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Affordable Wedding Gift Idea: DIY Gift Baskets


Invited to a wedding but dreading the gift shopping? While online wedding gift registries can make gift shopping more convenient, it can come with an expensive price tag. Of course you can always buy something small (like a spatula?) but the couple will know exactly how much you spent. So what should you do? Try a thoughtful gift basket filled with things they love. If done right, your gift basket will look like a huge expensive present and the thoughtfulness and time you spent putting it together will make it a truly memorable gift. Not sure what to include in your DIY gift basket? Check out some of our suggestions below!
Love this breakfast/cooking-themed gift basket from the helpful article "50 DIY Gift Basket Ideas to Inspire All Kinds of Gifts." Check it out for more great ideas on gift basket themes and gift items!

Choose a theme
When putting together a gift basket, it’s a good idea to choose a theme. For example, if the couple is very outdoor-sy put together a picnic basket filled with things they could use on an outdoor date. Things like 2 packages of trail mix, 2 protein bars, a bottle of wine or champagne, maybe a gift card to subway, a canteen/thermos/reusable plastic water bottles, key chain of a place they’ve traveled and like, matching bandanas, head lamps, chap stick, cozy flannel blanket, hats, or other inexpensive items you can think of.

Are the happy couple into movies? Add some flavored popcorn, hot cocoa, funny mugs, doughnuts, M&Ms and other movie candy, movie tickets, coffee, soda, slippers, etc.

Beach lovers? Matching towels or towels that are personalized in some way(cats print towel, princess towel, you get the idea!), flip flops, sunscreen, beach bag for the basket, Frisbee, funny sunglasses, fun soda or hard lemonades, visors, travel cooler, etc.

Fill the basket
Choose items that are useful and/or personally meaningful to the couple that fit your chosen theme. Choose one or a couple of items to splurge on and then fill the rest in with other inexpensive items. Food is always a great go-to for gift baskets—and it is super affordable. Think carefully about the gift basket itself-it doesn’t have to be a basket. Like in the example above, you could use a nice beach bag for the basket. If you do go the traditional basket route- try looking for baskets in a second-hand store to save some money.

Presentation is everything     
After selecting the right basket and items to include it is very important to take the time to display the items in a visually appealing way. In the bottom of the basket place packing peanuts, shipping air bags, crumpled up shipping paper, a cardboard box, something to raise the items in the basket up high enough that all can be seen at a glance—without digging. Next prop up items with bubble mail filling or crumpled up paper and carefully lay sheets of tissue paper, colorful paper shredding, or natural basket filling fibers on top to cover up the stuffing. Arrange your items so they can all be seen usually placing taller items in back and progressing up to smaller items in front. Place your splurge items in a prominent place so attention goes straight to them. Don’t be afraid to give the items space and choose a larger basket. Finally wrap up the entire basket full of items in cellophane with a nice bow on top (clear plastic tape works great to help gather the cellophane). A thoughtful gift (without breaking the bank) to surprise the happy couple.


Lets see yours! Share your gift basket photos and ideas in comments below.

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