Wedding welcome bags for out of town guests

[ExPirateShopGirl]

A combination of things out-of-town guests might find refreshing and convenient (many of which have been suggested):

A few bottles of water, or perhaps a larger bottle of better sparkling water. A lip balm. A couple of individual serving-sized bags of Milano or Biskoffs. Two or three pieces of whole fruit, oranges or apples or bananas. A container of Tic Tacs. A variety of individual tea bags. Packages of dried fruit snacks. Some 100-calorie snack bags. Put the items in a cute reusable shopping tote that can be folded and put in a suitcase for the flight home.

Also helpful: Maps, list of restaurants and other places of interest. Cell phone numbers of the principals. Schedule of events.

 

[shortbun]

I would include two apples, some trail mix, microwave popcorn if the rooms have microwaves, water bottles(could you make wraps for those that said 'Susie and Tom's Wedding' or include something with your names on it. ( I think you should put the real names on them, lol!) As said, event schedule, maps, phone numbers of venues. Are you throwing bird seed or blowing bubbles when you leave the church? Little bottles of bubbles would be great and could be used throughout the weekend-entertain children and so forth. Pens, writing paper, a plain envelope. Tape, I always need tape when I'm away for a weekend, especially if I have a gift to wrap.
Have a great wedding!!!

 

[annsteere]

Small package of tissues. Lots of these got opened at sentimental moments in the celebration.

Most valued: a handwritten note from the bride/groom affirming what the guest had meant in their life and thanking them for making the effort to be part of the wedding.

 

[KigerKat]

We did this for our wedding a few years ago. Since we got married in North Carolina, we wanted to include a couple of things that were regional to the area (Lance Crackers and Cheerwine). We also included informational pamphlets about the area, pens from the local Chamber of Commerce, important phone numbers, a map to the wedding, and a cute crossword about me and DH.

 

[Soulsearching]

You got some great ideas so far.

I skimmed through all the replies and I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but you may want to mention or get a copy from the hotel about what time breakfast for the out of town guest will be served and give them a copy of the menue.

The out of town wedding basket I received at one wedding had all of the above including the time and menue for breakfast that was being served by the hotel next morning,

The bride and grooms' honeymoom was Hawaii. They showed up at breakfast to thank everyone for coming and they were dressed in Hawaii attire giving out leis to all their guest. I just loved this!

 

[beansmom]

we are having a Ren Faire wedding in the Dallas area next month--we are from Boston and our guests from all over the country. in addition to venue info and maps, water--we are putting in some 'home-grown Texas items' such as Frito Lay chips, Pace salsa, pralines, Dr Pepper--i'm considering Dr Pepper flavored beef jerky. I have a week before the wedding to get all my stuff together. I am also going to make chocolate castles and put them in the baskets for the renaissance theme.

 

[teacup princess]

We got one of these once. It had bottled water, fruit, a map, welcome note from the bride and groom, and some handmade snacks like white chocolate dipped pretzel rods and cookies. It was very classy and well appreciated.

However, one note, find out from the hotel if yours will be the only wedding party staying there that weekend and MAKE SURE they know which party to give them to! When we got ours I was super impressed that my sometimes unthoughtful family had made these for their guests. Being hungry and parched from our trip we POURED into ours in the elevator, drinking the water and eating the yummy pretzel rods and snacks. Once we got to the room we opened the welcome note and realized it was from a DIFFERENT bride and groom. There were apparently two different sets of wedding guests staying there that weekend. I felt bad but by the time we realized it we couldn't give back a half-eaten bag of goodies. I wonder how many other of the wrong guests they gave those to that weekend.

 

[MissBritt]

We got one of these once. It had bottled water, fruit, a map, welcome note from the bride and groom, and some handmade snacks like white chocolate dipped pretzel rods and cookies. It was very classy and well appreciated.

However, one note, find out from the hotel if yours will be the only wedding party staying there that weekend and MAKE SURE they know which party to give them to! When we got ours I was super impressed that my sometimes unthoughtful family had made these for their guests. Being hungry and parched from our trip we POURED into ours in the elevator, drinking the water and eating the yummy pretzel rods and snacks. Once we got to the room we opened the welcome note and realized it was from a DIFFERENT bride and groom. There were apparently two different sets of wedding guests staying there that weekend. I felt bad but by the time we realized it we couldn't give back a half-eaten bag of goodies. I wonder how many other of the wrong guests they gave those to that weekend.

This is the case more often than not. We went to one years ago with 4 weddings on the same weekend at the same hotel, and 3 of the grooms had the same first name!

 

[secretpantssam]

Thanks guys! Great ideas. We're getting married right outside of Philly, so I figured I'd put some info on great places to go in the city.

And I'll check with the hotel...I'd never think that they would get the bags confused, but I'll try to make sure they won't.

 

[Jack&Ryan'smom]

At my cousin's wedding she did the usual water, mints, advil, some chocolate from a local shop, but the thing I thought was different was she made muffins. There were 2 wrapped nicely in celophane tied with a nice ribbon.

 

[goNDmay9]

i skimmed through - and all the things suggested are great. also - check out vistaprint too if you want to make your own bags. If you want to pm me, i think i have some templates for water bottles (it was easier to just to buy those at michaels though) and some bag tags templates.

Also - you can make hershey labels (i can send you the template) that say HISANDHERS or HEANDSHE and you can wrap that around the hershey bars or other candy templates.

i will take a look and see what i saved off!!!! HAPPY WEDDING!!!