Welcome Bags for Guests Staying in Private Homes?

potterybygrace

I plan to provide welcome bags for guests staying in hotels at my wedding. I have several family members and family friends who are attending and staying in private homes. Should I provide these guests with welcome bags as well? I haven't seen anything written on this topic. Thanks for your replies, my wedding is March 30th, 2013.

Kate61487

I vote no.  Welcome bags aren't necessary and, in my experience, their general purpose is to give the guests an idea of what they can do in the area and provide them with some 'away from home' conveneinces like free water or a snack they don't have to pay $12 for.  Presumably if they're staying with friends/family they can get recommendations for activites from their hosts and will have access to water and snacks.

Summer2011Bride

I would do hotel guests only at the hotel where you have blocked rooms. It would be a nightmare trying to track everyone else down and find out their lodging arrangements.

daveANDkristen

I would probably only give them to hotel guests, not those staying in private homes.  What is the relationship of those in the hotel to those in the private homes?  I could see if there are two close relatives, one at a hotel with his family and the other at a home with her family, you might want to make bags for everyone.  Just in case the conversation comes up, "oh that trail mix in pottery's welcome bag was so good", "what welcome bag...?".  I doubt this would be a big deal to anyone, just giving you another perspective.

winelover123

It would be a nice touch - just some info on the area and things like that. But I don't see it as necessary.

MoonlightSilver

I would not give welcome bags to people staying with family or friends, unless you were putting some sort of homemade food in the bag. And in that case, I'd just drop off some of the homemade food, not a whole welcome bag.

If they are renting private homes and they will be the only ones there (ie they're renting from strangers who are not in the home), then I would provide them with a normal welcome bag if you have a way to get the bag to them without too much stress (ie you're not driving out of your way to meet them 2 days before the wedding when you should be doing something else).

rintin10

Do something for everyone. If I didnt have money to reserve a hotel room, and stayed with a friend/family member in a private home, and heard people who reserved a room got a little something that I didnt, I'd be slightly offended, or at least let down... Maybe you don't need as elaborate or fancy or detailed, but something saying welcome thanks for coming have a great time enjoy the wedding whatnot, it would be a nice gesture. I personally dont think you should do something for one group of people and not everyone at the wedding. The people staying in private homes are coming into town for your wedding too, just not staying at a hotel.

s-aries8990

I'm on team "hotel blocks only."  You're already going above and beyond for guests who are having to stay in a strange place to celebrate with you. As PP's said, they usually have some sort of snacks/beverages/suggestions that are more difficult to come by when in a hotel than when staying with family.

But, this is under the assumption that you found an affordable place to block rooms at (whatever affordable means in your area, in my area $100/night isn't cray cray). As Moonlight said, if there was something homemade, try and drop some off to private homes, but if you can't, don't worry.

If someone is offended that they didn't get a poland springs with a special label, it's their problem to deal with.

potterybygrace

Thanks Ladies! This has been a big help!

xoxo, Grace