Wishing Well Ideas
A wishing well is a popular activity performed at both baby and bridal showers. The idea behind a wishing well is that guests will bring an item to help the bride or mom-to-be get ready for her new role in life. Guests contribute to the wishing well in addition to their regular shower gifts, and the wishing well gifts generally have a theme to tie them together. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Bride: Around the House
-
In the days when a bride lived with her parents until she got married, a wishing well might contain items she needed in her kitchen, such as measuring cups or stirring spoons. In a modern era, many brides already have these items, so a wishing well for the kitchen might include modern gadgets she hasn't bought, such as a garlic roaster and a pizza stone, or it might include items like recipes and spices. A wishing well can also serve the bride in other areas of her new home, such as having one for linens or bath items, wall art or photo frames. The wishing well might even be a large tool box that guests fill with hammers and screws to help the bride and groom with any repairs they must make in their new home.
Bride: Hobbies
-
A wishing well tailored to a bride's interests is sure to light up her face at the shower. Fill a large overnight bag with travel items, such as miniature soaps and zippered plastic bags, if she enjoys traveling. Make the crafting bride a wishing well from a sewing basket or a plastic tote and fill it with fabric, yarn, sewing notions or scrapbooking supplies. Give the bride the gift of stress relief with a spa-themed wishing well complete with facial masks, pedicure kits and paperback novels. For the green-thumbed bride, fill a garden tote with small shovels, seed packets, gloves and gardening clogs that she can use in her garden in her new home.
-
Baby: Essential Items
-
Baby shower gifts tend to be decorative, including items such as color-coordinated outfits or embroidered blankets. These gifts are usually very heartfelt and sincere, but they don't help a new mom stock up on the everyday essentials she will need once the baby arrives. A wishing well can help her out in this respect; use a large plastic bin that could substitute as a toy box in baby's nursery and fill it with items such as diapers, baby wipes, burp cloths and pacifiers. Include bottles, cotton swabs, diaper cream and baby shampoo. These are the items Mom will need the most in her first few months with her new little one.
Baby: Extras
-
Aside from clothing and diapers, babies need other unexpected items as well. Start Mom off on a good foundation when you use a small, decorative bookshelf as your wishing well for a baby shower with a literary theme. Have each guest bring a book for the baby's library and put them on the shelf. The guests can even write a short note to mom and baby on the inside of the books they include. Alternatively, have guests write in a scrapbook instead of a wishing well; ask them to include notes, advice, recipes and tips for the mom-to-be. Accent the notes and tips with photos from the shower as a memento of the day. As a group gift, you can ask all of the guests to make something at the party, such as decorate a onesie with fabric paint or help stitch a quilt for the baby. At the end of the party, the new mom can take home the crafty creations.
-
References
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics Group/Dynamic Graphics Group/Getty Images
