Guiding Out of Town Guests : What to Put in Your Wedding Welcome Bag

A great spot to infuse some personality into your wedding is with your wedding welcome bags! But what purpose do these things even serve?

Honestly, getting engaged is an amazing season of life to be in and planning a wedding can be a fulltime job but at the end of the process, you have this incredible day – YOUR WEDDING DAY!! The best part about this day is that you get to share it with the most amazing people in your life – everyone from parents to friends, college buddies, and co-workers. Having these people witness and uphold the commitment you are making to each other is truly an amazing feeling.

It’s important to make your guests feel amazing too! One way to help out of town guests get comfy is with the wedding welcome bag! But not just any welcome bag – one that is unique to your event!

Here are my top 5 items to include in your welcome bag for out of town guests:

1.)     A Map

It’s really easy to ask Siri where the closest coffee shop is but a wedding map is something more specific to your event. I suggest getting on google and looking up all the important spots for your event such as the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and reception. Add in the nearest drug store (in case the only pair of tights they brought gets a run or they could use a tide to go pen for their favorite tie), where they can park, the after party, and a few restaurants in case they want to grab a yummy lunch.

Make it special! If you’re having a destination wedding or are getting married in a famous city be sure to add any local tourist attractions. If your wedding town doesn’t host the Statue of Liberty add your own famous spots like the college you attended together or the bar where you had your first date. Guests will love seeing little sprinkles of your story right from the beginning of your wedding weekend!

This is also a fantastic opportunity to remind them of any transportation notes you have for the event. You can make a little note about where the bus will pick them up and what time they should be ready by!

2.)     Something local

Ya’ll – local is so in right now. But even better than that, it’s a nod to the location for your big day! A lot of my clients add in something from Burt’s Bees of a can of Cheerwine to show off things made right here in NC!

3.)     Drugs

Yeah no, not like that! Drop in a few headache meds and a mini bottle of water to let them know we are about to party and you're going to be super sore from all that time on the dance floor!

4.)     Snacks

Guests will be so happy you thought of all their granola bar needs when they are busy hitting up the hotel pool or stopping by that tourist spot you put on the map and they need a little something to hold them over until cocktail hour! I also suggest things like mints, disposable toothbrushes,

5.)     Personality

Adding a bit of you and your story into the mix is always a great way to welcome your guests. It may be as simple as adding in your favorite candy bar! Make sure to include a thoughtful note thanking them and telling them how much it means for them to join you on your special day!