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Decided that you want to gift your guests with some kick-ass loot to welcome them to your wedding? Maybe it's an out-of-town wedding, and you want everyone to have a good handle on the area. Or maybe you're having a wedding outside in the summer, and you want to make sure everyone doesn't get sunburned. Either way, a wedding welcome gift bag can be a stellar way to give your guests some warm fuzzies right away. Let's talk about our favorite wedding welcome bag ideas.
Help your guests haul their stuff with canvas tote bag favors
If you're looking for a super useful favor that probably won't get tossed on the way out, check out Tara and Chuck's idea: reusable canvas... Read more
The gift bag itself
You can easily choose some simple paper bags or treat boxes, maybe dressed up, DIY-style. If you want to take it up a notch, splurge on some customized reusable tote bags from places like Zazzle, Etsy, VistaPrint, or Minted.
For treats or smaller items, you can utilize some cellophane or paper gift bags.
Include a thank you card
Include a little thank you card for thankfulness reasons, of course, but also to include any contact information of your designated wedding wrangler, planner, or just someone you trust who can field any questions for you. That way you're not getting calls from every guest all day long.
This is also a good place to introduce your guests to your wedding hashtag, if you'll be rocking one.
Easy options to dress up welcome/gift bags for your out-of-town guests
Tribe member AmandaMan asked for ideas on to make her recently purchased welcome bags look awesome and still be something that people will reuse. I... Read more
Include a day/weekend program
Let your guests know what will be happening and when by including a day or weekend schedule in the welcome bag. Having a day-before, '80s-themed bar crawl and a day-after punch ‘n' pie brunch? Let your schedule be their guide.
Give them a map and a list of things to do
If there will be any downtime during the wedding or wedding weekend, toss in a map of the area (handmade like the one above is awesome, but regular works great, too). Also include some of your favorite haunts that they can check out. If it's not your city, hit up the internet or a helpful concierge for ideas. Don't forget to include the scoop on cabs and public transit so everyone knows how to get around.
Location-specific welcome bag inspiration
Although this post is going to be pretty location specific, (I'm looking at you Pennsylvania and Michigan!) I figured that OBT member AndreaJ's welcome/OOT bags... Read more
Local nosh and souvenirs
You can inject a lot of personality (and delicious treats!) if you include some trinkets from your hometown or from where the wedding is happening. As a Chicagoan, if I didn't include some Garrett's Popcorn, the people might rise up. Think local sports teams, jams, magnets, and all kinds of snacks. Watch out for scented stuff since it can transfer to food items or bug folks with sensitivity to strong scents.
Package your cookie favors in CD Sleeves
Giant cookies make great wedding favors. To package them for individual gifting, try a CD sleeve and sticker wrap.
Sustenance and hydration
Keep your loved ones full and peeing by supplying them with bottled water, healthy trail mix, some sweet and salty treats. Use your best judgment when including anything alcoholic in case anyone is in the recovery community.
Get the best hotel service ever: give the front desk workers your extra gift bags!
So, you spent forever making the most awesome welcome bags for your guests who are coming from out of town. Maybe they're popcorn-themed, maybe their... Read more
Watch the weather
These will vary based on your wedding location, but think about including some sunscreen, bug spray, a poncho, some socks, and clothing stain wipes. Save some time by doing this step when you create your “Oh shit” kit.
A welcome bag with an awesome, party-friendly, “emergency kit”
Tribe member krissybeth just won my heart with her welcome bags for her Las Vegas wedding. They all include a very special emergency kit that... Read more
Soothe their hangovers and be their absentee nurse
Toss in some lip balm, a mini tube of acetaminophen, bandages, antacids, mints, and tissues.
Are you giving your guests an offbeat wedding welcome bag? What did we miss?
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About the Author: Catherine Clark
Catherine Clark loiters at her local library, makes art, watches movies en masse, plays video and tabletop games, poorly cooks healthy things, cuddles with her feline fur babies, and blogs at BijouxandBits.com.
Here was my Wedding Welcome Bag for a wedding on the 4th of July on Cape Cod. I loved it!
This is such a great idea! Our wedding guests will be out-of-owners (some from 1 hour away, a chunk from 3 hours away, and about 25% from states away). How do we get them these guest bags? If it has itinerary stuff in it (and ideas on what to do, as many will arrive days before the wedding in order to explore the region), it makes sense to me to get it to them BEFORE the wedding. Send it in response to their RSVP? Wait until the rehearsal dinner (for those that will be there)? :/
I think when you book a block of rooms for the wedding it’s common to have the hotel leave them in the rooms for you. I’m not sure how to handle this if you don’t book rooms, or have guests staying in other hotels. I would be suspicious about someone asking me to leave something in someone’s room if I worked at a hotel. My sister had hers for just the guests who stayed in the hotel she did in their block of rooms, and then gave my parents and I our bags in person because we stayed at the cheaper place across the street.