Care Package for a Bride

[Elmorton]

Hello all! A friend of mine is serving in Iraq (actually, she''s soon on her way home for an R&R, though her FI is taking her on a fabulous island vacay, so I won''t be seeing her) and she''s getting married in Feb shortly after she returns from her deployment.

I''m preparing a care package for her so she''ll have it there when she gets back. I have a couple of wedding magazines stacked up, but I was just curious - what are some of the "must haves" for brides right now that you''d want in a care package if you were in my friend''s situation (planning a wedding from a war zone).

Any certain magazines you''d want? Bride-related books you''ve read recently? Other ideas for a bride-themed care package?

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Wow, I''d have to think on that one for a little bit. And I will.

But I just wanted to say that you''re awesome for doing this for her.

 

[Elmorton]

Aw, thanks luvthem! I''m actually really bad at the care packages...the other two girls in our foursome of friends have sent like 2 already when I have yet to do one. Last time my friend was deployed, she wanted books - luckily, I was in grad school, and I was reading a lot for pleasure just to relax, so I had stacks to books to send her and did it pretty regularly just to get them out of my apt. This time around, I haven''t had a clear mission of what to send so I''ve been a little slower to get the package together (she wants food, too, so if anyone has suggestions of good ship-hearty food - I''ve already been told protein bars, but that''s about it). So, I figured I might as well try to make this one a really good one!!

 

[gwendolyn]

Great idea!

I wonder, do you have any idea where (geographically? style-wise?) she might want to hold her wedding? Could you maybe send out for some venue brochures for her to look at in the general area where she might want to get married? Or maybe honeymoon packages? Could be fun for her to look at to get into the planning mood, even if you aren't sure of what she has in mind?

Unless of course she already has a place picked out, in which case, nevermind.

You could also maybe get something cutesy that say "bride" and "groom" on it (since there are TONS of things out there) or maybe a small little gift for the day itself, like a garter?

 

[Miscka]

What an amazing gesture!

I looooove Martha Stewart weddings, that would be a good one to send.

Do you know if she has a dress, etc. yet or will she do all that when she gets back?

What about a cute "Bride" tank? Not sure if she could sleep in it or something? They have cute ones at VS and also at Michaels.

I will keep thinking!

 

[Elmorton]

Oooh, sorry, I could have added more details!

The wedding is in Austin. Reception and ceremony are in the same location, so that''s booked, and I think she has a photog, too. She''s got her dress, BM dresses, just sent out the STDs, and is waiting for her invites to arrive (I think...or they might be on the way out). Her colors are white, black, and fushia pink (DB''s watermelon) and if her invites/STDs are an indication, she''s going with that black and white damask (what is it really called??) design. I think she planned a lot before she left, but it was a month before our other close friend''s wedding, so she didn''t want to call too much attention to her own planning as to take away from our friend''s.

LOVE the honeymoon idea! I know the knot has a honeymoons only mag, and I might send her a travel mag, too. Great idea for the bride tank, also!! She could totally sleep in it at night, I''m sure.

Keep the ideas coming!! Thanks so much!

 

[rhbgirl24]

Wow AWESOME idea. Great friend too! I would say the real simple mags.... and are there the mags in every states like the New jersey brides we have here? That might be really neat for her to look at - vendors from afar!

 

[kama_s]

What about a tote bag that says ''Bride'' or ''Bride To Be''? Another would be a wedding scrap book.

P.S.: What a cute and thoughtful idea

 

[Smurfysmiles]

I think a must have would be "Chicken Soup for The Bride''s Soul"

Love LOVE this book and have read it many times

What a great friend she has!

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Aw, sure thing! I just think it''s great to see people taking care of each other like that. Sounds like a tight-knit group of friends you guys have, which is awesome. It''s great that she has such good friends to take care of her while she''s gone.

Ditto on the Real Simple weddings magazine - it''s got some great ideas. Then the Knot magazines for that area as well - they always have the great ideas for decorations, favors, etc (you know, the little stuff - not just dresses and big things), and they also have the real weddings featured in there, which have great ideas too.

Also those magazines from companies that just feature the invitations and all the little things and accessories too... Ann''s Bridal Bargains, Rexcraft, etc. There''s another one I have at home that I can''t remember right now. But you can request catalogs from their websites - that''d be something fun for her to look at and get ideas from.

Hehe, does she drink at all? If so, this might be cute, since she''s in the military - you could engrave it for her, maybe with her wedding date, or hername + FIname...just thinking out loud here.

http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=-49997309&currentIdx=9&subCategory=-49998493%7c-49997961%7c-49997309&catentryId=6092029&sort=

Just a few other ideas... maybe one of those file folders with all the tabs in it that flips closed with a bungee string (haha, I can''t think of a better way to describe it) so she can tear pages out of a magazine she likes and file them... a notepad that fits inside there for her to jot ideas down on... maybe a small wallet-sized mini photo album she can carry with her, and you could go ahead and put some photos of her and her FI together, or the group of you and your friends, her parents, etc., or you could even put some wallet-sized printouts of her dress, the BM dresses, things that she''s picked for the wedding already, so she can have that to daydream about and keep in her mind.

