Rather than scrambling for the perfect Mother’s Day gift this year, give the mom in your life something she truly wants. Quality time with her favorite people! The gift of an experience will leave her with an amazing day to look back on, rather than another generic gift like jewelry or coffee mugs. We have some great ideas for Mother’s Day experience gifts that are all about making memories.
1. Send her the gift of song
If you can’t be with your mom in person this year, you’re probably thinking that sending a card will suffice. Take things up a notch instead! She deserves a personalized gesture that shares just how much you love her.
Decor: Since you can’t be there to set the stage, send some flowers ahead of time with a fun message that hints at what’s to come.
Menu: Almost every mama has a guilty pleasure when it comes to food, so arrange for a delivery of her favorite indulgence to enjoy on her special day. Try edible arrangements, cookie deliveries, or hey, even tacos or pizza if that’s her thing. Our personal favorite is this fun (deliverable) twist on a cake!
🎤 Add an unexpected surprise: Here’s the good part! Hire a local singing telegram or singing guitarist to serenade Mom with a sweet song! Some song ideas include “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift, “You’ll Be in My Heart” by Phil Collins, or “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard.
2. Plan a picnic in the park
Pack a special lunch and whisk your sweet mama away to relax in the sun! Picnicking with her loved ones is a Mother’s Day experience that’s easy and oh-so-memorable.
Decor: Embrace the surroundings and pick a spot that has the best view. If the park has tables, awesome! If not, lay a durable blanket on the ground and claim your space.
Menu: For glam moms, try a charcuterie board of gourmet cheeses, fruits, and chocolate. Laidback ladies will love a menu of finger sandwiches, sliced veggies, and fresh chocolate chip cookies. Add in a great gift by packing everything into something she can use again for future picnic adventures! We love this basket from Pottery Barn.
🤭 Create a playful memory: Book a caricaturist near you to make some silly sketches of Mom! Be sure to have them include a few of her favorite things, like books, plants, cats, etc. to truly capture the essence of what makes her so unique.
3. Gather for a backyard movie night
Moms love snuggling, and adding her favorite movie makes it even better. Going to the movie theater is fine, but a personalized experience for Mother’s Day can be a perfect gift alternative!
Decor: Set up some comfortable seating in the backyard with soft quilts and pillows. Hang some string lights to add a cozy vibe to your “theater.”
Menu: Get creative with an ice cream or popcorn bar so everyone has some tasty treats for the movie! You can also take it a step further and hire a concessions company to provide everything from hot dogs to cotton candy.
📽️ Make it remarkable: Hire an outdoor movie screen company to feel like you’re truly at the theater! Some cute Mother’s Day movies include “Because I Said So”, “Steel Magnolias”, or “Bad Moms” for those edgy mamas.
4. Serve afternoon tea in the garden
If your mama has a green thumb, make sure she spends the day in her favorite place! Plan a lovely afternoon tea with a garden party themed around all things in bloom. Or, for the hip romance-loving mom, a Bridgerton-themed tea party could also be fun.
Decor: Cover a few tables in mismatching (but coordinating) table cloths and top with vases full of bright flowers. Pretty teacups and dishes are essential, too. Lastly, set up some fun lawn games like croquet or badminton for guests to play.
Menu: A buffet of crisp salads, fresh fruit, and mini pies keep things simple but on theme. Offer different types of tea along with honey, sugar, and cream. Mini bottles of rosé and glass carafes of lemonade are great additions for cold drinks at your tea party.
🎻 Add some elegance: Book a local cellist, harpist, or string trio for a lovely soundtrack to the festivities. Live music is the perfect way to give the gift of an experience on Mother’s Day!
5. Host a sip and paint party
Sip and paint parties are super popular and a wonderful option for a memorable Mother’s Day experience! Invite Mom’s friends, their kids, and other family members to turn it into an extra special event. The best part? Everyone will have a keepsake to cherish at the end of the day.
Decor: Protect your painting surfaces with colorful plastic table cloths and provide cute wine tumblers for your guests. Add bunches of balloons for simple and elegant decor.
