Gift bag for hotel or no

We are thinking about doing welcome bags! I think it’s nice for out of town quests and our venue is a “destination” in that it’s like 21/2-3 hrs from majority of local family. We are doing water bottles, snacks salty and sweet, I’ve heard doing something from where the wedding is like a local treat is popular, and Advil along with a map of the town with things to do, itinerary, and a thank you note. I’ve also seen something the couple enjoys like a deck of cards or something that represents you guys can be done, but we have a lot to make so we are sticking to snacks and drinks

Out coordinator told that that welcome bags were a must for destination weddings, and highly recommended if we were having a lot of out of town guests travel and stay in our hotel block. Ours was the latter (significant of guests who traveled and booked rooms in our hotel block), and we went with the bags. We kept them simple and they were very easy to make. Water bottles, pretzels, chips, gummies, granola bar, trail mix, packet of emergen-c, hangover kit, A welcome note with directions, etc. we DIY-Ed the whole thing and made 36 bags for less than $60 by buying everything in bulk.

The hotel welcome bag trend is something that originated with the dawn of Pinterest in hopes of a bride spending yet more money than necessary. Skip them and pocket the money for a rainy day. Unless you are marrying somewhere where your guests have the one of place to stay overnight, they are an unnecessary expense. You would have to find out where everyone is staying, some won't even in a hotel or sharing the same as everyone else so it's more of a logistical headache than necessary. Save your sanity and money. Your guests are more than happy to share the day with you without needing or wanting 'stuff' to take home.

I think they would be a good thing to do! Include local snacks, maybe some vitamin c packets, etc

View Quoted Comment Part of me was thinking the same thing. I figured I have the bags and a bottle of water and things are not much I figured I would do for the ones staying at the hotel that I have talked to and are giving us an extremely excite to rate and perks for those that are staying here they wish they are in there own

View Quoted Comment Makes sense. You could add in an inexpensive food item that the area is known for.

View Quoted Comment I figured I would get most of the things in bulk. I did not like the coordinators I talked to so I have set everything up and planned it all myself. I was surprised how easy it was. But I had time to do it then now delayed I have more time which is never a good thing with me. Cause it say could go from middle school musical to broadway production real quick. And I have a few close friends and family monitoring so I don’t go overboard but see the vision of it.

View Quoted Comment I definitely agree that it doesn’t make sense to do welcome bags if your guests are all staying in different places. But if a good portion of them are staying at your hotel block, it’s a really nice touch to do them. We only did the bags for the guests staying at the hotel. We dropped them off ahead of time to the hotel staff and the guests received them upon check in. Even just a water bottle and a couple of snacks make a big difference

View Quoted Comment I can see if the guy still does gator jerky for people maybe also but where the event will be at not a whole lot nearby but orange groves and few other things the local candy place closed down and has not opened back up. But thanks for the thought

View Quoted Comment I can see that. I have a few friends that keep joking with me that the pencil is ready for the next date and they said even though they are local they are going to he hotel just to be with everyone else. The hotel is really nice people and said that they will have a conference room set up for us and will provide breakfast for everyone the day of and day after and the night before have snack set up in there for our guests. Then people who own it are amazing and have been working with me each changed. And told me once I know we are able to have the ceremony give them a call and we can work out something. Part of the reason I have stuck with them.

View Quoted Comment So why emergen-c and Advil. That part confuses me

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They were part of the little 'hangover kits' that we made to go in the bags. We had an open bar at our wedding and figured people might want these the following morning (it was the emergen-c electrolyte mix). I've attended several weddings where similar drink powders were included in the welcome bags (such as gatorade or pedialyte) and they were extremely helpful in curing morning hangovers!

I had never even heard of this until I started planning our wedding. And considering the fact the majority of our 60 guests are coming from out of state, it isn’t practical for us from a financial side nor knowing where these people are staying. Because our families have such drastically different financial situations, we didn’t reserve a block of rooms at any one particular hotel to allow them the flexibility to stay where best meets their needs. So it would be really difficult to try and get these bags to their rooms when they’re not all at the same hotel.

View Quoted Comment I understand that. I went to every hotel in the area of the event so I can compare prices the place I decided told me if they find coupon or cheaper tell them they will match it

View Quoted Comment I guess I have been licked and not needed those things

I am doing thank you bags. My guest list dropped drastically so I saved a lot of money. 3/5 of the people are my bridesmaids so I got them tote bags and my mom& dad will be getting decorated paper bags. I made “hangover” kits . Water, tums , Tylenol, first aid kit... etc I made a poem for it and I’m throwing it in the bag with it.

They aren’t necessary, but as a guest, I always like getting them! Welcome bags usually only go to the rooms in the room block. That way, you know how many to put together and can easily give them to the front desk.

Most of our guests are traveling for our wedding, so we’re doing welcome bags to show them how glad we are that they came and give them a little glimpse into the area. We’re including postcards, water, mini hangover kits, and locally made pretzels and candy (so something salty and something sweet). We’ll also have a little note tied to it and door hangers that I’ll make.

View Quoted Comment I see. I am still trying to figure all out but I have time now again. I was just trying think also practical I don’t want to give them things that will just get filed in the round bin or left in room

View Quoted Comment That’s cool. I’m not sure who will show now. But I estimate all my local will and within a few hour drive the rest not sure of

This is not, never was a tradition. It is another good idea of someone on reality TV or social media, promoted by the wedding industry. Like proposal gifts, favors or gag gifts for Bach parties, getting ready robes, and all personalized wedding stuff, as well as gifts for parents, none have any history. But to keep people spending money. Much of why weddings have tripled in costs. The basics, people pay nearly twice as much at 25 years ago, even after correction for inflation. But the other third is extra things people simply did not do, from all the purchased gifts, to mini-vacation bachelorettes, and use of pro videographers, engagement shoots, pro makeup and hair onsite.
So don't do any of it because you think you ought to. It all got pulled out of thin air, like most fads, and promoted by those who make a profit.
Select only things you think important for you. None needs to happen. Same with emergency kits in bathrooms, goodie bags ( food or drinks) to rooms or hotels, or welcome bags.