Lyla Dejesus
Wedding welcome bags are a great way to greet your guests and make them feel appreciated. They are usually given to out-of-town guests but can also be prepared for all guests, depending on your budget. These goodie bags often contain treats, practical items, and information about the wedding and local area. You can use totes, boxes, or baskets to hold the items, which can double as souvenirs in themselves. Here are some essential and creative ideas for what to include in your wedding welcome bags:
- A welcome note: A simple, meaningful, and personalised message will make your guests feel special.
- Itinerary: Providing a schedule of events ensures guests know where to be and when, especially if they are not familiar with the area.
- Map and local guide: Include a map of the area and suggestions for things to do, such as restaurant recommendations and must-see attractions.
- Snacks and drinks: Offer a mix of sweet and savoury treats, with a focus on local specialties or the couple's favourites.
- Water bottles: Provide sustainable water bottles or tumblers, which can be customised with your wedding design or a personal message.
- Hangover kit: Include painkillers, eye masks, mints, and hydrating drinks or electrolytes for the morning after.
- Weather essentials: Sunscreen, fans, and sunglasses for warm weather, or hand warmers and umbrellas for colder climates.
- Personalised items: Monogrammed tote bags, candles, or koozies make great souvenirs.
- Party starters: Mini champagne bottles, local craft beer, or personalised mocktails will get the festivities started.
- Practical items: Lip balm, sewing kits, band-aids, and stain removers will prepare your guests for any last-minute emergencies.
- Local souvenirs: Support local businesses and include items such as keychains, mugs, or postcards that showcase the wedding locale.
Remember to keep the bags simple and consider your guests' preferences and needs. Personalised touches, such as handwritten notes or items reflecting the couple's personalities, will make the welcome bags even more special.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To thank guests for coming and make them feel at home, especially if they've travelled for the wedding |
| Who receives them? | Out-of-town guests, and sometimes local guests too |
| Who pays? | Usually the couple, but if the couple's parents are helping to cover wedding costs, they may offer to pay |
| What's inside? | A mix of practical and personal items, e.g. snacks, drinks, local treats, pampering essentials, health and safety supplies, weatherproof essentials, and hangover kits |
| Other items | Handwritten notes, local guides and maps, local discounts, souvenirs, and wedding essentials like mints, sewing kits, and pain relievers |
| How to package | Totes, boxes, baskets, or paper bags, personalised with the couple's names, initials, wedding date, or monogram |
| When to give out | Ideally, welcome bags are ready for guests as soon as they arrive, either in their hotel room or at check-in |
Local treats
Local Eats and Treats
Think about including some locally made snacks, pantry goodies, and other edible treats that showcase the unique flavours of your wedding destination. For example, if you're getting married in Chicago, you could include Garrett's Popcorn Shop popcorn; for San Francisco, Ghirardelli Chocolate; or locally-grown oranges for a Florida wedding. Every state and country has its own special snacks to choose from. If you're tying the knot in Manchester, Vermont, consider putting Cabot cheddar and crackers, O.W.L. energy bars, and VerMints in your welcome bags.
Drinks
In addition to snacks, your guests will also appreciate something to sip on. This could be coconut water for a tropical destination wedding, mini bottles of wine for a vineyard soirée, or locally brewed beer for ranch nuptials. If you're getting married in England, you could include the ingredients for a gin and tonic in your welcome bags. Even if you just include a bottle of water, you can make it special with a custom label that reflects the local scene or your wedding theme.
Local Favourites
If you're tying the knot in a meaningful location, your welcome bag is a great opportunity to introduce your guests to local favourites. For example, if you're getting married in Stowe, Vermont, you could include local snacks like popcorn, apples, and maple syrup. Or, if you're in Maryland, include local favourites like chips, jam, and cookies.
