If you're on a tight budget, skip them. They're not necessary, and honestly, I can pick up a couple of bottles of water, a granola bar, and pamphlets from the concierge desk.
I think they're okay if you have the budget, but completely unneccessary if you don't. Save the $$ and put it to something else.
"Trix, it's what they/our parents wanted. Why so judgemental? And why is your wedding date over a year and a half ago? And why do you not have a groom's name? And why have you posted over 12,000 posts? And why do you always say mean things to brides?" palegirl146
Depending on how many you are making, they can be inexpensive. I recently received one that had 2 bottles of water, a pack of gum, four packs of Nabs, some assorted chocolate candies (Reese's miniatures and the like), some Tic Tacs and the free maps, brochures, etc.
As a PP said, you can definitely skip them if they aren't in your budget. I've never expected one at a wedding its just a nice touch when you do get one.
The cost is totally your call. We kinda spent a lot on ours but that was our choice. We have bottled water, mini tylenol packs, granola bars, munchies mix, trail mix, certs, assorted candies, a cigar for the guys and a mini bottle of white and red wine for the girls in each bag. Plus a tourist information booklet for the area.
You can easily do something like water, granola bar, and trail mix or something. And you can get cheap gift bags at the dollar store or Michael's with a coupon. We went to Sams club and bought everything in bulk, other than the cigars and wine. Our bags probably total about $15-$20 each.
I was just at a destination wedding where we received welcome bags filled with a bottle of water, 2 HUGS (they're juice drinks that we all loved as kids), granola bars, a bag of chips (the snack size), 2 packs of gum, a packet of acetaminophen, one of ibuprofen, a pack of wet wipes, a chapstick, hand sanitizer, key chain flashlights, and maps and brochures of the area that were free. I helped the bride get the supplies and helped her make them up. All told including the bags, she ended up spending $7.62/guest. She had 20 guests = total spend $152.40. That was money she could afford to spend on them in her budget. And the hotel didn't charge an extra fee for handing them out the guests (something to check on on before you make any decisions regarding them). Welcome bags are nice, but if your budget is that tight- don't worry about them. They aren't required and your guests won't expect them.
"It's easy to halve the potato where there's love."
- Irish Proverb
Mine were simple and only cost a few dollars per bag. We put 2 water bottles with custom labels in them, 2 drink mixes to mix with the water, a handfull of blue and silver hershey kisses (our colors), 2 packs of crackers, a welcome letter, free brochures from around the city, and some band-aids/cough drops/Q-tips/personal items. I think it ended up being $3 or $4 dollars a bag.
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I am doing water bottles with custom labels (dyi) - a map that I am doing from www.weddingmapper.com (free and custom)- some pamphlets from around the area (the wedding is during the International Balloon Fiesta so we are adding info about that too) - a Welcome letter from me and FI - a Wedding Mad-Lib that I printed that they can bring to the rehersal dinner or reception for us -and some local flavor foods like local cookies, pinon nuts, small chips and salsa - we will probablly add the ibuprophen too. I bought white paper gift bags (Michaels) and will stamp our logo on it and but a ribbon. I am not spending a lot on the bag, because I think realistically no one will want them or use them later. I know people who do a welcome book with a letter, mad and info about the area - that would only cost the price of the printing and "binding"
Good Luck! You can have a lot of fun with this for not a ton of money!
Some times the right guy does come aroud twice!********
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120 Invited! 83 Are coming to share our joy! 37 Will be missing out! 0 Are Driving me crazy by not retruning that postage paid card! We called on the due date and pestered for answers!
