Hi friends! Courtney here. I’m getting married this summer and we’ve been busy planning all the details. It’s hard to believe the big day is almost here, and I can’t wait to share parts of the process with you.
So many of you asked on Instagram to see wedding ideas and planning tips, and I’m excited to share some of our favorites. My main goal has been to keep things simple while adding personal, memorable touches that feel meaningful to us. I shared our wedding vision and mood board on the blog previously, and I’ll have photos to share after the wedding as well.
Today I’ll show a sweet and simple way I asked my bridesmaids to join me for the big day.
UPDATE! I posted a new article with more photos, planning details, and budget-friendly advice about our wedding—check it out on the blog for a deeper look.
Bridesmaid Proposal Gift
There are so many creative bridesmaid proposal ideas online. Our story is a little unique: my fiancé proposed to me with a message in a bottle on the beach, so I used that theme to ask my girls to be bridesmaids. It felt personal and sweet, and this concept also works well for favors or place settings.
DIY Message in a Bottle
I ordered a small bottle set that came with tiny scrolls. If that exact set isn’t available, there are similar options I found. The little scrolls were just the right size for a short handwritten message: “Will you be my bridesmaid?” and “Will you be my maid of honor?” for my sister.
Because our wedding includes pressed flowers and a wildflower feel, I added dried florals to each bottle. I used a pack of assorted dried flowers and placed two different types in every bottle, trimming them to fit. They look like tiny terrariums—simple and charming.
I also cut small name tags, tied them with baker’s twine to each bottle, and used a small hole to secure the tag—I made the hole with scissors since I didn’t have a mini hole punch, but a punch would make it neater. Each bottle went into a little gift box with shredded kraft paper and a personal note about what each friendship means to me.
The girls loved the surprise, and I love that these bottles can be kept as small decor pieces to remember the moment.
Supplies and Sources for Message in a Bottle
If you want to make something similar, here are the main supplies I used and alternatives to consider.
Glass Bottles with Cork:
Small cork bottles in many sizes are available in sets—some include scrolls, others are empty so you can customize the note and florals. Choose the size based on how long you want the note to be and how much dried florals you plan to add.
Mini Scrolls:
Tiny paper scrolls come in color options and in blank sets you can write on. If you prefer, you can cut your own small paper strips and roll them tightly for the same look.
Additional details: baker’s twine or ribbon for name tags, shredded kraft paper for gift boxes, and a pack of dried flowers to match your wedding palette. A mini hole punch makes attaching tags easier, but scissors can work in a pinch.
PS — one more idea: set up a “message in a bottle” guest station at your wedding. Guests can write wishes or advice on scrolls and drop them into a large glass bottle for you to read later, perhaps on your first anniversary. It’s a sentimental keepsake and ties nicely to the proposal theme.
I’ve shared more wedding planning updates and behind-the-scenes on Instagram, and I posted our wedding mood board on the blog if you’d like to see more of the inspiration. I’ll keep sharing as we finish final details and after the wedding—more to come!