Destination-Specific Items
Choose items that are known for being specific to your wedding locale. For a wedding on Maryland's Eastern Shore, Old Bay-flavoured snacks are a must. If you're getting married somewhere known for a particular food item or flavour, make that the theme of your welcome bag.
Local Discounts
In addition to providing local snacks and drinks, you can also help your guests get out and explore the area by securing some local discounts they can take advantage of during their stay. For example, you could arrange for discounted cups of coffee from a local coffee house.
Local Souvenirs
Include a small souvenir from the area in your welcome bags, such as a postcard, fridge magnet, or other local memento. This will give your guests a little taste of the local culture and something to remember their trip by.
Remember to keep your welcome bags simple and functional, choosing items that your guests will actually use and enjoy. Local treats are a great way to showcase the unique flavours and culture of your wedding destination, leaving your guests with a memorable taste of the area.
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Practical items
Wedding welcome bags are a great way to greet your guests and make them feel appreciated. They are especially useful for out-of-town guests or destination weddings, but they are also common for local weddings. These bags are usually filled with a mix of practical and personal items. Here are some ideas for practical items to include:
Health and Safety Supplies
These items will help your guests stay safe and healthy during the wedding festivities. Include items like hand sanitiser, sunscreen, insect repellent, and lip balm. You could also add earplugs for those who need a quiet moment on the dance floor, or fans to keep everyone cool during an outdoor ceremony.
Hangover Kit
Help your guests combat any morning-after ailments with a hangover kit. Include items like pain relievers, breath mints, eye masks, and hydrating drinks or electrolytes. These items are easy to buy in bulk and will be appreciated by your guests.
Water Bottles
It's important to keep your guests hydrated, especially if they're celebrating and dancing the night away. Offer reusable water bottles that they can bring with them to events or have handy the morning after. You can even customise the bottles with a cute label or your wedding hashtag.
Snacks
Offer a mix of sweet and savoury snacks to tide your guests over between meals. Go for local treats or snacks exclusive to the area to introduce your guests to the flavours of the region. You could also include your and your partner's favourite snacks to add a personal touch. Just remember to consider any dietary restrictions or allergies your guests may have.
Weather Essentials
Prepare your guests for the weather conditions, especially if your wedding is outdoors. For warm weather, provide items like mini bottles of sunscreen, fans, after-sun lotion, or insect repellent. For colder climates, think about including hand warmers, umbrellas, or cosy extras like small blankets or pashminas.
Local Maps and Guides
Provide your guests with a map of the area, especially if they are visiting from out of town. You can also create a personalised guide with your favourite local spots, must-see attractions, and restaurant recommendations. This will help your guests make the most of their time and explore the area beyond the wedding venue.
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Personalised touches
Names and Personalised Messages
Add name tags to each bag to make your guests feel extra special. You could also include a handwritten note or a printed message from you and your partner, expressing your gratitude and welcoming them to the festivities. If you have the time, try to add a personal anecdote or a specific message for each guest. Don't forget to include your wedding hashtag at the bottom of the note!
Favourite Snacks and Treats
In addition to generic snacks, consider including your and your partner's favourite treats in the bags. This could be your favourite type of tea, your partner's favourite chocolate bar, or even some homemade jam. Include a little note explaining the significance of each item.
Monogrammed and Personalised Items
Monogrammed tote bags, candles, or custom koozies are great ways to add a personal touch and give your guests a memorable keepsake. You could also include other personalised items such as an initialled travel bag or a dish towel with your wedding monogram.
Theme and Colour Scheme
Choose items that reflect your wedding theme and colour scheme. For example, if you're having a beach wedding, include items such as sunscreen, fans, and sunglasses. If your wedding has a specific colour palette, try to incorporate those colours into the bags, tags, and other items.
Local Treats and Souvenirs
If your wedding is in a specific location that is special to you, include local treats and souvenirs in the bags. For example, if you're getting married in a coastal town, include a stick of rock or some locally made sweets. If you're tying the knot in a foreign country, add a small guidebook or map of the area, along with suggestions for restaurants and must-see attractions.