 

[Jessie702]

Hi, im not a bride, but LIW and i Have to say, I LOVE YOUR IDEA. I know you cant send much due to circumstances, but maybe like someone said, Send a Tote Bag, maybe in a Khaki fabric, and get Iron on letters and Do a cute Bride in the middle with maybe a ring comming off of the E.....side note, a lot of these ideas are DIY. Also, you could do the same thing for a tee Shirt, or a shirt. Also, ths next one might be diffcult, but find a cute toothbrush and have bride written on it with a glitter pen, youll want to spray it( cover the brush part with a wrap though) with a sealeant so it stays. You could do the same thing with a hair brush and comb. Also, with nail polish in a very "bridal" colour, like a nude pink. I know the nail polish isnt functional, like everything else that would be in the bag, but its still cute.
Like others have mentioned, include bridal magazines, but along the way, maybe include a note for her on pages you think she would like. Like a cute pink sticky note on a dress, stating why you think she would like or hate it. Also, on pages with settings and cute stories.
You could also include a journal for her to write in while there, and she can write down ideas she has or how she is feeling.

SO basically it could be
~a bridal tote
~bride tee-shirt
~bride comb and brush
~bride toothbrush
~bride journal
~bridal magazines

Than you can always include like her favorite gum or candy, but re-do the wrapping on it so it could be
~ Always and Forever Spearmint Gum
~Love and Marraige M&M''s

Dont know if you like these ideas, but its just a thought

http://www.myshopangel.com/tp0801c.htm.....a tote like that or something like this

http://www.myshopangel.com/tp0800n.htm

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

For food...

- Drink mix packets - like the Crystal Light lemonade, or Gatorade - and maybe a Nalgene bottle?
- Granola bars - those 2-in-a-pack Nature Valley ones keep pretty well)
- Protein bars, as mentioned before - Labrada Lean Body makes some good ones, and PowerBars are pretty popular (I used to really like the peanut butter ones - I think they''re called PowerBar Performance Energy now, something like that)
- Nuts in small packages - Blue Diamond makes plain almonds, Planters has lots of peanut flavors, sunflower seeds
- Small gum packets, mints
- Candy that doesn''t melt - skittles, sweettarts, nerds, etc.
- Individually wrapped cookies, like that Grandma''s brand (those are so yummy) or Famous Amos, individual Oreo or Chips Ahoy packs
- Beef jerky
- Cracker jacks

Just another thought - would she like/need anything hygenic? Extra deoderant, chapstick, body powder, travel-size lotions, kleenex, disposable razors, dry shampoo (don''t know what living conditions she''s in), Wet Ones, those Summer''s Eve feminine cleansing cloths, or anything to make that time of the month easier while she''s over there (feminine products, Midol, those disposable heating pads for cramps)... just some thoughts.

Oh! I also think it''s such a great idea when you mentioned all those books you were sending over to her. I think that''s a great idea too.

Also, you may already be aware of this, but I learned this when FI and I were looking at sending a package to our friend in the army. There are restrictions as far as what they can have over there, and what you can send them in a care package. I haven''t looked at them in a long time, but just wanted to make sure you were aware of that. Just google it, and you''ll easily find it. (I don''t know if things like the flask are allowed, and I''m also not sure about sending something like nuts overseas - I know that nuts are usually one of those things at customs that aren''t allowed through.)

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

I thought of a few more, after doing some digging and thinking...

Bridal ideas:
- A book or magazine dedicated specifically to bridal hairstyles, or makeup for the day
- Maybe since she''s getting married shortly after she gets back, you could also send some sort of beauty-prep things, like facial exfoliators, cuticle oils, deep conditioning treatment for her hair... along with some of those tips they give in magazines and such about when and how often to do those things before the wedding.
- A CD you could make of various music choices for the ceremony
- A book or print off ideas of wedding ceremony readings, vows, etc and as far as choices for what the minister actually will say
- I really like the idea above about personalizing some of the magazines with some sticky notes with things you think she''d like - I think she''d find that very personal and sweet

Food:
- Ritz crackers/Triscuits and Easy cheese
- Rice Krispie treats
- If she''s got access to a microwave - Easy Mac, Campbell''s individual soup containers
- Dried fruit

Hygiene:
- Hair rubberbands and clips
- Q-tips
- Sunscreen
- Eye drops

These are all off the top of my head, and I know a lot of it depends on what conditions she''s actually living in. Anyway, hope they help some! I''d love to know what you end up putting in it, if you want to update us later on it!

 

[CaliCushion]

I''d definetly send along some food/protein bars that she can''t easily get.

I really like the bride tank top idea!!

What about something that makes her feel girly/like a bride? Nail polish probably wouldn''t be a good idea, but there are really cute nail files with pretty patterns. Maybe a facial mask or a yummy smelling body wash/scrub?

 

[Jessie702]

ooooo, I love the q-tips idea. I know that i always use and need some. I use them daily. I actually found at walmart a thing of q-tips for a dollar...Its like 100 of the Q-tips in a hard platic case.....FOR A BUCK! so that might be an idea....anything you can DIY and customize she will love, cuz it will remind her of home, and be a nice touch in such a foreign place.

 

[mayachel]

How about a vampy deep red nail polish for her toes? Or some other color that it is the theme of her wedding colors? It might be nice to do some pre-wedding pampering. A deep hair conditioner?

Books- "Tied in Knots: Funny stories from the wedding day"

 

[cocolaw]

very sweet idea!! how long will she be home before she goes on her trip? what if you got her a gift certificate for a pedicure that she could use before her trip? you could just tell her she has one in a card and keep the certificate at home so that she doesn''t have to keep up with it.