Who is that discerning person in your life who likes the finer things? It could be your father, your boss, even your mother in law. Are they hard to buy for? Sometimes it can be intimidating to buy a gift for someone like that, can’t it? Wine gift baskets could prove to be that perfect gift for that special person. Giving a wine basket shows that you have great taste. There are many online retailers that carry wine gift baskets. Let them put one together for you, or you can choose the things to go in it. Give a gift with class.


Think of some things that you celebrate- birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and promotions. How do you usually celebrate them? If you are like my family it involves going out to dinner and spending time with one another. If your celebrations are becoming predictable, why not try to mix things up a bit? Wine gift baskets are a perfect way to start a celebration. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines celebrate as “to observe a notable occasion with festivities”. What better way to kick off a celebration than with a little wine? Wine gift baskets contain all you need to celebrate your occasion with style.

Traditionally wedding favors were small boxes or bags of almonds or chocolates. Whilst these are still popular today, many brides are choosing wedding favors with a more modern feel. Indeed, the wedding favor industry now provides brides with so much choice & variety it is no wonder many find choosing the right items an overwhelming experience.

So what can you expect to find in terms of modern wedding favors?

Well let’s start with edible favors. These include:

Luxury handmade chocolates or truffles, Candies & lollipops, Mints, Miniature cakes, Cookies, Coffee & tea, Hot chocolate, Cocktail mixes, Personalized M & M’s, Miniature bottles of spirits, wine or champagne

Then we come to decorative items:

Photoframes, Coasters, Figurines, Paperweights, Snow Globes, Bud vases, Mint julep cups

Or how about functional wedding favors:

Miniature graters, Measuring spoons, Pizza cutters, Espresso cups, Bottle Stoppers, Bookmarks, Corkscrews, Tape measures, Salt & Pepper Pots, Honey pots

What if you are having a themed wedding?

Cinderella’s slippers, carriage, castle or pumpkin in the form of photoframes or candles. Crowns & tiaras in the form of candle holders, Hearts & roses for a romantic theme, Seasonal, such as leaf shaped bookmarks or snowball candles, Holiday – festive favors such as gingerbread men, mini stockings or mini knitted hats & gloves, Beach favors with sea shells, deck chairs, flip flops, suitcase style tins & palm tree boxes, Butterflies, Flowers, Vegas or casino

Then there are a range of other types of wedding favor:

Scented candles, votives or tea lights, Scented soaps, bubble bath or hand wash, Plantable favors such as seed packets or cards embedded with seeds, Miniature wedding bells, Stationery such as notebooks, pens & pencils, miniature photo albums & memo pads

Of course no wedding favor would be complete with some stylish packaging to present it in & here you have a choice of the following:

Simple cube or rectangular boxes, Fancy shaped boxes, Fabric bags, Tulle nets, Aluminum tins, Clear plastic boxes, Cellophane bags, Paper bags, Chinese takeout boxes, Containers such as mini pails or watering cans, terracotta plant pots, birds nests, Small vials or bottles

This is by no means an exhaustive list. The world of wedding favors is a vast & varied place which continues to evolve. Many of the above can be personalized & I haven’t even touched upon the wealth of things with which you can decorate your favors with.

When it comes to modern wedding favors the only limit is your imagination. Even the least creative bride can put together the most amazing & unique wedding favors just by combining any of the above with some clever packaging & a thank you tag. When it comes to saying thank you to your guests for joining you on such a special day, then there really is not better way to do it than with a modern wedding favors!

When you begin planning your wedding one of your first tasks will be to find your wedding reception venue. This is where a wedding directory will come in useful. In it you will find advertisements & listings for various venues & locations within your locality, as well as lots of other vendors & supplier for your wedding needs.

A wedding directory can take the form of a paper based booklet covering a particular area or these days there are numerous wedding website with directory listings which will cover the entire country & can be searched via state, town/city or by zip code. It is a good idea to use a combination of both types as not all venues will be listed in every directory.

When it comes to choosing your venue many people are simply overwhelmed by the choices available & may just simply choose a hotel & hall that they are already familiar with. However, finding your ideal location can be easier than you may think. To start use your wedding directory to make a list of all suitable venues in your local area & narrow that list by the types of venues that appeal to you most i.e. hotels, inns, country estates, wedding favors; then you will need to make appointments to visit them & check out which one is right for you. Your final choice should be one made with your heart but which also is friendly & reliable.

Make sure you book your location well in advance particularly if you are getting married in the high season (April – August). It is usual to book around 12 months in advance of your wedding date but if you don’t have that much time you may need to be flexible on your choice of venue.

When it comes to cost you won’t know how much the venue will charge you until you have visited them & asked them to provide you with a price based on your requirements. However, you may not get a final cost until all your details have been finalized, such as your menu & number of guests. Make sure you get your total costs in writing before you sign the contract & hand over a deposit, ask about any extra or hidden charges such as corkage fees, over-staffing costs, security charges & anything else. Also ask about charges for any late amendments or changes such as cancellations, change of venue because of bad weather etc.