Welcome bags???

M&MJK · May 2012

I am recently engaged and have been reading magazines and advice columns like crazy. The mention of "welcome gift bags" for out of town guests keeps popping up, but I am confused about them. When did these become the norm? ARE they the norm? What is put in them? Are they optional (I hope so.)? I have lots of family and a few friends from out of town I expect will be attending. But I also have been to numeous out of town weddings and never received a welcome gift bag. Can someone please fill me in?

AmJam04 · May 2012

I'm not sure how buying local goods unique to your area, ibuprofen, coloring books + crayons, maps, and maybe a bag pumps more money into the wedding industry...

Welcome bags are a nice gesture -- particularly to guests who have never been to your area before. Are they REQUIRED? no. If they don't fit into your budget, then don't worry... Your guests will appreciate the experience of your wedding and reception.

mcskatcat · May 2012

You're not required to do them, by any means, but they are a nice gesture to your guests. I also think some people put stupid things in them. My SIL put a bottle of champage in each one for her wedding, which was totally not necessary and relies on the assumption that everybody drinks.

When we did ours, we basically went and got a lot of snacky stuff from Costco - granola bars, that kind of thing.

saacjw · May 2012

My mother has fallen in love with them. She got one at a wedding from a good friend/ colleuge and decided it was the greatest idea ever. It had things like snacks, some toilettries, and wedding information. No they're not necessary, but a lot of people think they're nice. We'll be doing them (in no small part to my mother being obsessed).

NOLAbridealmost · May 2012

I skipped them. I had law school final exams and graduation the week before the wedding and didn't have time.

MobKaz · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_welcome-bags-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:b671ead5-f4c1-430b-b391-4f02f08814fcPost:f3042c78-08fc-4673-9dd2-41eb363555f1">Re: Welcome bags???</a>:
[QUOTE]It's another wedding-related gimmick. Remember that the industry wants you to spend, spend, spend, and pump more money back into the wedding industry. Your reception is the thank-you to the guest. Put this money into upgrading food and drinks if you really want to do something special for them, and skip kitschy "welcome bags" and trinkets.
Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

I do not see this as a "wedding related gimmick". I view it as an issue of hospitality. Not everything is "kitschy" just because it pertains to a wedding. When I entertain in my home, I try my best to make my guests comfortable. That includes trying to incorporate either foods/drinks I know they will enjoy, or touches that they will appreciate. If they have gifted me anything in the past, I will make sure to put it out, or incorporate it into the "event".

I have been the recipient of OOT bags that included home baked cookies and bottled water. A note explaining that the cookies were a childhood favorite late night treat made the snack meaningful and endearing. That, coupled with a list of local restaurants, taxis, things to do, and "important" contact numbers, made for a simple, inexpensive, but thoughtful gesture.

As a previous poster stated, many of these bags can go a tad overboard, particularly if you have an "obsessed" mom. I can attest to the latter; color me obsessed! But we did have a lot of fun putting them together. Necessary? Absolutely not. Thoughtful? Yes. They can be as simple or grand as you choose to make them.

M&MJK · May 2012

Where, when, and how would they be distributed then? The invitations would include hotel information and maps to the wedding and reception sites. These guests would be checking into their hotels about the time I am probably getting things from the cleaners, having my nails done, finishing up last minute preps and such. I may not even see some of these people until the ceremony.

saacjw · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_welcome-bags-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:36Discussion:b671ead5-f4c1-430b-b391-4f02f08814fcPost:927792ee-28fc-4c31-b5f1-feb7862a3f9d">Re: Welcome bags???</a>:
[QUOTE]Where, when, and how would they be distributed then? The invitations would include hotel information and maps to the wedding and reception sites. These guests would be checking into their hotels about the time I am probably getting things from the cleaners, having my nails done, finishing up last minute preps and such. I may not even see some of these people until the ceremony.
Posted by M&MJK[/QUOTE]

They are generally left with the reception desk at the hotel to be given out as people check in. A lot of hotels have proceedures for this (they do similar things for conferences, etc). You do not need to be there as each guest arrives.

melb2013 · May 2012

I've been to events that had welcome bags and like it. It's nice to have some water and a snack for late at night and there is usually a "thank you for coming" note. I plan on doing welcome bags for our wedding. Nothing crazy- just something to drink, a snack, and a note with directions from the hotel to the ceremony/reception site.

edeielia · May 2012

Interesting...I had thought about doing something like this, but wasn't sure what to put in them. On the Big Bang Theory last week, they were kind of making fun of them, but now that I see some other ideas, I like it.

MairePoppy · May 2012

I agree with Retread. Welcome bags are not necessary.

All the guests at a recent wedding, were OOT guests. The bride and groom made up welcome beach bags with koozies, bottles of water, match boxes, bubbles, key chains all with their names and wedding date, sample size tylenol, pepto bismol and some snack items.They went all out for their wedding reception, so I won't say they should have put the money toward that. But I'm sure they could have found a better use for their money.

MrsMeganL2012 · May 2012

We're not doing them. Any overnight guests will be checking in before the ceremony, then going to the ceremony/reception, and checking out the following morning. I just don't see the bags as necessary or worth the money in my case. We're putting that money instead towards hosting breakfast the following morning.

aragx6 · May 2012

I plan to do them, but they're near the bottom of my priority list so if it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. I think they're awfully cute though and shows that you're thinking of your guests!

lilbitbeaker · May 2012

everyone coming for my wedding from out-of-town is from here origionally and still has family here (closer family than me lol).
my cousins from Norway are coming. They come every year and stay with us.
my other cousins are coming from NC and will be staying with their brother and his family.
my other cousins are coming from NY but opted to stay in a hotel with their SO and use this time as a mini vacay for themselves.

