Are Welcome Bags Necessary?

Some of my in-town guests have decided to stay at my venue (a hotel) the night of the wedding so they don't have to get a DD. Do I have to give them welcome bags to since they aren't even out of towners?

I had never heard of these before I joined WW. We will have about 6 OOT guests. I won't be having welcome bags.

No. On all counts.

I don't think it's necessary. The hotel we're booking charges $3 per bag to give to guests too. They already have all the crap that would go in the bag in their hotel room. (Water, Tylenol, snacks, etc)

I rank Welcome bags up there with photobooths, definitely not necessary, or for everyone but they are definitely a nice to have. We are putting some together, but it is mostly going to be recommendations for local restaurants and phone numbers of people to call who are me and my FH. We will also include a water bottle and some wedding mints, but that will probably be it.

I would give it to them when they arrive at the final hotel if you are going to do it. Alot of hotels will hand them out for you at the front desk, just make sure that there isn't a fee associated with that (and if there is try to negotiate it being free as part of your room block contract).

I decided to do them last minute, but they are COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. I did get compliments from guests that used them. My MOH was very grateful for the hangover Advil! haha.

All you have to do is ask the hotel if they deliver welcome bags and then drop them off at the counter with a list of the guests' names.

Hmmm...thanks guys. Good to know they aren't necessary. I might do them for OOT guest because it might work as a compromise with my FMIL who wants to invite all of her out of town family to the rehearsal dinner but not mine (I don't really have any OOT guests) because she feels like they don't know the area. I feel like its rude to invite my FH's side of the family to the RD but not mine, and I don't want the RD to be this huge party with the wedding the next day. Maybe if I do simple welcome bags with a bottle of water, a couple of snacks, and maybe a list of things to do in my area if they want to find something, she'll be satisfied that they will be taken care of the night before the wedding. I also didn't know some hotels charged so I'll definitely have to find that out! Thanks!

I really want to do them, but I'm not sure I can justify the cost. We're getting married 4 hrs away and everyone will have to travel, so I thought it would be nice. I don't really know what to include though.

Also check with the hotel if you plan to do them. My venue charges if you want them delivered to the rooms, but they're free to hand out at the front desk when people check in.

Definitely not necessary. My mom got on a kick of wanting to provide them, I even went out and bought a bunch of stuff and we were going to assemble them. But at the last minute I scrapped the idea because I just had too much else going on.

Also, we weren't sure how to get them to the guests, and the hotel manager said he could have his staff hand them out, but he said sometimes it can be difficult to know who should get one, since not everyone books under the block (and we had quite a few guests who booked after the block expired).

If you still want to do them, here are some ideas on what to put in them: bottled water, granola bar/snack item, apple, Tylenol/advil, mints, map of the area, etc.

I have a ton of OOT and I'm not doing bags. It was not a priority and they are going to be here really only one night, two at the max. I've put all the details of the wedding, the city, things to do, places to eat, etc on the wedding website.

That sounds like a good compromise to me! It sounds like your FMIL is a trip, but I also kinda understand her opinion. I have been to weddings where everyone in town was invited and I personally don't want that for mine either. Both sides of our family will be coming in from out of town, and we are only inviting immediate family and our BP. (We might not even invite grandparents.) I figure that I want to be relaxed for my RD, I don't want to be worrying about tracking everyone there, or how it is going the night before the wedding.

I was thinking to have a Welcome folder with Phone numbers (just in case). We are having a lot of OOTs.

As someone who has traveled to every single wedding I've attended, I love the bags; they make me feel like the bride and groom appreciate the time and money I spent to be there with them.

Pretty much 95% of our guests will be spending the night in a local hotel, so the welcome bags are important to us for our wedding. They are doubling as our favor - everyone gets a little map/list of things to do or places to eat, and something local. Right now I'm thinking a little bottle of local olive oil and a piece of baguette or something.

I agree that they aren't necessary, but I think they are a nice gesture for those who traveled for the event.

No need to have them in your situation. We did them but it was a DW.

Welcome bags are never necessary, they're just to say an extra "thank you" to your OOT guests for traveling to your wedding. You might really want a welcome bag since it sounds like many of your OOT guests will be staying multiple days. In that case, I would give them when they first arrive. What I usually get in welcome bags:

- a list of local attractions, restaurants, and things to do

- water bottle(s)

- 2 pack of advil

- snacks (chips, crackers, pretzels, fruit snacks, etc.)

- gum and/or mints

- its nice to put a local flair on things...for example, we are going to put bags of utz crab chips in ours because its specific to MD!

If you decide to do them at the hotel, you will need to give them to every guest who is booked in your room block. There probably isn't a way to differentiate, anyway!

With the exception of 4 guests, everyone is OOT'ers. (destination wedding sort of, FH's family lives out there) We live in Tampa and all our friends and my family are scattered all over the US.

We are doing welcome bags. Since we are getting married at Mt. Hood; the items we have chosen are trail/hiking themed.

Buffalo and turkey jerky stick

granola

water (2, one for each guest)

and a little bag of hazelnuts (they are local to the area)

I am also thinking of putting my favors in the bag, kill two birds with one stone. I am doing little lavender sachets. (lavender is local)

I am doing them because I went to a wedding and when I got one I felt really special! I feel like it's a great touch and another thank you to your guests for taking the time and money to travel to your wedding. Even if the aren't from far away if they are paying to stay in the hotel they are probably planning on having a good time celebrating with you. Plus, who doesn't like late night snacks? I want one delivered to our room so that I can enjoy the munchies as well!

Mine will mostly be snacks and a couple bottles of water. I will probably include a card with reminders about the time for the wedding and local attractions.

We did amazing welcome bags for our guests, but we had a DW.

Skip 'em.