Scenario: your friends and family are traveling from far and wide to attend your nuptials in the San Francisco Bay Area...and you want to welcome them with bells and whistles! As well you should – besides taking the time out of their own lives to fly out to see you, a trip to SF is not inexpensive...flight, hotel, rental cars, and I won’t even mention the cost of gas... Okay, you see where I’m going here. We’ve all felt the economic downturn. That being said, here is a great way to thank your guests for making the trek...welcome baskets! This is where you say, “Welcome baskets have been done and aren’t they just a little bit tired?”, to which I reply: the trick is to make yours spectacular! How do you do that? Include specialty wares unique to the SF Bay Area!

The beauty of this is that you can absolutely do this on a budget. Here’s how: select some fresh, locally sourced fruits and nuts from a local farmer’s market such as the one at the Ferry Building every Tuesday from 10am to 2pm and Saturday from 8am-2pm, add an assortment of individually wrapped squares of Ghirardelli chocolate (available everywhere around town from Cost Plus to Walgreens!), include a variety of Jelly Belly jelly beans (small individual packets are under a dollar at many drug stores) and various flavors of Calistoga Waters (any local market will have these). Top it off with a map of S.F. to assist your guests on their adventures around town...and there you have it: a simple yet thoughtful basket that will delight your guests!

If you want to step it up a notch, include cheese from Cowgirl Creamery and sourdough bread from Acme Bakery. Scharffen Berger Chocolate is also a bit more expensive than Ghirardelli, and it is my own personal “hometown” favorite. All three of these shops are located in the Ferry Building Marketplace. Another nice addition is a bag of coffee roasted at a San Francisco original: Café Trieste in North Beach. Throw in a stick of Gallo salami if you like (another local business); it's easy to add, Safeway carries it for Pete’s sake! If after all of this you sill have extra cash to spend, hit iTunes and burn a CD full of music from bands who got their start in S.F. (Jefferson Airplane, Huey Lewis and the News, The Grateful Dead…), finishing up with Tony Bennett’s “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”. Do you have extra engagement pictures? Include one in each basket with a personal note from the two of you – your guests will love it!

Want to be a bit more original? Don’t use a basket. Use gift boxes or bags…get creative! Another fun idea if you are short on time and don’t want to order a traditional fruit basket, is to order an Edible Arrangement.

Edible Arrangements: A Different Kind of Fruit Basket!

Every time I have received one it has been fabulous. Another option in lieu of a basket is to give your guests “I Love SF” sweatshirts to help them brave our unpredictable SF weather...but if you choose to do this, don’t forget to ask for sizes before purchasing!

Whatever your decision, find out where your guests are staying and have the baskets/items waiting in their room when they arrive. It’s always a nice surprise. One better – reserve room blocks for your guests so you won’t have to ask! This also helps their travel planning go much more smoothly, saves them some $ and may even get you a complimentary suite in the process!

If nothing else, a nice, handwritten note expressing your appreciation for their company on your special day is a very thoughtful gesture, and will please your guests beyond belief. So if you can’t spend any extra money, just take a little time and have one waiting for each of your guests when they arrive at their destination. Small, thoughtful details are not soon forgotten!

Hugs!