Wedding Gift Craft Ideas/Shower Cookies

[marshalynne]

Does anyone have any unique ideas for a homemade Wedding gift? My best friend is getting married and besides the gifts I have purchased from her registry, I would like to make her something special. Also, I'm looking for some cookie ideas to give to the guests at her shower. They would be to take home like a favor or something like that. Any help would be appreciated. You guys have some of the greatest ideas! Thanks in advance.

Marsha

[Luv to Cook]

You are so sweet for trying to give a personal gift. What about a pre-wedding scrapbook. Include all the pictures from the events prior to her wedding. Include the invitations from the events. Press some of the flowers and other decorations from her bridal shower. Put pictures of the food served. Use ribbon cuttings from the gifts she received. Or pictures of your years together growing up.

Another thing to do is videotape everything for her. Not just her showers and luncheons, but from her dress fitting, to the seating arrangement decisions. That way she will have memories of everything leading up to her wedding.

Another idea is to get 12 of your favorite pics and take them to Kinko's. You can get a calendar made using your pictures. Makes a personal and practical gift.

You could also have her wedding invitation framed or engraved into sterling silver. I think Tiffany's does a good job of this.

Hope these help!

Anita

[marshalynne]

Wow! Those are some great ideas! Thanks Anita.

[SusieO]

How about a fabric-covered photo album with satin and lace? They're fairly easy to make, and you don't need a whole lot of supplies. You can find patterns at craft or fabric stores.

For cookies, I would suggest biscotti. There were several wonderful recipes in the November 2000 issue of CL.

You're very thoughtful to want to do such nice things for your friend. Enjoy all of the wedding and pre-wedding festivities! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[ama47369]

I had out of town friends staying at our place for the wedding. So, in the hurry of the pre-wedding activities, and wrappings from gifts, the apartment was a mess. When we returned from our honeymoon, my best friends had cleaned the place, left fresh flowers and a basket with a bottle of wine, some really good pasta and sauce, some pans that I had wanted, the How to Cook Everything cookbook, and a few other things. It was so nice to come home to a clean place with flowers and the basket(I love those heart felt gifts).

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Amanda

[This message has been edited by ama47369 (edited 06-03-2001).]

[schuh]

I have a Pampered Chef cookie press and it has a mold for an umbrella. You could give out umbrella-shaped spritz cookies.

[KathrynY]

I love the pre-wedding photo idea. For my best friend, I put together a small album of photos taken throughout the day leading up to her wedding. The pictures from the salon while we were getting our hair and nails done are hilarious!

A little off-topic, but a great shower idea: I recently attended a shower where the hostess created on her computer a spreadsheet-style chart that listed each guest's name and address, with a box next to each to record the gift they brought. While the gifts were being unwrapped, a friend filled in each gift description box on the spreadsheet. When the bride-to-be left the shower, she took the spreadsheet with her and had all of the information needed in order to write thank-you notes.

[SandyM]

My best friend (also my maid of honor) made me my garter (not the throwing one, but my own personal) and my handkerchief, personalized with my initials and colors of my wedding.

When she got married, I was her matron of honor, and while I have no sewing skills whatsoever, I had a dear friend make the garter and handkerchief for me to give to her, personalized. I still have mine, 14 years later, and I treasure it.

While not an expensive gift, it's certainly of great sentimental value.

[Kerri]

For every wedding I have ever been in (and this year, that is a lot) I have made a Kerri's greatest hits cookbook. I copy all my favorite recipes and stick them in a photo album. I write comments, tips, times I have made that recipe for them, etc on the recipe for a personal touch. I finish it off with dividers for the different sections. It is a lot of work (I think in the future I will just make a permenent set of recipes with generic comments and advice and then bind it at Kinko's) and I probably break a whole bunch of copyright laws (sorry CL-but I usually give them a subscription too!), but it is something that no one else can give them. For presents in the future, I can always give supplements!

[madpots]

When I got married (many years ago) my aunt made cookies in the shape of a bell and tied little white ribbon bows at the top and put a silver dragoo (is that the proper word) for the clapper. I have made them using 2 bells. Takes a little time but they are attractive.

[hka]

Oh my gosh, these ideas are sooo cool! I wish I had a shower to go to just so I could use them. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I recently gave my friend a baby shower and wanted to do a favor for everyone. I would have done the cookie idea with a baby theme had I thought of it. Oh well, I'm sure I'll be able to use that idea in the future. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[marshalynne]

You guys are the best! I think I will do the scrapbook with pictures, a mini version of the cookbook (maybe I can have her family email me some of their favorites too!) and the cookies. I would love to surprise her with a meal a clean house but..get this..she put her house on the market and it was sold in a week! She is quite stressed as she figured it would take some time to sell. The wedding is in July, she has no where to live, and the closing date is coming soon. She and her future husband may have to stay with her parents until they find a temporary place or buy a home! Talk about stress!! Thanks everyone. By the way, I just realized..I'M A MEMBER NOW!