| Friends and family often live very far apart from | | | | motif that either coordinates with your wedding |
| each other. These means traveling long distances at | | | | theme or your location (like a cactus shaped cookie |
| great expense when they are invited to a wedding. | | | | for a wedding in Tucson). A good rule of thumb is |
| It is important that the bride and groom let their | | | | that is is better to over-stuff a small container than |
| guests know how much they appreciate their efforts. | | | | under-fill a large one. It feels more luxurious to |
| A wonderful way to make them feel welcome is to | | | | receive a basket overflowing with goodies. |
| place a custom gift bag in each guest's hotel room. | | | | From there, you can really include any little items that |
| Imagine dealing with the stress of traveling - | | | | you think your guests would enjoy. Stamped |
| crowded airports, overpriced meals, and having to | | | | postcards would be a thoughtful enclosure, along with |
| navigate in an unfamiliar city. Then you arrive in your | | | | a little pen. Some couples like to include luxe spa |
| hotel room (at last!) and find that a bag or basket of | | | | items, like a fancy handcream (especially good for a |
| treats is in your room awaiting you. Wouldn't you feel | | | | cold weather wedding). You could be practical and |
| grateful to have such thoughtful hosts? Nothing is | | | | drop in travel sized bottles of sunscreen for an |
| more fun than surprise gifts. | | | | outdoor wedding. Your creativity is the only limit to |
| What to include in the welcome bags is a personal | | | | what your gift baskets can contain. |
| choice, and will be dictated in part by budget (all of | | | | You may want to further customize the welcome |
| those little things can quickly add up). One definite | | | | bags for certain guests. Close friends and family |
| thing to enclose is information on the wedding | | | | would be delighted to find a bottle of wine or |
| particulars. A brief timeline, with directions to and | | | | Champagne waiting in their room upon arrival. Perhaps |
| from each location will be greatly appreciated by your | | | | you would like to add a small potted plant to your |
| guests. Do this even if you mailed out a packet | | | | grandmother's basket to make her hotel suite feel |
| earlier, because some of your guests will surely | | | | more like home. At my best friend's wedding, she |
| forget to bring your packet. Guests will also be | | | | included more snacks in the bags designed for guests |
| delighted to have some tips on points of interest | | | | staying in a hotel without a restaurant to ensure that |
| within walking distance or a short ride from the hotel. | | | | they would have a late night snack available. The |
| Ideas include shopping destinations, restaurants, and | | | | more your tailor your goody bags to your guests, |
| scenic attractions. | | | | the more they will enjoy them. |
| Snacks are a big favorite in welcome baskets. Little | | | | The last thing to consider is the bags or baskets |
| bags of non-perishables are great, as are pieces of | | | | themselves. Of course a basic bag in silver would |
| fresh fruit like apples. Customize the snacks to the | | | | work, but it would be more exciting to dress up the |
| season and the location. For a winter wedding, little | | | | package. Decorate the basket or bag by tying pretty |
| packets of gourmet cocoa would be a nice treat. I | | | | ribbons and a fancy nametag to the handle. You |
| once attended a wedding in Philadelphia where the | | | | could even take it one step further, and coordinate |
| welcome bags contained local Pennsylvania Dutch | | | | the gift bag with your overall wedding style. For |
| pretzels (I guess the cheesesteaks didn't fit in the | | | | instance, if your taste runs to classic pearl bridal |
| bags!). Be sure to include bottles of water or | | | | jewelry, glue some pearls to the nametag. Splashier |
| gourmet sodas to wash it all down. | | | | brides could borrow from the look of crystal bridal |
| Sweets are always a hit, so be sure to include plenty | | | | jewelry and add a few twinkling crystals to the |
| of them in your baskets. Custom M&Ms would | | | | ribbons for a surprise bit of sparkle. Considering those |
| be really great (they could say, "Welcome!"), as | | | | types of special touches will make the welcome |
| would any kind of chocolate candy. Pretty sugar | | | | baskets even more impressive, and will really set |
| cookies in glassine bags are a good looking way to | | | | your event apart. |
| take up a lot of space in the goody bags. Choose a | | | | |