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Dedicated December 2021

Is a Welcome Party a Must

Arlene, on May 14, 2021 at 2:29 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 17

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Hi all!

The FH and I are planning to have a wedding weekend since our venue is 3 hours away from home and 95% of our family and guests live in other states.
We wanted to have our wedding party and immediate family come into town Saturday for the rehearsal, rehearsal dinner and wedding party wars. They will be staying at the cottages on site with us.Sunday we setup and the rest of the guests come into town. I have my Bachelorette Slumber party and I'm sure the groomsmen and FH will just chill.Monday is the wedding.Then Tuesday a farewell breakfast.
Here's my question, do we need to have a welcome party to welcome the rest of the guests into town or is a little welcome basket enough?I want them to feel welcomed so each household will get a welcome basket left for them at their hotel when they check in and it will have a list of local attractions to keep them busy. But, I'm worried it's going to be too much for me healthwise (I have an autoimmune disorder) and it's exhausting just thinking about it lol. Plus I want to relax too.

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Latest activity by Shannon, on May 14, 2021 at 9:18 PM

Champion December 2022
Michelle · on May 14, 2021 at 2:32 PM
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No. Many weddings don’t have any welcome party and traveling guests are not upset by it. Even a welcome basket is generous and not missed if you can’t afford it or it’s too much work.
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Super February 2022
Grace · on May 14, 2021 at 2:33 PM
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Welcome basket with local information provided would be more than enough if I was a guest.
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 2:33 PM
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Thanks Grace!!
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 2:36 PM
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Thanks Michelle!
I was think just small south carolina staples like boiled peanuts, sweet tea and a palmetto Keychain. We have a 3d printer so we are going to put it to A LOT of use lol!
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Champion July 2019
Veronica · on May 14, 2021 at 2:39 PM
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Definitely not necessary. All of our guests traveled about 1.5-2 hours for our wedding and we didn't do a welcome party or welcome bags.
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 2:48 PM
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Thanks Veronica!
Most of our guests have to board a plane though to get to us...😬😬
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Expert September 2021
Marianne · on May 14, 2021 at 2:59 PM
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Personally, I like having free time to explore the area when I travel for a wedding, so I think a list of suggestions is perfect and the welcome basket is an added bonus!
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 3:15 PM
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Thanks for your input Marianne!!!
That's what I like to do as well!
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Devoted April 2021
Allison · on May 14, 2021 at 3:22 PM
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You absolutely don't need to do a welcome party on Sunday! Personally, I would appreciate having the day to just relax and unwind from travel. Since a lot of your guests are flying in, I think they'll appreciate a quiet night to rest and get settled before the big party. Plus, everyone should know that the couple will have other obligations to attend to and won't have tons of time to spare to socialize. I know people say that welcome bags aren't necessary but I love them and think if you have the time and budget to spare, then go for it! I just think they add a nice touch, especially when you travel a distance for a wedding.
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Donnaly · on May 14, 2021 at 4:19 PM
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A welcome basket is more than enough
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 4:24 PM
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Thanks so much Allison!!
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 4:24 PM
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Thanks so much
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Devoted August 2022
Nicole · on May 14, 2021 at 6:31 PM
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Our venue is a 3-4 hour drive for almost all our guests. I'm not doing a welcome party because I want to keep it low key and relax the day before my wedding. I am having a farewell brunch the next day which will be casual.
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Devoted July 2023
Scandalousrandallous · on May 14, 2021 at 6:39 PM
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Our guests flew 5-7hrs for my 1st wedding and so we used the "rehearsal dinner" as more of a backyard bbq casual "welcome party" but that was a lot more than your drive so I wouldnʻt sweat it.
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 8:19 PM
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Thanks for your input Nicole!
I need to decide whether the farewell breakfast will be for just family or everyone too as well.
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Dedicated December 2021
Arlene · on May 14, 2021 at 8:21 PM
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Thank you! We're doing the rehearsal dinner on Saturday so that would make it tougher to have everyone there.
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Dedicated May 2022
Shannon · on May 14, 2021 at 9:18 PM
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Your wedding weekend sounds like fun! I think that a wedding basket is nice but also include a list of activities that are available around town or places to go and eat so that they aren’t just sitting and waiting for the big day. However, if it is within your budget to have a welcome party, I’m sure your guest would enjoy that too!
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Is a Welcome Party a Must

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