Are welcome bags a necessity?

Shannah, I think unless you're doing a destination wedding that you can skip the welcome bags.

We are not sure if we will do welcome bags, however, it is not off the table.

I'm not doing welcome bags...it was never a thought in my head. I'm with you, everything is so expensive, and they are getting a dinner and drinks, etc. I don't feel that welcome bags are necessary, and I think it's perfectly fine not to have them. I think if it's in your budget, and it's something that you really want to do, that's fine, but I don't see them as necessary.

Oh thank God. For someone on a small budget that will probably have several out of town guests I've never met (Nick's family) I was just like "whaaaaa????"

We didn't make them and don't plan on it

Nothing is really the necessity except the obvious.

Welcome bags are not necessary, but they're a VERY nice touch for OOT guests. You are hosting them at the wedding, but OOT guests typically spend a lot of money and time to be there with you. And welcome bags can be done inexpensively.

I'm going to try to make some for out of town guests with mostly free stuff - maps with tourist attractions, brochures, train passes that they can fill but don't need to worry about locating and instructions on how to use them. I'll probably write a nice letter with our recommendations for the weekend and print it at home.

Time and money to be there with me sure, but I've never met them and Nick hasn't seen some of them the whole time we've been together! But we have to invite the aunts and uncles and cousins.

I guess maybe I feel like it's a little excessive when they'll be there for the night of the wedding then leave, if they come at all.

I think they are a nice gesture and your OOT guests will appreciate them, but they aren't a necessity. We didn't do them. I wanted to if there was money left in the budget at we got close to the wedding, but we decided to pay for an open bar at the end. I think our guests enjoyed that more

As Mrs. S said, they can done inexpensively. An inexpensive gift bag with bottled water, some snacks, a handwritten letter, and maps or brochures can go a long way.

I understand, but here's what you can do and they will be eternally grateful to you and love you forever :-)

- Write a welcome note (free from VP)

- Print out the schedule of events and any maps necessary (cost of paper and ink)

- include a couple of bottles of water (20c from Costco)

- include one little snack, nothing fancy, especially if you have something local that your town/state is known for (also under $1 if bought in bulk most of the time)

- some brochures about the area (free)

You will have the whole bag for a few $, and your guests will feel really special to get a little gift. Plus most people hate paying for water in hotels. Our guests are still talking about their welcome bags, 10 months later.

I'll see if I have the money for it. The ceremony and reception is down the road from the hotel we're blocking rooms at so not that hard. There aren't really any "events" it's the wedding. Ta da. Come so you get a seat before the ceremony!

The city was flooded in 2008 and there really isn't much in the area anymore. It's just starting to rebound.

So, I guess it will depend on how many out of towners we have that will actually show and if I have the money, because it is a nice touch, but seems a little extravagant when I have a $4000 budget.

I'm not even an advocate of favors, so of course I think this is unnecessary.

Thank you Celia. Sometimes I feel, as supportive as we are on this site, we are also very pressured to do things or think of doing things for a wedding because it's nice or others are doing it.

I'm having a favor of sorts, doing a candy bar because I am doing a Halloween-esqe wedding!

I have a lot of out of town guests and am thinking about doing welcome bags even though our wedding isn't a destination wedding.

However, things are adding up quickly so I don't know...

Luckily this is something that can be cut last minute if need be.

I'm not a fan of favors either and we didn't do them at all.

Don't yield to pressure and just keep in mind that the great majority of things for a wedding are, in fact, optional. My whole point is that OOT guest bags show a lot of appreciation for a little money and effort.

But see how things go, how many guests you have and what's happening with the budget.

I'm doing Welcome Bags for my OOT guest. Mainly alot of paying to stay in hotels and either driving or flying in so I figured a little water some goodie treats a note from FH and I thanking them and a list of things to do in the area is the least I can do .

Celia-I'm so glad I'm not the only one who isn't a fan of favors.

Mrs. S-I never thought about what you mentioned in the welcome bags. I guess I was thinking big, elaborate welcome bags. Those sound nice. Hmmm...I might consider doing something like that...I don't anticipate having many OOT guests.

Not doing them, just don't have the time or money!

I'm probably going to do welcome bags, but only if they are not too expensive.

Favors are also on the table, but I want to do something homemade and hopefully not to pricey.... Since our theme is love birds I was thinking of making a little bird feeder type favor with a sign saying something like "Take one home, put it out to feed the birds, and think of us!" - the key is to keep it keep it low cost.

We are not doing welcome bags. 50% of our guest are coming from Canada (we live in FL). We are so far over budget and to make buy and make that many bags would put us more over. If you are on a tight budget like us, I would skip it. Your friends and family will understand. Like you said, you are hosting them the night of the wedding.