Hello friends — Courtney here. I’m getting married this summer and we’ve been knee-deep in planning. It’s been an exciting few months and I can hardly believe the big day is almost here!
Many of you on Instagram have asked for wedding ideas and planning tips, so I’ll be sharing details and photos along the way. My main goal during planning has been simplicity with meaningful, personal touches that feel authentic to us. I shared our wedding vision and mood board on the blog previously.
Today I’m sharing a sweet, simple way I asked my bridesmaids to stand with me for the wedding — a DIY “message in a bottle” bridesmaid proposal.
Bridesmaid Proposal Gift
There are so many creative bridesmaid proposal box ideas online. Our “message in a bottle” theme came naturally: my fiancé proposed to me with a message in a bottle on the beach last October, so I wanted to echo that moment when asking my closest friends to be bridesmaids. It’s an adorable, versatile idea that works for proposal gifts, wedding favors, or even place settings.
DIY Message in a Bottle
I ordered a small bottle set that included tiny scrolls. If that exact set isn’t available, there are several similar options that work well. The scrolls are tiny but large enough to write a short note — in my case I wrote “Will you be my bridesmaid?” and “Will you be my maid of honor?” for my sister.
We’re using pressed flowers and wildflower accents throughout the wedding, so I added dried florals to each bottle. I ordered a mixed pack of dried flowers and trimmed stems to fit inside. Placing two different varieties in each bottle created a unique look for every bridesmaid — they look a bit like tiny terrariums.
I cut small name tags and tied them to the bottles with baker’s twine. A mini hole punch would have been handy for the tags; I used scissors to make tiny holes instead. Each bottle was nestled in a small gift box filled with shredded kraft paper and a personal card expressing how much each friendship means to me.
The girls loved the little bottles and many said they planned to display them at home. I love that they’re meaningful, simple keepsakes that tie back to our wedding story.
Supplies and Sources for Message in a Bottle
If you want to recreate this idea, here are the main supplies to look for:
Glass bottles with corks:
Mini cork bottles in the same size work well if you don’t need scrolls included. Larger cork bottles are a good option if you want space for a longer note. There are also pre-made bottles with scrolls available if you prefer a ready-made option.
Mini scrolls:
Blank tiny scrolls come in a variety of colors and sizes; you can buy sets that include rings or small tags to attach. Pick a size that fits your chosen bottle.
Floral accents and finishing touches:
A pack of dried flowers, baker’s twine for name tags, shredded kraft paper for boxes, and a small hole punch for tags will make assembly easier and give a polished look.
A related idea we’ll use at the wedding is a message-in-a-bottle station where guests can write advice or well wishes on scrolls to place in a large bottle. We plan to read them on our first anniversary. I’ll share photos of that after the wedding.
I’ve posted more behind-the-scenes wedding planning on Instagram and on the blog, including a wedding mood board and planning details. There’s more to come as we get closer to the day — thanks for following along!