I just finished making our welcome bags and they came out super cute! i'm not sure of the exact cost per bag but they weren't expensive and we really wanted to add this personal touch since we had alot of out of town guests coming here just for our wedding. i bought brown craft bags from Joann Fabrics (they were $6.99 for 13) and used a stamp that i also used for the outside envelope of our invitations to decorate the front. I wrote "Welcome" next to the stamp design...i filled the inside with paper shred and put propel water bottles, reeces pieces, twizzlers, mini pretzel bags, granola bars, gum & hand sanitizer.We got most everything at sams! We will also include a welcome booklet with a thank you note, map, directions, & weekend itinerary. I'm just using a regular 8.5 x 11 piece of cardstock and folding it in half and using a home printer. I also made name tags out of ivory and green card stock, our stamp and some gold ribbon. They came out really cute! I think if you can afford it, definitely do it guests appreciate it and its a nice way to personalize your wedding! good luck
IMO- these are an unnecessary item, SKIP THEM! As Trix said, any items guests may have forgotten can be gotten from the hotel desk. They deal with hundreds of customers a week and are accustomed to people leaving things at home and needing things in a bind. It's part of what you pay for when staying somewhere.
Some people don't drink water. (I know, bad idea, but it's true) Some people don't like chocolate. Most hotels offer maps at the door. Some people don't snack, or may not like your snack. Overall I think these items tend to be more of a waste than useful. And I say this in experience after attending several conferences where they give you a welcome bag at the door.
Instead maybe use that money to put towards favors, longer time with the DJ, better food- etc.
If you still really want to do the bags, limit the amount of items and prices of items in the bags.
Re: Welcome Bag Ideas?
I think they're okay if you have the budget, but completely unneccessary if you don't. Save the $$ and put it to something else.
As a PP said, you can definitely skip them if they aren't in your budget. I've never expected one at a wedding its just a nice touch when you do get one.
The cost is totally your call. We kinda spent a lot on ours but that was our choice. We have bottled water, mini tylenol packs, granola bars, munchies mix, trail mix, certs, assorted candies, a cigar for the guys and a mini bottle of white and red wine for the girls in each bag. Plus a tourist information booklet for the area.
You can easily do something like water, granola bar, and trail mix or something. And you can get cheap gift bags at the dollar store or Michael's with a coupon. We went to Sams club and bought everything in bulk, other than the cigars and wine. Our bags probably total about $15-$20 each.
With All the Trimmings
That was money she could afford to spend on them in her budget. And the hotel didn't charge an extra fee for handing them out the guests (something to check on on before you make any decisions regarding them).
Welcome bags are nice, but if your budget is that tight- don't worry about them. They aren't required and your guests won't expect them.
I know people who do a welcome book with a letter, mad and info about the area - that would only cost the price of the printing and "binding"
Good Luck! You can have a lot of fun with this for not a ton of money!
I just finished making our welcome bags and they came out super cute! i'm not sure of the exact cost per bag but they weren't expensive and we really wanted to add this personal touch since we had alot of out of town guests coming here just for our wedding.
i bought brown craft bags from Joann Fabrics (they were $6.99 for 13) and used a stamp that i also used for the outside envelope of our invitations to decorate the front. I wrote "Welcome" next to the stamp design...i filled the inside with paper shred and put propel water bottles, reeces pieces, twizzlers, mini pretzel bags, granola bars, gum & hand sanitizer.We got most everything at sams! We will also include a welcome booklet with a thank you note, map, directions, & weekend itinerary. I'm just using a regular 8.5 x 11 piece of cardstock and folding it in half and using a home printer. I also made name tags out of ivory and green card stock, our stamp and some gold ribbon. They came out really cute! I think if you can afford it, definitely do it
guests appreciate it and its a nice way to personalize your wedding! good luck 
Some people don't drink water. (I know, bad idea, but it's true) Some people don't like chocolate. Most hotels offer maps at the door. Some people don't snack, or may not like your snack. Overall I think these items tend to be more of a waste than useful. And I say this in experience after attending several conferences where they give you a welcome bag at the door.
Instead maybe use that money to put towards favors, longer time with the DJ, better food- etc.
If you still really want to do the bags, limit the amount of items and prices of items in the bags.