Junior Rasmussen
Welcome bags are a great way to greet guests and show your appreciation for their attendance at your destination wedding. They are not a must-have, but they can be a fun, personalized treat to kick off the festivities. The bags can be filled with goodies such as local treats, snacks, drinks, and other useful items. It is important to consider what your guests can easily take home and what will be most useful during their stay. While some people think welcome bags are unnecessary, others appreciate the extra touch and the opportunity to provide guests with a wonderful experience from the moment they arrive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To thank guests for travelling to celebrate with you |
| Who receives them | Out-of-town guests |
| What they contain | Local treats, snacks, drinks, souvenirs, toiletries, small gifts, etc. |
| Container | Tote bag, box, basket |
| Cost | $10-100 per bag, with an average of $15-25 |
| Benefits | Adds a personal touch, introduces guests to the area, ensures they're prepared |
| Drawbacks | May be unnecessary, costly, or difficult to transport |
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What You'll Learn
Welcome bags are not necessary but can be a nice gesture
Welcome bags for destination weddings are not necessary, but they can be a nice gesture for your guests. They can be a fun and personalised way to thank your guests for travelling to celebrate with you and to kick off the festivities.
If you decide to give out welcome bags, it is important to consider what your guests can take home without hassle. No one wants items that won't fit in their suitcase. A good option is to choose something reusable, such as a beach bag, which can be used during the trip and easily packed away for future use. You could also opt for a box or basket, although this may be more difficult for guests to take home on a plane.
When it comes to the contents of the bag, it's not about how much the gifts are worth, but the thought you put into them. You can include a mix of fun and practical goodies, such as snacks, drinks, local treats, and souvenirs. You could also add a personal touch by including something you and your fiancé love or a handwritten welcome note. If you're on a tight budget, you can keep it simple with a few low-cost items, such as a hangover recovery kit or a list of local attractions.
If you're not staying in a single location or resort, you might want to consider giving out favours instead of welcome bags. Favours can still be personalised and show your guests how much you appreciate them, without the hassle of transporting welcome bags to multiple locations.
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Guests will appreciate practical items
Guests will always appreciate practical items that they can use during their trip. While it's easy to get carried away and add tons of extras, it's best to consider what guests will need. Edible treats and practical products that your guests might have forgotten to pack will almost always be more appreciated than a candle or a bottle of locally-made wine.
If you're hosting a tropical destination wedding, for example, include items like sunglasses, hand fans, beach towels, sunscreen, and lip balm. Conversely, if you're having a fall or winter wedding, your guests will appreciate cosy items like pashminas or flannel blankets, cosy socks, and hand warmers. You could also include items like small bottles of gin from a local distillery, shortbread, and postcards.
If your wedding is in a location known for a particular product, include that in your welcome bag. For example, if you're getting married in Jamaica, you could add some jerk seasoning; if you're in Cancun, add some Mexican spice blends; or if you're in the French countryside, add some herbes de Provence. You could also include a local craft beer or IPA.
Another idea is to create a "Wedding Survival Kit" with essentials like a mini first-aid kit, lip balm, sunscreen, stain remover wipes, sewing kits, and heel protectors for walking on sand or grass. You could also include a hangover kit with pain relievers and electrolyte packets.
Finally, remember to include something personal and reusable that you and your fiancé love. For example, you could give guests a beach bag that has a bottom cooler section that will be personalised.
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Local treats are a good idea
Local treats are a great idea for destination wedding welcome bags. They can be a thoughtful way to thank your guests for travelling to celebrate with you and can add a fun, personalised touch to kick off the festivities. Local treats are also a fantastic way to showcase your wedding location and give your guests a taste of the local culture.
If you're hosting a destination wedding abroad, consider including local spices or seasonings. For example, you could give guests jerk seasoning from Jamaica, Mexican spice blends from Cancun, or herbes de Provence from a French countryside wedding. Local drinks are another option, such as a bottle of limoncello from a wedding in Italy, or local craft beer or IPA. You could also offer small bottles of infused olive oil, a perfect favour for a Greek destination wedding.
If you're getting married in the UK, you could give guests local treats such as small bottles of gin from a Scottish distillery, shortbread, and postcards. Homemade baked goods are another option, or custom-made candies with your monogram. You could also offer guests a taste of your favourite treats, such as mini jars of BBQ sauce from the restaurant where you had your first date.
