Pro-Tips to Curate The Perfect Wedding Hamper For Your Guests
Here’s how you can curate a hamper for guests that isn’t just functional, but also memorable and inviting!
When it comes to welcoming guests to your destination wedding, details matter. Case in point: the hamper. Traditionally a basket with essentials—from local snacks to paracetamol—it has become an opportunity to make an indelible first impression. Set the tone for your wedding as it begins, with tips from Siddhika Jalan of her namesake Kolkata-based luxury gifting concierge.
The Sixth Sense
Anticipate their needs—and make it sensorial. Offering something to taste, touch, smell, see, hear creates a layered experience, creating room for discovery. Think of an audio track embedded as a QR code, an evocative natural fragrance for the room, or a relaxing bath salt after long nights dancing. “Most importantly, there should always be an element of instant gratification—an item that can be enjoyed immediately, ensuring the joy of the gift begins the moment it is received.”
Outside the Box
Rethink the shape of the hamper to make it unique. While trays have long been a standard, there is an opportunity to innovate, so the hamper reflects the couple’s personality and the mood of the wedding. Jalan’s team, for instance, once created a pyramid-shaped hamper that could be dismantled and arranged later, and each item within featured the same element of playfulness and interaction, like chocolate boats from Kolkata icon Flury’s and a wooden camera that also played the couple’s favourite song upon turning the lens.
What’s old is new
Weddings are a time to embrace tradition, with a sense of individuality. Subtle touches can mark the ceremony and auspiciousness of a marriage, with levity. Jalan suggests details like mauli instead of ribbons, or diyas, borrowing from the sacred fire or agni from the Rigveda, an emblem of vows exchanged during a wedding. In the same vein, consider a shloka from the Rigveda, drawing wisdom from these ancient Indian texts for your big day. “This is where elevation comes into play. Place gifts like saffron or silver ahead of, say, a box of chocolates to highlight their value.
This story appears in Manifest India’s Issue 02. Subscribe here for more stories like this.