gift bags for out of town guests

sarahroslansky · January 2013

Hey! So I'm expecting a fair percentage of my wedding guests will be coming in from out of town (maybe 60-70% of about 175 people). Do you all think that having gift bags or "welcome bags" delivered to their hotel rooms (or somehow otherwise distributed) to these guests is necessary, just a nice gesture, or a little unnecessary? Also, if you think we should give them out, any ideas for what to put in them? Thanks!!

s-aries8990 · January 2013

I think it's a very nice gesture - not completely necessary but not overkill.

The wedding I went to in October had some candy, a few granola bars, a bottle of gatorade, a bottle of water, some asprin and some candy. Nearly everyone was staying in the hotel. They were distributed at the check-in table when they confirmed we were with their hotel block. It was very nice and helpful (who doesn't like a bottle of water and some asprin after a night of drinking, right?)

SlothGoals · January 2013

I think that if you have the budget for it, it would be nice to do. Like sydaries said though, not necessary.

manjermj · January 2013

I just made our out of town bags this weekend. All we have to do is deliver them to the hotel front desk, the day before the first guest arrives and they will hand them out as they check in. We have about 30 hotel rooms filled in our room block.

I'd suggest putting something known to your area. I'm from Pittsburgh, so we put:

2 bottles of water

a welcome letter with driving and shuttle directions

a Heinz Pickle Pin

a city map of all the siteseeing spots

pretzels made in a neighboring town

and eat n park smiley cookies

StephJean83 · January 2013

I always like getting them when I go to out of town weddings. Somethings I've gotten in them are snacksfruit, trail mix, cookies, water, soda, asprin, and a things to do in the area guide. FWIW, when I get married, depending on where we get married, anywhere from 75 to 95 of our guests will be out of town guests. I plan on having them for our guests. I've seenand done where the front desk staff at check in gave them out or put them by our door if they forget to give at check in.

AddieCake · January 2013

If you have the budget and really want to to it, it's nice, but I honestly never fully understand the point of them. I'm an adult. When I travel, I bring my own medications, etc, and I know how to find snacks once I get to my destination. I just don't know why people feel the need to provide guests with snacks, aspirin, etc.

SmallenForever · January 2013

Pointless, I think. It isn't like if you don't give me snacks, I will die in my room. I also don't need maps or directions; I can find out how to get there just like your non out of town guests do.

AdeleDazeem · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_gift-bags-for-out-of-town-guests?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9c9c1df0-f1c4-488b-8271-4f26e2605c40Post:958d0101-c9ee-4f2e-93cc-be42c14863d2">Re: gift bags for out of town guests</a>:
[QUOTE]If you have the budget and really want to to it, it's nice, but I honestly never fully understand the point of them. I'm an adult. When I travel, I bring my own medications, etc, and I know how to find snacks once I get to my destination. I just don't know why people feel the need to provide guests with snacks, aspirin, etc.
Posted by AddieL73[/QUOTE]

THANK YOU!!!

I'm especially irked by a "things to do!" sheet and a list of restaurants. Dude, if you're having a Saturday wedding then I'm there for your wedding. If I'm in the wedding, then rehearsal dinner/out on Friday, getting ready/wedding on Saturday and home on Sunday. If I'm not in the wedding, then I'm there on Saturday early afternoon to get dressed/wedding and home on Sunday.

If guests really want to make it a weekend thing, then they're going to be researching things to do long before they get your welcome bag. If they need a place to eat randomnly, then there's a concierge at the hotel.

It's definitely a kind gesture, but a nice welcome letter and a small bag of something local is plenty (like philly pretzels or maine lobster pins) and very thoughtful. The rest is just almost odd to me. Kinda like bathroom baskets... If you don't have it in your budet, skip it! No problem.

lyndausvi · January 2013

Great if you can afford it, however not necessary.

We did them. We had some water, tastykakes, salt water taft and advil. We also put in a card with the transportation schedule.

Sure I'm an adult and well travelled, however that doesn't mean I can't appreciate a bottle of water from someone. I like having a bottle of water near my bed and sometimes I just forget when I got to the room to pick one up. When I spend the night at family or friends houses they always have little shampoos, toothpaste, razors for us. Most times it's not needed, but yeah I'm forgetful sometimes and it comes in handy.

::shurgs::

misssunshine17 · January 2013

I only have several rooms for OOT guests, but I'm going to do some local Maine treats. Most guests won't have time to venture out too far, so I'm doing things like a bottle of Maine wine, choc ccover blueberries and a small bottle of Maple syrup they can take home. I'd skip the advil type things.

courtski2004 · January 2013

My sister and I both assembled bags for OOT guests at our weddings. I agree that it isn't necessary, but everyone seemed to enjoy it. Some of the things we added (most of it we got at Sam's Club or Costco):
Trail mix, water, advil, emergen-C, small can of pringles, gum, mints, welcome letter/thank you for coming with itinerary, list of local attractions, and maps from the hotel to various wedding related activities.
True, I'm sure all of my guests were more than capable to find things on their own without a map and wouldn't die for lack of trail mix and water, but I think that it is a nice gesture. I would much rather have a bottle of water in my hotel room that I don't have to pay $3.00 for if I crack the seal, a late night snack of sorts, or something tasty/kooky/commemorative from the area that I may not otherwise know about. If your budget allows for it, I say go for it. Nobody will curse you for it, thats for sure.

Coghoot12 · January 2013

Another vote for not required but a nice touch if you have the budget.

We did them and had a box of chocolate from a shop in H's hometown, a bag of chips that are produced in the town where we married, water, and a little welcome note.

We had the hotel pass them out when people checked in. Unfortunately, the hotel staff wasn't the greatest and not everyone got their bags. So if you do it, make sure the staff understands what they are and why they are there, especially if they are uncommon in your area. (they were uncommon where we married but common where many of my guests were travelling from.)

Jen4948 · January 2013

It seems to be a nice but unnecessary touch.

I personally don't mind getting some kind of schedule and perhaps local attraction and transportation information when I attend an out-of-town event, but I don't need anything else. And in my own experience they have tended to be packed in large or unwieldly containers that make them hard to pack, so they have to be abandoned or crammed into my suitcase later.

[Deleted User] · January 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_gift-bags-for-out-of-town-guests?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:9c9c1df0-f1c4-488b-8271-4f26e2605c40Post:958d0101-c9ee-4f2e-93cc-be42c14863d2">Re: gift bags for out of town guests</a>:
[QUOTE]If you have the budget and really want to to it, it's nice, but I honestly never fully understand the point of them. I'm an adult. When I travel, I bring my own medications, etc, and I know how to find snacks once I get to my destination. I just don't know why people feel the need to provide guests with snacks, aspirin, etc.
Posted by AddieL73[/QUOTE]

<div>this.</div>

gift bags for out of town guests

Re: gift bags for out of town guests

Choose Another Board

Search Boards