How To Make A Courtesy Basket

Styling a reception bathroom is perhaps one of last things on a brides mind and not the most appealing.  Luckily for you, with one quick addition it’s easy to turn a bland bathroom in a little retreat for your guests.  Cue wedding courtesy baskets.

Courtesy baskets are small baskets full of toiletries and other necessities for your guests to utilize during their trips to the restroom.  To start, you’ll need a medium-sized basket and decorative fabric or ribbon. Either a square or a circle basket will work just fine, as long as the opening at the top is wide. Use the fabric to cover the bottom of the basket or tie the ribbons on for a splash of color.

Next, put the courtesy items in the basket.  Don’t overcrowd them, because the basket will get messy as guests use the items throughout the night.

What to include in your baskets

There are many things you could include in your courtesy basket. What you choose to add will depend on your setting and budget. Here’s a list of some ideas for your own basket:

The Basics - Add the following items to baskets for both the men and women:

• Advil/Tylenol
• Cough drops
• Kleenex
• Mouthwash/gum/mints
• Toothpicks

• Safety pins/Sewing kit
• Mini first-aid kit
• Lint roller
• Hand sanitizer
• Tide-To-Go pen

For the Women you will also want to include the following necessities:

• Deodorant
• Tampons/pads
• Bobby pins/hair ties/clips
• Hair brush
• Perfume

• Lotion
• Hairspray
• Lipstick/chapstick
• Clear nail polish for pantyhose snags

Men will appreciate a few extra comfort items of their own including:

• Deodorant
• Comb

• Razors
• Cologne

Well-stocked - A well-stocked bathroom basket should also include the following items for both men and women:

• Rolaids
• Tums
• Q-tips
• Eye drops
• Floss
• Contact solution

• Tweezers
• Manicure set
• Extra band aids
• Bug spray
• Sunscreen
• Dryer sheets (to remove deodorant stains)

There are, of course, many other things you could include. It’s up to you to pick and choose to decide what your guests might need.

The finishing touches

Set your full basket on a small table or stool next to the toilets. You might like to include a note or small sign explaining the basket to your guests and requesting that they only use what they need so that everyone can utilize the basket. This note could be as simple as a piece of cardstock folded in half, or you could put a piece of paper in a picture frame to make it a little more formal. You could write a sentence or two or you could write a short poem, such as one of these:

~~~~

So happy you’re here sharing our special day
But just in case something should go astray:
Please help yourself to the contents within
Mouthwash, hand lotion or ibuprofen
Use what you need, and just leave the rest
For it may be useful to some other guest!
Repair the damage that may have been done,
Then quick!  Hurry back and join in the fun!

~~~~

If your skin feels dry, your hair out of place,
Your throat is parched, or whatever the case.
We've put this together to help you along,
Now get yourself out there before the next song!

With so much happening on your wedding day, it’s easy to miss little details like this, but your guests will be so grateful when they see that you’ve thought of their every last need.

Image Credits:  It Weddings Florida, Weddingbee

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes for My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as creates multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Movie-Themed Wedding Ideas: Be the Star on Your Big Day

Are you planning a themed wedding? There are many themes to choose from, and many are tried and true. If you’re looking for something different and new, however, you might want to try a movie-themed wedding.

It’s no secret that people love themed parties. We take our favorite things and use them as props to celebrate with. Fictional characters, historical events, holidays, and so many more things make a party fun and meaningful. Even weddings can take on a theme. Sometimes it’s based off of a color theme, other times the bride wants a beach or vintage theme. Themes give an event a united focus, making it easier to plan decorations, attire, and everything else!

What movie should you pick?

When people think of a fairytale wedding, Disney’s princesses often come to mind first. Many women want to feel like Cinderella on their wedding day, so a princess movie is an obvious choice for a wedding theme. It’s not the only option, though.

Do you and your spouse-to-be share a favorite movie? Maybe it’s the movie you first saw together or a romantic comedy you think parallels your relationship. Or maybe you like a particular production company, like Pixar or 20th Century Fox.

Pick a movie that fits your personalities, one that you think is the perfect romance movie, or even one that was filmed in the same area as your wedding. There are hundreds of possibilities for how and what to pick.

How to incorporate movies into your wedding

Make your guests feel like movie stars and the bride feel like the leading lady with a red carpet aisle to walk down.

Set up a photo booth that would make even the best paparazzi jealous. Include a backdrop that shows a theme from your movie or a photo stand-in of your favorite characters.

If you’re not into photo booths, set up a video camera instead. Provide a few movie props such as popcorn, 3D glasses, a movie ticket, a cardboard megaphone, or clapboard. Ask the guests to grab a few props and leave the newlyweds advice using quotes from romantic movies.

Use miniature clapboard or Hollywood movie theme place card holders to reserve seats for your guests of honor.

Take the movie poster and turn it into a Save the Date or invitation to your wedding.

Take engagement photos that match photos from the movie you chose, such as this picture, mimicking “Lady and the Tramp:”

If you want to wholeheartedly embrace this theme, you can make a trailer to announce your engagement. For lots of fun, you could make an over-the-top video announcement like Jeff and Erin’s EPIC Wedding Trailer, or you can make a simple but cute animation telling the story of your relationship.

Another bonus to making a video announcement is saving money on printing and mailing paper announcements, as well as going green by not using paper!

Favor and gift ideas

Give personalized party bags filled with popcorn, favorite movie candies and other goodies as favors to your guests.

For the bridal party, what about movie theater vouchers or a home movie night kit? Include popcorn, drinks, candy, and a DVD or Redbox gift card. Add a personalized gift that goes along with the theme of the wedding. If you don’t mind spending a little extra, a nice addition would be popcorn seasoning or a small blanket. For the final touch, add a thank you note that looks like a movie ticket, or if you’re feeling ambitious, record your thank you message, move-style, of course!

