Picnic Baskets

This summer we were invited to four weddings. Our friends have children that are getting married and our son and daughter have friends that are getting married. In addition to being invited to the weddings I was also invited to the bridal showers for each of them.  Each of the couples was registered at various bridal registries. We decided that for the wedding gifts for each of the couples we would give a similar priced item from the registry, but for the shower gifts I wanted to find something that would be fun for the couples.

I went to one of my favorite import stores to see if I could come up with an idea. I looked at several things and then I noticed that they had picnic baskets. I thought that this would be a fun gift to give that could be personalized to the likes of each couple. The basic picnic baskets had two wine glasses, two plates and silverware. Also included was a table cloth and napkins. These items were neatly packed in the top of each of the picnic baskets. This left room in the bottom of the baskets to place food items. There were packs included that could be placed in the microwave to keep food warm and also packs that could be frozen to keep foods cool. I bought four of the baskets and decided to fill each with things that each of the couples would like

Two of the couples like different kinds of wines. To fill their picnic baskets I bought bottles of wine, cork screws and a variety of crackers that would go well with cheese. I then went to a local deli and bought gift certificates so that they could purchase the rest of their picnic foods.  While I was at the deli I bought gift certificates for the other two baskets as well.  The other two couples did not drink wine, but they are really into hiking, biking and other physical activities. I decided to put energy drinks in their baskets along with the deli gift certificates.

Each of the couples seemed to like the gift of the picnic baskets. My daughter told me that one of the couples invited her and her boyfriend to go on a picnic with them. They did use the picnic basket and bought food from the deli that the gift certificate was from. It is nice to know that the gifts that you give are being used by the couple. I think it is also fun for the couple to get some gifts that are not on the gift registry so that there are some surprises when they open the gifts.