Something That Reflects Your Personalities
Include an item that reflects your and your partner's personalities or hobbies. For example, if you love playing cards, add a deck of cards with a personalised message. If you're known for your love of candles, include a candle with a scent that reminds you of your partner.
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Destination guides
A thoughtful addition to your wedding welcome bags is a destination guide, especially if your wedding is in a city or town that holds a lot of meaning for you and your partner. This will help your guests get to know the area and is a great way to immerse them in the region. You can include a small guide to the area with maps, restaurant recommendations, or must-see attractions. You could even include a custom illustration of your ceremony's setting on the cover of this booklet.
If you're getting married abroad, you could print a welcoming message in the local language on the tote bags you give to each guest. For example, if you're getting married in Mexico, you could print "Bienvenido a Mexico" on the bags. Alternatively, you could include a local language translation sheet with key phrases to help your guests get by.
If you're getting married in a fun city, include some visitor information to inspire your guests' pre-wedding excursions. You could also include a list of your favourite local hotspots, or a custom map with your go-to spots marked, along with the ceremony and reception locations, and any shuttle or transportation information.
If you're getting married in a country that's famous for its food, include a list of dishes your guests should try, or a guide to the local food culture.
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Wellness kits
Focus on Self-Care
Include items that promote relaxation and self-care, such as:
- Luxurious bath products like artisanal bar soap, mini hand lotions, bath salts, or essential oils.
- Comfort items like cosy socks, a soft eye mask, or a small candle.
- A simple beauty or grooming product, such as lip balm.
Prepare for the Morning After
Help your guests combat any post-wedding ailments with a mini hangover kit. This can include:
- Pain relievers like ibuprofen or aspirin.
- Electrolyte packets or vitamin C sachets to boost energy and hydration.
- Breath mints or chewing gum to freshen their breath.
- A small bottle of water with a custom label.
Local Wellness Products
Introduce your guests to the area by including local wellness products. For example:
- Local craft beer or miniature bottles of wine from a nearby vineyard.
- Local spa products, such as handmade soaps or bath bombs.
- Herbal teas or natural remedies from the region.
Practical Wellness Items
In addition to indulgent items, include some practical wellness essentials such as:
- Bandaids for blisters or minor injuries.
- Hand sanitiser to keep germs at bay.
- Weather essentials like sunscreen, after-sun lotion, insect repellent, or hand warmers, depending on the climate.
Personal Touches
Add a personal touch to your wellness kits to make your guests feel special:
- Include a handwritten note expressing your thanks and welcoming them to the wedding.
- Choose items that reflect your and your partner's favourite wellness products, such as a favourite tea blend or a candle in a scent you both love.
- If you have the time, add name tags to each kit for an extra personalised touch.
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Frequently asked questions
A mix of practical and personal items. Practical items could include water, snacks, a local map, a small hangover kit, and weather essentials. Personal items could include a handwritten note, your favourite snacks, a personalised bag, and a small gift that reflects your personality, like a candle or a deck of cards.
Welcome bags are typically for out-of-town guests, but if your budget allows, you may also want to include local guests, especially if they're staying overnight at a hotel or attending a full weekend of events.
If you're having a destination wedding, it's best to have the welcome bags ready for guests as soon as they arrive. If you're having a local wedding, it's typical to have welcome bags ready at the various hotels or other guest accommodations. If you're hosting a welcome party or rehearsal dinner, you can also distribute the bags there.
You can use totes, boxes, or baskets to hold your wedding welcome bag items. Package your bags in a way that showcases your wedding's theme and your personality. For example, if you're having a waterfront wedding, you may want a nautical-style tote with a rope handle.
If you and your partner are paying for the wedding yourselves, gift bags and guest favours typically fall to you. But if your parents are helping to cover costs, they may offer to pay for the welcome bags.