Be sure to stop back next week for ideas for movie-themed engagement, bachelorette and bachelor parties, and wedding showers.

Image Credits:  Themed engagement photos, Movie photo booth props

Elizabeth Grace

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as create multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Pamper Your Wedding Guests - Reception Lounge Ideas

Give your guests a chance to relax and get a break from the dancing and high energy of your reception by providing an area reserved for peace and quiet!

For the younger generation, weddings are all about the reception—the food, music, and dancing. But for the elderly guests, the party can be exhausting! Babies and toddlers, too, can get worn out from the party and no one wants to be around a fussy baby.

The lounge will also provide a place for the guests to mingle with others and catch up with old friends and family members. Even just a small space can help all of your guests enjoy the day to its fullest.

If you’re hosting your own reception, place a couple of chairs and couches with a small table in a room close enough to the dancing that your guests will still feel included, but far enough away so that they can rest.

If you’re renting a venue, ask if they have a room or even a hallway where you could set up a few chairs.

If your reception is outside, find an area that gets plenty of shade. If shade is not an option, you might want to get a small tent.

Be sure to offer various types of seating so everyone can find somewhere comfortable to sit. Think about how long your guest list is, too. Plan accordingly to provide adequate seating. With the furniture, you might want to include a few photo albums and games. It’s also a good idea to provide some light snacks, ice water, and coffee.

If you’re not worried about guests being tired, you can use the lounge for lots of other things.

• Add a few ashtrays and make it a smoking lounge.

• Have a build-your-own drink station and provide multiple mixers and alcohols as well as different glasses and stirrers.

• Set up a photo booth next to the chairs so guests can sit and wait for their turn to take a picture or just watch everyone else pose.

• The lounge would also be a good place for a caricature artist to set up. You could set up board games or other games such as cornhole, ladder golf, or any other game that requires a lot of space.

• If you and your partner are sports fans, you could set up a television and turn on the game.

• Another option with a TV is to hook up a gaming system and have games like Just Dance or Temple Run, so multiple people can play together at one time. Make sure you have extra controllers and batteries!

There are, of course, many more ways to use a reception lounge. Comment below and share your ideas with us!

Image Credits:  Pink and gold theme outdoor reception lounge area, Wedding reception lounge with TV, Outdoor coffee table lounge, Contemporary outdoor wedding reception lounge with zebra print rug

Elizabeth Grace

Elizabeth is an undergraduate at Ohio Northern University with a double major in professional writing and creative writing and a minor in psychology. Liz writes My Wedding Reception Ideas as well as create multi-modal writing projects for Re:Media, an Ohio Northern University online publication.

Autumn Apple Inspiration Board

Fall is that exciting time of year when there is a sense of electricity in the air that seems to radiate around everything.  The air is crisp, the leaves are changing colors, the weather is getting cooler and there is nothing better than curling up with a warm mug of apple cider.  Of course we couldn't help but put together this darling apple inspiration board in celebration of the season.  Chop full of charming details, how cute would your wedding reception be if it was hosted at an apple orchard?  Hand out personalized apple bags and allow guests to pick their own apples to take home as fall wedding favors.  Love it.

 

Image Credits: Apple butter, Couple with apples, Apple with Rings, and Pies via Style Me Pretty, Apple Slice Favors, Couple on picnic blanket via Polka Dot Bride, Apple garland via Snippet and Ink, Monogrammed burlap favor bags, Mason jar lighting, Apple cider favors, DIY apple pie favor kits, Pick your own apple favors via Gabriel Boone Photography

Top 5 Flowers In Season For Your Fall Wedding

Fall weddings are characterized by rich shades of red and orange that give an added romantic flair and warmth to this already special event. Picking the flowers that you'd like to use during your reception and ceremony can be an especially exciting challenge, as this flora will play a big part in dictating the overall aesthetic of your nuptials. For fall weddings, you should go about choosing seasonal varieties that will be at their peak during the autumn months, featuring hues that are characteristic of the season.

Here are five flowers that are in season during the fall - they're our top picks for your big day:

• Asiatic lily - This beautiful flower can give your bouquet a cascading effect as you walk down the aisle. With long, curved petals, the buds appear to burst from the stem. In a light orange tone, the Asiatic lily could be the perfect flower for your centerpieces as well.

• Celosia - Few flowers make more of a statement in a bouquet than celosia. Whether you choose the plumed type, which produces impressive spires, or the crested variety with its striking twisted form, you can't go wrong using this flower in your wedding.

• Gerbera - This kind of daisy is the perfect flower for a harvest wedding, as it has a very basic shape and petal structure, but blooms in amazing shades of red and orange, making it a wonderful statement piece.

• Queen Anne's Lace - This is perhaps the ultimate filler flower, as it has enough thickness to fill a bouquet out completely without taking away from the statement made with more vibrant flora used in the array.

• Rose - This may seem overdone, but richly colored roses can give the perfect air of class and comfort when used as a decoration at your wedding. Small arrangements at every table will be tasteful and timeless - they are a standard for a reason.

There are numerous varieties of flowers that peak during the autumn months that will make your nuptials absolutely gorgeous. You can never have too much flora at your wedding, after all, so choose several different species to incorporate into your reception and ceremony. Combined with seasonal fall wedding decorations on every table, these arrangements will help your venue burst with color and make your big day an event that no one will soon forget.

Image Credits: Bridal Bouquet, Fall Celosia and Gerbera Daisies Flower Arrangements