What can I say? Snarky brides have great responses...

Chipmunk415

Hi Ladies!

I asked here previously thoughts about chocolate and cheese fondues (FI is a fondue-aholic). Next topic: welcome bags!!

I'm making welcome bags for our blocked rooms. I want to make sure I'm not missing anything important, but can't spend the gobs of cash on these that the "must haves" lists on the knot suggest. Below is the list: (and side note, this is in North Florida, with most guests coming from the North East).

Mini water bottles ( 8 oz)

Bags of little Pretzels (provided I can prevent FI from eating them all)

packets of tylenol, pepto bismol

5 stick packs of chewing gum

individual shout stain wipes

map with directions to wedding/reception venue (all in one)

handwritten welcome note with both signatures

1 oz bottles of sunscreen

something sweet (mini candy bars?)

I'm trying to get ahold of my city's visitor bureau as to whether they have those maps with the major landmarks/museums, etc on them to also include. Most of my city is pretty easy to get around, but there's a few roads that change names no fewer than 3 times. Also, most everyone has a smart phone or gps, except my parents, but I've taken them around before. The wedding website contains info on various restaurants and things to do, complete with link to website for each.

 

I'm additionally putting together two sets of bags for the 4 kids in attendance: three are flower girls, one is the little brother of a flower girl.

Welcome bags:

Juice box(es)

Crackers, granola bars, fruit snacks

Sweet treat

hot wheels or similar toy (for the little brother)

age appropriate book/ interesting magazine on animals such as zoobooks (all three girls are avid readers and animal lovers)

Note to each of them welcoming them and thanking them for coming to celebrate with us.

 

Wedding activity bags:

Coloring books

colored pencils

book or age appropriate magazine

 

I'm also considering setting up an area just off the reception room with a table for the kid with a few age appropriate puzzles and quiet board games. I'm aware that no child will want to sit quietly for 2.5-3 hours (we're not having dancing) and want them to be able to do something fun without screaming.

HisGirlFriday13

Those sound awesome! We did wedding activity bags, too. We put stickers in those (kids were 2.5, 5, 7, and 8), and they loved them!

edandy

A wedding I was a bridesmaid for did welcome baskets too. I loved it and I think it's a wonderful idea. You could try air-popping popcorn and making it caramel or something, that would be cheap and easy. You could find recipes online. Another thing we did was a cheap/half bottle of wine and two glasses. We found pairs of wine glasses at thrift shops and washed them really good. That's more expensive but it was a really nice treat. 

hikebikebemerry

What about oragnges or seasonal fruit? Maybe I am strange, but when I am done traveling I want something healthier than what I have probably been eating all day. I live in New England, and I think oranges would be cute, cheap, and very "Florida". Maybe I need to lay off of the cold meds and sleep? Eta: autocorrect doesn't like me today

Belthil

I think what you have sounds delightful and your guests are lucky. I love @edandy's idea about the air popcorn. I'd throw it in my purse for if I got hungry while exploring and would think of you while I ate it.  

Jessa617

Maybe something that's special or local to Florida- like PP mentioned oranges. A lot of people in my neck of the woods would do salt water taffy since that's a Massachusetts thing. 

Otherwise it sounds like you have it covered!

cruffino

Sounds good to me!

thisismynickname2

Different perspective. Are some of those things just a waste of money? I'm a savvy traveler- I will have tylenol, pepto, and sunscreen. Gum is a given on any day. And if I forgot something, I'd go to the hotel's sundries kiosk or gift shop (assuming the hotel has one). Plus, that's more stuff I have to shove back in my bag to go home.

I'd stick to special local and/or perishable things. Oranges and granola bars, water, tourist maps and the like sound great. Personally I wouldn't break the bank though. The shout-wipes sound handy.

Pro-tip: double and triple check your guest list. The last wedding I went to, I booked the hotel and RSVP'd by deadline and for some reason the bride had no idea. She was surprised when I said I'd taken the shuttle to the reception because she didn't know I was staying there, and she felt bad that I didn't get a gift bag. Oh well, like I said, I don't need stuff I'd just throw away or have to jam in my bag. 

jdluvr06

I think that is great! I'm planning on putting together someone for the little ones who are going to be at my wedding. Thankfully I don't have to worry about people traveling in because all the guest except for one (well technically 4 because they are a family) and they are staying with my aunt and uncle. I like the PPs idea about oranges. I love fresh fruit and would appreciate something regional.

Chipmunk415

Update: I've decided to also put word search books in the wedding day activity bags with the coloring books.

 

Looking at putting in halo oranges (FL's state fruit is the orange) in the welcome bags. Did some pricing online and at costco. Nickname, I get what you're saying about travelling with what you need. The sizes of the items I'm talking about are small, travel size, and people do forget from time to time. I will take your advice under consideration.

 

Re: guest list totals- we invited 85. We've had 3 people decline and currently have 32 confirmed. I have 36 bags at the moment (one per guest room). I just want to get everything organized in advance so I'm not scrambling at the last minute. The RSVPs are due a week and a half after the room block special rate ends, so I should be able to contact the hotel and get final room counts pretty easily.

 

Thanks!