Wedding Bands > Katie's Wedding Planning Blog > Welcome Bag Contents... both common and clever ideas
Welcome Bag Contents... both common and clever ideas
A welcome bag typically consists of snacks and treats for your guest to munch on during their stay, along with a couple bottles of water. I suggest something salty and something sweet to satisfy different cravings. Common ideas are pretzels, salted nuts, potato chips, chocolate and other candies. I also suggest a pack of gum and mints which females love to pack in their purse for the wedding.
The welcome bag is not limited to food and beverage items. Try to think of ways in which you can personalize the gifts you choose. For example, if you and your fiance are environmentally conscious, you might consider giving your guests a Nalgene water bottle instead of disposable bottles. If you and your fiance are big USC fans, you can include something like Trojan keychains.
Not only can the contents be specific, but you can also think of clever containers. At a beach themed wedding in Santa Monica, I've picked up colorful sand pails with toy shovels attached, which I found at Target for a very reasonable price. For my destination wedding to England, we ordered canvas bags with the reception castle's coat of arms and "England 2008" printed on each one.
If you're planning a destination wedding, it's wise to consider some practical items such as maps of the area and local attractions. If you've planned multiple events in the weekend, include an itinerary to inform guests of the plans and possibly provided transportation. Most of your guests will probably make a vacation out of this trip, so it is fun to think of souvenir items appropriate to the destination. If you're getting married somewhere tropical, you can consider beach-like items such as flip flops and sunscreen. If you're planning a winter wonderland wedding atop a snow covered mountain, think along the lines of hot chocolate and a knitted scarf. As for my England event, we filled the canvas bag with goodies like British chocolates, English tea, and a variety of crisps. We also included souvenir items such as playing cards and writing pens with the British flag on it.
Welcome bags are a nice touch to your guest's wedding experience and greatly appreciated, no matter how simple they may be. The most important detail which should not be overlooked will be your personal thank you note from you and your fiance to your guest.
