Making a Wedding Gift Basket: A Zen Dinner for Two

The tricky job of shopping for a wedding present when there's no registry calls for some creativity.  Most purchase wedding presents that provide functionality, like small appliances, flatware, linens and the like, so when it comes to the practical presents you think might be duplicated, what does one shop for?  How do you give a gift of originality, something that will stand out from the rest?  You already know the answer if you're reading this - you create something!

Gift baskets and 'care kits' are a joy for me to make.  I'm always the person who will find a great present for someone, and afterwards find a few more items that would compliment the present extremely well.  This used to be a habit of 'overspending' on Christmas and birthdays, because I always tend to start shopping early.  As of late, I had changed those habits slightly to curb my overspending by starting with a main gift, and purchasing smaller gifts themed around it.  Find a decorative storage basket, bin or bucket, purchase some cellophane to wrap it all together, and you have a fantastic little package full of neat little toys, tidbits, trinkets and treasures!

So, for a great wedding present for Megan and Mike, two very good friends of mine who were married in April 2009, I had constructed (with Nick's help!) the Zen Dinner for Two Gift Basket, with all the flatware and servingware a couple will need for a relaxing dinner at home!