Local treats can also be incorporated into the wedding favours. For example, a wedding planner created a favour table full of local treats like honey and chocolate at her Hudson Valley wedding. If you're hosting a wedding in the South, grits would make a lovely favour for guests to enjoy at home. You could also give guests a "doggie bag" full of treats, or jars of an alternative sweet, like mini chocolate mousse favours in customised mason jars.
When creating welcome bags, it's important to consider practicality. Guests may not want items that will be annoying to pack and take up space in their luggage. Edible treats are a great option as they can be consumed during the trip and don't need to be carried around or brought back home. Local treats can also be more cost-effective than other gifts, such as picture frames or ornaments.
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Reusable bags are a good option
Reusable bags are a great option for destination wedding welcome bags. They are a fun, personalised treat for your guests and a way to thank them for travelling to celebrate with you. They can also be used to introduce your guests to the wedding location, especially if you include local treats and snacks.
A welcome bag doesn't have to be a bag, but a cute tote is always useful. Reusable tote bags can be packed away for future use and are a great multi-purpose option for your guests. They can be used during the trip, for example, a beach bag for lounging on the beach. You could also provide a box in your wedding colour, which is reusable, sturdy, and can be neatly packed.
You can also get creative with the contents of the bag. You could include a mix of practical items, edible treats, and local products. For example, snacks, drinks, and destination-specific must-haves such as sunscreen at the beach or pashminas in the mountains. You could also include a "Wedding Survival Kit" with essentials like a mini first-aid kit, lip balm, sunscreen, stain remover wipes, sewing kits, and heel protectors.
Additionally, you can add a personal touch with a handwritten welcome note or a special note from you and your partner. This will make your guests feel appreciated and is a meaningful detail that they will remember.
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It's a chance to be creative and have fun
Welcome bags for destination weddings are not a must-have, but they are a great way to thank your guests for travelling to celebrate with you. It's a chance to be creative and have fun, and there are endless possibilities for what to include.
Firstly, consider the bag itself. A cute tote is always useful, and can be easily packed away for future use. Beach bags are a great option if your destination is tropical, and can be used by your guests during their trip. If you're not using a bag, you could opt for a box or a basket, though these may be harder for your guests to take home.
Next, it's time to fill your bags with goodies! You can include treats that reflect the local culture, such as local snacks or spices, or a bottle of local craft beer or wine. You could also add in some practical items, like a mini first-aid kit, lip balm, sunscreen, or a hangover kit. If you're having a tropical wedding, include items like sunglasses, hand fans, and beach towels. For a winter wedding, think about including pashminas or cosy socks. You could also add a thoughtful, handwritten welcome note, or a timeline of the wedding events.
If you're feeling extra creative, you could make the welcome bags more personal by including something that you and your partner love, or by choosing items that reflect your love story. You could also take a cue from the season and include items that will help your guests brave the elements. For example, if you're getting married in the UK, you could include British snacks and small bottles of gin.
Remember, it's not about how much the gifts are worth, but the thought that you put into them. Your guests will appreciate the extra touch, and it's a lovely way to kick off the wedding festivities!
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Frequently asked questions
Welcome bags are not necessary for a destination wedding. However, they are a great way to show your guests how grateful you are for their attendance and can be a fun, personalised treat to kick off the festivities.
The container for the welcome bag doesn't have to be a bag. While a cute tote is always useful, you could also use a box or basket. Make sure the container you choose is not too big, so you don't have to buy too many products to fill it.
Welcome bags can include a mix of fun and practical items. Some ideas include local treats and snacks, local spices or seasonings, a bottle of water or local craft beer, a "wedding survival kit" with essentials like a mini first-aid kit, lip balm, sunscreen, and stain remover wipes, and something personal that you and your partner love.
The cost of welcome bags can vary depending on your budget and the size of your guest list. The average cost is $15-25 per bag, but they can range from $10 to $100 or more. Remember, it's the thought that counts, and you can make the bags more luxe by adding personalised touches.
You can hand out the welcome bags yourself when you greet your guests in the lobby or at their hotel room door. This is a great way to let them know how happy you are that they came. You can also give the bags to your guests before they travel, so they can enjoy the goodies on their way to the destination.