SO since everyone knows the area we skipped welcome bags.

MrsMeganL2012 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_welcome-bags-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:36Discussion:b671ead5-f4c1-430b-b391-4f02f08814fcPost:8d9ea535-a291-4eb3-93d4-b86ed3801cdf">Re: Welcome bags???</a>:
[QUOTE]amjam, the moment you buy something for a wedding, it becomes part and parcel of the wedding industry. Wedding-related expense = wedding industry. Does that make sense??? Why would a guest need hotel information if they are already checking into a hotel?? <strong>Be aware, as well, that many hotels will charge an extra fee to distribute the bags to your guests. This is an extra job for their staff.
</strong>Posted by RetreadBride[/QUOTE]

Yup, while I'm not doing them, my hotel provided me with pricing information. They had different levels of pricing too....I think it was free if the bag was generic, a buck if there was a name on the bag and you organized the bags alphabetically and two bucks if you had a name but didn't organize alphabetically for the hotel.

lconoran · May 2012

I think they're great. We plan to do them. I have received many so I guess they're pretty common practice around here, but I do not think of them as necessary. A late night bottle of water and a little bag of peanuts goes a long way after a night of dancing and drinking! Lol Do I think that people go overboard and the money could be better used elsewhere, yeah, but I think they're appreciated. Now a welcome bag either big or small is something I've NEVER wasted from a wedding. I don't think there are many people that can say that for even favors from a wedding!

just1q · May 2012

I am doing them. They are not necessary by any means, but I think they are a nice way of extending your hospitality to your wedding guests. Mine will be simple and inexpensive. The bags will be plain brown paper shopping bags from Michael's stamped in our wedding colors (stamps and ink repurposed from our STDs). They'll be filled with key information (wedding schedule, maps, suggestions of restaurants and things to do in the area, taxis, etc.) as well as a bottle of water, ibuprofen, a few snack food items, and a small bottle of sunscreen. If you decide to do them, I recommend going small and practical instead of going crazy trying to think of themed items that tie into your wedding location.

StephLynn1983 · May 2012

I have to say that I adore welcome bags! I grew up in the wedding industry, and can agree that things get bigger and pricier all the time, but at a recent wedding I attended, I was very touched to have received one. It was a destination for everyone, so mostly it was common sense things, but also some neat reminders of our stay.

I hope to do bags, but almost all of our guests will be out of town, so we may have to give them to a select group of guests (bridal party, out of state/country, etc.) while others may just get a welcome letter. I would say though, if you do a select group, that it is VERY select, so that nobody feels like they were a less important guest. Keep it to the long distance travelers, or grandparents and bridal party. Like others have said, it's low on my budget totem pole.

A neat hint I got from my friend's wedding: www.orientaltrading.com for some of the more "fun" items, and the rest is simple, travel tylenol, chapstick, bottled water, salted almonds.

MrsMeganL2012 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_customs-traditions_welcome-bags-2?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:36Discussion:b671ead5-f4c1-430b-b391-4f02f08814fcPost:259d504b-cfb6-47e1-a80b-36d20e54dd57">Re: Welcome bags???</a>:
[QUOTE]I have to say that I adore welcome bags! I grew up in the wedding industry, and can agree that things get bigger and pricier all the time, but at a recent wedding I attended, I was very touched to have received one. It was a destination for everyone, so mostly it was common sense things, but also some neat reminders of our stay. I hope to do bags, but almost all of our guests will be out of town, so we may have to give them to a select group of guests (bridal party, out of state/country, etc.) while others may just get a welcome letter. I would say though, if you do a select group, that it is VERY select, so that nobody feels like they were a less important guest. Keep it to the long distance travelers, or grandparents and bridal party. Like others have said, it's low on my budget totem pole. A neat hint I got from my friend's wedding: <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com" rel="nofollow">www.orientaltrading.com</a> for some of the more "fun" items, and the rest is simple, travel tylenol, chapstick, bottled water, salted almonds.
Posted by StephLynn1983[/QUOTE]

Careful picking and choosing who gets a welcome bag and who just gets a letter. I think it should be all or none. If I just got a letter and found out someone else got a bag, I'd be ticked off. We're all paying to stay at the hotel to attend your wedding.....don't judge us by who traveled farther or who is family and who isn't.

jennipea382 · May 2012

I had never heard of these until I went to a wedding while on vacation with my family in Baltimore. The bag was in our room when we got there. I remember there being things like bottles of water, some snacks.. I can't remember what else. It was nice, but it really depends on your budget and what you put in them. I'll probably skip them, but we'll see. I don't think I'll have a ton of guests flying in, mostly just driving within an hour or two and a few are a few hours away. But if we end up having more fly in, I might consider it, especially for those with kids. Most people are pretty prepared when they travel so they'll probably have some snacks (or maybe my mom is over-prepared on vacations, haha) anyways. I wouldn't worry TOO much about it, but they are nice.

I think what I really want to do is the bathroom baskets. This is a nice way to put those things out for people who might need them. Put the aspirin, lotion, chapstick (well, maybe not that come to think of it), nail clippers, random stuff like that in the bathroom. That way it's available to everyone.

Corybabe01 · May 2012

I work at a hotel and we often get wedding blocks reserved at our hotel. The entire 3 years i've been here i've seen welcome bags handed out to gets about twice. In most times the welcome bags consist of 2 drinks, snacks, pack of gum, mints, a cute note thanking the guest's for being there on their special day and/or directions to the ceremony/reception or shuttles times if they are having a shuttle come to the hotel to pick up their guests.

Corybabe01 · May 2012

I forgot to add... The bags get handed out as they check in or we place them in their reserved room sometimes.

Welcome bags???

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