Bathroom toiletries probably aren’t top of your to-do list when it comes to planning your big day, but a stylish and well-stocked wedding bathroom basket (also known as a hospitality basket) adds a little splash of luxury to one of the most overlooked yet essential rooms at your wedding.
This thoughtful touch will be greatly appreciated by your guests – and is surprisingly easy to organise.
While of course you won’t need to worry about providing toilet paper and soap, we’ve compiled a handy ‘his n’ hers’ checklist for what you may want to include. Add to or omit items from these lists as you wish, but these items (or a selection thereof) will help your guests to stay at their best all day long.
Wedding bathroom basket – Men
- Deodorant
- Plasters
- Hand-sanitiser
- Tissues
- Antibacterial wipes
- Stain remover pen
- Combs
- Hairspray
- Suncream (for outdoor weddings)
- Insect repellent (for outdoor weddings)
- Painkillers
- Indigestion tablets
- Toothpicks
- Mints
Wedding bathroom basket – Ladies
- Deodorant
- Plasters
- Body spray
- Hand-sanitiser
- Tissues
- Cotton buds
- Antibacterial wipes
- Stain remover pen
- Hand lotion
- Suncream (for outdoor weddings)
- Insect repellent (for outdoor weddings)
- Sanitary products
- Hairspray
- Hairbrushes
- Dry shampoo
- Hairgrips and hairbands
- Nail files
- Indigestion tablets
- Toothpicks
- Mints
- Safety pins
Little extras
If you want to go the extra mile, you could include the following little luxuries:
- Mini bottles of perfume or aftershave
- Nail varnish
- Nail and lash glue
- Sewing kits
- Lollipops/other individually wrapped sweets
All these items can be found with ease at any good supermarket or online. There’s no need to spend a fortune on expensive branded products if you don’t want to – supermarket own-brand items or budget shop toiletries are perfectly acceptable. Collecting product samples as you plan your wedding is a great way to source some of these items, and travel-size products are a good idea too (why buy several full-size bottles of hand lotion when a few smaller ones will do?).
Ideas for wedding bathroom baskets
As what’s going inside the basket is more important than the basket itself, you don’t have to blow your budget on it. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t get a little creative! It’s a lovely touch to tie your bathroom basket in with your overall decorative theme, and there are plenty of styles and designs to suit all tastes and budgets. Try Ebay, Etsy or Dunelm for example. It doesn’t have to be a basket of course – you might prefer a tray or a beautifully decorated box.
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Consider the bathroom the basket will sit in – if there’s not a lot of counter space available, ask if a small table can be put inside the restroom to accommodate it. If you’re thinking of hiring portable toilets for an outdoor wedding, then a pretty but sturdy countertop box might do the trick.
Stock disposable items
During these strange Covid times it makes sense to stock as many disposable – rather than reusable – items as you can. You may feel that deodorants and other multi-use products, like perfumes, just aren’t appropriate. Similarly, it might be sensible for the basket to be made from easily cleanable material like stainless steel or plastic that can be frequently disinfected.
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Finally, if children will be attending, it’s important to remember not to leave any medications, scissors or glue in your wedding bathroom baskets. Instead include a note explaining where these items can be found – at the reception desk, for example.
Resources: Brides.com, theknot.com, One Fab Day
