Everything You Need to Know About Wedding Welcome Bags

You may be wondering how to enhance your wedding guests' experience and visit for your wedding. Wedding Welcome Bags should showcase your personalities, provide guests a weekend forecast, and help them get the most out of their visit.

The best way to welcome your guests and express your gratitude and excitement for their participation in your wedding events (especially if they traveled to be there) is to present a thoughtful wedding welcome bag upon their arrival. Welcome Bags set the tone for your overall guest experience with contents that familiarize them with the area, prepare them for all of the wedding events, and accommodate essential needs for their visit.

WHO RECEIVES A BAG? Out-of-Town Guests Family Wedding Party VIP's *These can be per person, per family, or per couple.

*If you are distributing these per family or couple, be sure to include 2 of the packed products. WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE BAG:

Combine fun and practical items with a personal touch. What is local to the area? What is the wedding theme? What contributes to their comfort and needs during their stay?

If the wedding takes place near a beach location, consider beach appropriate products such as sunscreen, beach towels, lip balm, sunglasses, caps or hats, a beach ball, and flip flops. Place the items in a beach bag to coordinate with the theme. If you're a drinking crowd, maybe consider hangover survival kits that contain hydration items, pain reliever, bottled water, mints, snacks, and an eye mask for sleep.

Introduce your guests to the area with local products. Kona, Hawaii is known for Kona Coffee and Macadamia Nuts, so those would be great items to include. Do you have favorite goodies from your area that you wish to share with your guests? Perhaps there is a special popcorn or chocolate you want them to experience. Miniature versions of these are perfect for your bag. Snacks and reusable water bottles are always a great idea for Welcome Bags. A good rule of thumb is to include something sweet, something salty/savory, and something to drink.

Are you a chef or baker? Is there something you make that would be perfect for your guests to enjoy? Maybe you make a mean chocolate chip cookie and think it would be the perfect late night sweet treat for them to enjoy. Personalize their welcome bag with something delicious you have made with love.

Be creative with the packaging. Beach bags, picnic baskets, portable cooler packs, and reusable shopping bags all make perfect welcome bags vessels. Note that consumable snacks and beverages are always a good idea.

Not all of the contents need to be consumable. Consider including some spa or beauty products for in-room pampering Think face masks, moisturizer, luxe toiletries, essential oils, artisanal soap, an eye mask, a koozie, or after-sun care. Other products like bug spray, hand sanitizer, ear plugs, and/or a travel charger.

Think like a tourist and include a small souvenirs like playing cards, luggage tags, key chains, or candles. If you are able to offer them discounts or coupons on local places and items, feel free to include those.

Functional items to inform your guests of the wedding logistics and itinerary, facts about the area, maps, and a list of your favorite restaurants and shops in the area. Perhaps include a guide of things to do in the area and a local magazine.

Be sure to write a thoughtful note to share your appreciation of their attendance and excitement for the festivities. A handwritten note is the best personal touch that makes your guests feel special.

HOW TO BE EFFICIENT

1. Order and collect your items early to provide enough time for assembly and distribution.

2. Count your items as soon as you receive them and replace any damaged or missing items.

3. Assembly is time-consuming, so be sure to enlist the help of others. Make it fun and plan a pizza party night.

4. You will need a storage space in your home to keep boxes of the items until you are ready to put these bags together.

5. If you are transporting everything to another location for assembly, be sure to accurately account for loading, transportation space and logistics, unloading at the venue, and a space to line up the bags for assembly. You are basically creating an assembly line.

6. Arrange a definitive plan for distribution. You may need to get travel arrival dates/times, hotel information, etc., and enlist the help of others for delivery.

HOW TO DELIVER THE BAG

1. Have the hotel place these in the guest rooms. (there may be a fee for this)

2. Have the hotel present them at the front desk upon check in.

3. Distribute them at the Welcome Party or in your hostess suite.