Menu: Have guests each bring a bottle of wine or provide a variety of choices of white, red, and pink. Foods on toothpicks like meatballs, cheese cubes, or fruit are easy to eat while painting!
🎨 Make it more engaging: Hire a professional painting party company to handle all the details like aprons, paint, and easels. Then you and Mom can focus on spending time together instead of running the art class.
6. Be pro-active
If your mom loves morning walks or can’t miss her Thursday morning Zumba class, why not celebrate that? Treat mom to a heart-pumping experience for Mother’s Day and get movin’ with her.
Decor: Depending on what you choose to do, you may not have much say over the decor. Focus on the activity instead! Or make yourselves the decor and buy or make matching t-shirts or tank tops.
Menu: Bring Mom a sweet smoothie or yogurt parfait with granola to snack on before the action.
💃 Let the pros take the lead: Book a dance instructor to lead you and your mama through a fun and interactive class at home! For a slower-paced experience, try a yoga instructor to help you both relax.
7. Give her the stars
Moms have celebrity crushes, too! And while she’d love to spend (almost) every minute with her children, invite a special guest to surprise her this Mother’s Day.
Decor: Get set for a celebrity visit with a red-carpet rollout! Hang garland with cut-out stars or put bunches of glam-colored balloons to brighten up the place. You can even go the extra mile and set up a photo booth in the corner, complete with themed props.
Menu: Wine and dine like you’re in Hollywood! Think fancy hor d’oeuvres like bruschetta, caviar, or oysters. And of course, make sure the champagne and cocktails are flowing.
⭐ Include some star sightings: For a Mother’s Day gift that she won’t forget, hire a celebrity impersonator or tribute artist to visit! Try mom-worthy favorites like Cher, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, or Lucille Ball.
8. Set up a soothing spa day
Everyone loves to be pampered, and no one deserves it more than your mom! Set up an at-home special spa day for Mother’s Day that includes a calming massage, facial, and mani/pedi.
Decor: Choose soothing colors like mint green and ocean blue to set the tone. Add touches like a vanity mirror, bowl for soaking nails, cucumber slices, and fancy drink glasses at each seat. Don’t forget a pair of cute flip-flops to keep from smudging your pedis!
Menu: Whip up this Moscato punch to sip on while you spa. Serve small slider sandwiches and fresh fruit, along with colorful macarons and thumbprint cookies for dessert.
💆 Make it extra special: Book a local mobile massage therapist or mobile spa to visit with the gift of relaxation! These professionals can offer chair massages, facials, and nail services, all without leaving home.
9. Get creative in the kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home. If it’s your mama’s favorite place to be, center this year’s Mother’s Day gift around it! Toss a little flour on your face and get cookin’.
Decor: Not much decor is needed, but it’s all about the accessories. Get pretty matching aprons and break out the recipe books! We also love the idea of eternalizing Mom’s best recipe on a serving plate or tray. (Although you may want to keep that one for yourself!)
Menu: Since you’ll be making the food as you go, have a bottle or two of your favorite wine on hand to make things more fun! You can also put a few snackable things like sliced fruit, summer sausage, cheese cubes, and crackers. Just don’t ruin your appetite, as Mom likes to say.
🍴 Take it up a notch: Hire a personal chef to guide the cooking class! You can work with them ahead of time to determine the menu, get a shopping list, and more. And if you and Mom can’t be in the same place this year, personal chefs can guide you through a virtual class together instead!
While you can find tons of gift ideas for Mother’s Day, there’s nothing quite like the gift of experience for your favorite lady. Get creative this year and make memories instead of accumulating more “stuff.” And you’ll have something you both can cherish for a lifetime! Mother’s Day experiences should be all about what your mom loves and building an amazing day around it, complete with a little something extra to show her how much you truly care. 💖
🧔♂️ Don’t forget about Dad! Start thinking about fun and exciting things to do for Father’s Day to make the men in your life feel special in June.
Explore more entertainment ideas for your Mother’s Day experiences! Find the best at GigSalad.
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.