a fashion item is a beautiful inclusion. Pashminas are particularly beautiful for winter weddings, and feel so welcoming: something a guest would genuinely love to wrap up in. Imagine finding, in your winter basket, an opulent fur or faux fur headband, a pair of shearling earmuffs, or fur-trimmed winter gloves— how unbearably chic.
The options hardly end there. A cashmere robe, a pair of leather gloves, a coveted pair of slippers (looking at you, The Row)—how special a guest would feel to receive any of these! When it comes to fashion, as when sourcing any welcome basket item, keep the destination in mind. A bit of Burberry for Britain; for Scotland, a black watch plaid; for Montana, something very-prairie chic, like a bolo tie, along the lines of what a Ralph Lauren muse would wear.
Left: wool scarf with shearling pockets, Right: smooth fur headband, both by Pologeorgis.
8. Something Experience-Driven
Whenever you imagine certain destinations, your mind instantly drifts to a specific place: a childhood river, a secret meadow, a covered bridge. How lovely it is, to let guests in on the secret places, the things that make a place precious and pure. Invite them into your daydreams and memories by including, for instance, a package of flower seeds from a favorite botanical garden. This little fragment of your story will add something so heartfelt and sweet to the gift—a deeply personal touch that even the most luxury item could never aspire to.
9. Dried Flowers
Dried botanicals are among the most ethereal and expressive florals of all. Best of all, dried bouquets last forever, giving them an heirloom-ready quality. How lovely it is to give a gift which can be kept forever, a gift which hints of everlasting things— of love which has no beginning and which will have no end.
When I tuck a dried bouquet into a package, it feels as though I am giving something precious, something with storybook grace. Like a treasure found in an attic, a chest concealing secret love letters, or a diary with flowers pressed between its pages; ancient memory of a meadow. Dried flowers have nearly endless interpretive potential and are able to express a range of styles, whether romantic and feminine, bohemian and undone, reminiscent of a wild desert, or of something that belongs in a museum. I imagine a blue bouquet with preserved thistle for Scottish weddings, a pastel pink plumed bouquet for Palm Springs, and a candlelight colored bouquet with feathery ferns and starflowers— an angelic cloud of flowers— for winter chapel weddings.
10. A Soft Fabric
Line baskets with a yard or so of linen, sheer or plant-dyed silk, or cheesecloth. Fabric will not only protect your precious gifts, but also add a romantic, undone feeling to baskets. Look to your table styling for inspiration, and pay homage to the color, texture, pattern, and feeling of your table linens.
Left: Laura Gordon Photography, Right: Silk and Willow
11. A Tchotchke
A bit of humor—nothing too overt—is always cute, especially if your guest list is small and tight-knit and you all just get one other. You can include a little trinket or souvenir that feels destination-specific, or, if you’re close, something that’s a bit of an inside joke. You’ll make everyone feel knit together-- a part of something special. If your guest list is particularly long or formal, consider keeping these humorous gifts to your inner circle (i.e. your wedding party). No need to fluster a great- aunt who won’t really get whatever it is.
Looking for cute ideas?
London: a raincoat-wearing Paddington Bear (hopefully carrying a suitcase full of marmalade sandwiches) or plush Harrods teddy; a tin of shortbread, or “Press for Champagne” button on a custom cookie. Or, you could always go with a gift I received from London, among the weirdest, most winsome trinkets I’ve seen: a keychain with a Buckingham Palace Guardsman who intermittently bursts into a rousing rendition “Rule Britannia” (Is this somehow adorable and hilarious, or is it just me? Just me, I think).
Scandinavia: Swedish Dala horse, felt Scandinavian heart
Ireland: costume Claddagh ring, four leaf clover charm, or sweet Irish blessing
Mexico: Handmade maracas, or a garment, pouch, or bag crafted with gorgeous, handmade huipil fabric
Telluride, Crested Butte, Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge: The ubiquitous “Moose/beaver/husky/polar bear in a can” toy that’s sold in literally every ski resort gift shop ever. iykyk.
Misc.: Ornaments, nesting dolls, charms, fans.
Givenchy and Scottish Highlands Piper teddies, both from Harrods
12. Something Revitalizing
A healing lip balm, a tin of mints, a little something from the spa— these tiny treats will make such a difference in a guest’s experience. Think of the littlest things that uplift your own day, and gift accordingly. I love a Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer (always in champagne), rosé eye gel masks, and mints with L-Theanine, natural caffeine, and B-Vitamins— all perfect little indulgences for plane-weary travelers. See Chapel Journal’s Amazon Wedding Welcome Basket Gift Guide at the very end of the post for more!
13. The Basket Itself
Carefully consider not only the contents of your gift, but the basket itself, which acts as the equivalent of beautiful gift wrapping. An elegant choice of welcome basket will reflect the season, setting, and style of your wedding. Whether it’s a monogrammed tote, picnic hamper, rattan basket, or wintery, velveteen pouch, the basket or bag itself is part of the gift and is pivotal to the design.
Left: Photography by Ashley Boyan Photography
When I reflect on some of the loveliest gifts I’ve ever received, the gift experience began with the packaging— the first, exquisite impression. A truly set apart gift will inspire the recipient to unwrap it slowly, admiring the ribbon, the box, the paper. All the senses will be engaged and delighted. Certain brands are especially adept at creating a sense of expectation: I think, for instance, of what it feels like to open a little blue Tiffany’s box, or to unwrap a beribboned, mint green Ladurée box. One feels a sense of ceremony, such a lost art in this modern age. I once ordered a Valentine’s sweet collection from a pastry artist, and while the contents of the package were enchanting, it is the wrapping I remember— hand-painted by the artist herself with an elaborate toile design in chocolate and mauve. And when I ordered dresses from a favorite brand, Lillou, I opened a powder blue box to find a piece of stationery, illustrated with a regal crest, encircled by floral details and ribbon bows. On it was a note addressed to the “feminine & ethereal hearts” who are drawn to the line, with a wish that each dress would “be a transcendent daydream for the romantic old soul in a modern world.” While this message was simply a ‘thank you’ enclosed with an invoice, the magic was real: I felt as though I had been transported to the 19th century and had instead received a letter to a grand ball. I’ll keep the dresses for seasons and seasons, but I have also kept the note, tucked away in a special drawer where I keep ribbons, letters, and small vials of perfume.
When it comes to welcome basket packaging, imagine a flower foraging bag adorned with silk ribbon for the French countryside; a picnic hamper with deep emerald liner and tartan fabric for Ireland; a velveteen or fur-trimmed tote for St. Moritz. When we receive a beautiful gift, we sometimes find that we cannot part with the box itself. We hold onto the little blue Tiffany’s box or the chocolate brown Hermès ribbon forever. When thoughtfully chosen, your wedding welcome basket can likewise take on such poetic and sentimental value that your guests hold onto always, a treasured keepsake and reminder of a beautiful event.
Top Left to Bottom Right: Top Left: photo by Lauren Fair Photography, Top Right: Photography by KT Merry as seen on Martha Stewart; Bottom Left: Photography by Maïlys Fortune Photography, Bottom Right: Shanell Photography.
May your wedding welcome baskets surprise and move every recipient with a sense of loveliness and of grace.
Click here to shop our Amazon Wedding Welcome Basket Guide, or click the individual images below:
