Wedding Gift Bags for Your Guests

A wedding is one of the important life events that bring families and friends together despite the miles that separate them. After a day of travel, it will mean so much to your out-of-town guests to receive a gift bag full of fun and refreshing gifts when they check into their hotel room. So what are the things they would most appreciate in a gift bag?

Refreshments

Probably the first thing you should plan on putting in your wedding gift bags is a pair of water bottles. It will be the very first thing your guests pull out of the bag, open, and enjoy! But when it comes to choosing the right type of bottled water (or other drink), there are loads of options that will fit any budget. For the bride and groom with a nice, hefty budget, consider having personalized water bottles made up just for this occasion.

Many wedding supply outlets will help you design a label that matches your wedding style and décor. You can have your names and the date of the wedding printed right on the label for people to use throughout their stay at the hotel. Bottles like this can cost up to $10 per dozen bottles, however, so if you simply don't want to spend that much, buy bottled water in bulk from your grocery store and print out your own labels on the computer!

Snacks will no doubt also be appreciated in any gift bag left in a hotel room. Items like mini bags of potato chips or pretzels will work just fine, but if you want to really get creative, include some local treats. For example, if you are in Georgia, put a few fresh peaches in the bag or even a bag of boiled peanuts. Your guests will appreciate the local flavors, especially if you include an item they might not be able to find back home.

Mints or gum are another great idea for your wedding gift bags. Whether you decide to make it a favor and include a mint tin with your name on them that the guests can take home and enjoy for years to come or if you simply throw in a pack of juicy fruit gum, guests will appreciate having something sweet on hand to freshen their breath just before a big social event.

Local Maps and Information

No matter how big or small the town, someone is bound to get lost! As a good hostess, you may want to include a map of the local area in case your guests have some time to look around. It is also very important to include a map with directions from the hotel to any pertinent location during the wedding festivities such as the church, rehearsal dinner, and reception.

If many of your guests are visiting your city for the first time, include a subway map or numbers for local transportation along with any tourist brochures about local museums, shopping or sightseeing. Call the local chamber of commerce a month or so in advance and they will be glad to provide you with ideas and plenty of brochures to include in your wedding gift bags.

For another fun idea, consider including a local history of the area. Anything from a book about the history of the city to a one-page typed out information sheet on interesting historical facts would be of interest to your guests and will help get conversations rolling once everyone gets together.

Don't forget the wedding itinerary!! Everyone will be wondering what time they need to be ready for the rehearsal dinner and whether or not there are any activities the morning after the wedding! Make sure to include an itinerary of the entire weekend's events in the gift bag so that all of your guests know exactly when to be where and when they have some extra time to get out and see the sights.

Luxury and Comfort Items

Consider adding a luxury item to your wedding gift bags. Something your guests can use while they are there for the weekend in a hotel room is a great idea. For example, include an array of scented soaps or bath fizzes. Coordinate the colors of the soaps with the wedding colors or theme or just use a plain bar of scented soap and create your own cute covers for them with a fun message for your guests.

Travel candles are also a great idea, and another example of something you can have made with a label of your choice or that you can make your own for less. Include some matches so guests can enjoy a quiet romantic evening in their room after the wedding, just be sure to include a warning on the tin about how long they should allow the candle to burn and to remember to blow it out before they fall asleep!

Many wedding websites are also now selling personalized bags of tea and coffee. These are great luxury items for your guests to enjoy while they are getting up in the morning or getting ready for the wedding. Have your names printed on the front or a small thank you message.

One thing people may enjoy in a wedding gift bag is a commemorative t-shirt. There are many t-shirt printing companies which specialize in making commemorative wedding t-shirts.

Say Thanks!

No matter what else you decide to put into the wedding gift bags for your out-of-town guests, make sure that you say thank you. Traveling to a wedding, buying a gift, and paying for a hotel room are only a few of the expenses your guests have probably taken on by coming to support you on your special day. Don't forget to type up a letter of thanks or to include a small card in the bag to let your guests know just how much it means to you that they are there. It will make them feel special and glad they came.

Choosing the Bag

One last thing... choosing the actual bag you will put all of these goodies into is no small task. Basically, the bag depends solely on your budget. The couple with an unlimited budget could go so far as to personalize travel bags for each of their guests. Bags made of fabric will be much more expensive than paper or plastic bags, so choose the bag that best fits your budget and your style. If you have a limited budget and want to make sure to spend more on the actual contents than the bag itself, choose a simple paper bag and decorate it with ribbon or stamps or even stickers!

A wedding gift bag will be one of the first things your out-of-town guests notice when they walk into their hotel room. Everyone who is there to be a part of your wedding and a witness to your commitment will appreciate your hard work and thoughtfulness.