Wedding gift bags at hotel?

I've received wedding gift bags and the only thing I care about in there is water. Other than that, I think it's a waste.

I'm going to do them. I'm giving water bottles, the personalized DND door hangers I bought along with a welcome note. I'm going to put some snacks in them too, like cookies, chips, nuts, mints, etc. and these small matchbook sized note pads I got for a great deal on Oriental Trading.

They're definitely not necessary and are the place I'd probably be shaving to cut costs also but I think they're a nice touch

I do like the idea of gift bags to your out of town guests. Just know that hotels charge a portage fee for delivering each bag to your guests. I don't know how many hotel guest you will have, but it is usually like $3 per bag in my experience. So if you have a lot of them....it could get expensive too.

FWIW: My hotel will give them to the guests upon check in OR put them in the rooms ahead of time for no extra charge.

I worked at an upscale resort for 5 years and we never charged for handing bags out to guests at check-in. There was only a charge for the bellmen to deliver to the rooms.

I am going to say that a "gift/food bag" at the hotel was HUGE PLUS as a guest coming for an OOT wedding. We attended two weddings out of state (my FH was in both of them) and the grooms had "dude boxes" that also contained bottled water, microwave popcorn, Nutrigrain bars, trail mix, Nutty Bars, candy, etc. We were SO STARVING after the wedding that we gobbled that stuff up in no time when we got back. It saved us a McDonalds run at 1:00 am.

Vegas hotels charge about $10 each for delivery...I wanted to do them so bad, but am not shelling that out!

Neither of my hotels charge a fee, and I don't actually think a fee is that common.

I always appreciate water, a bit of food, and advil in my out of town bags because I'll want/need all at some point and I don't bring that with me.

So ours will have water, schedule of events, directions, advil, granola bar, chocolate, and mints.

We're making them. I don't think they're necessary, but fun. Ours have a bottle of wine (and opener), bottled water, some snacks, a deck of Phillies playing cards (our theme) and a note. There is no fee associated with handing them out.

It might not be common where you are from, but I know for sure they charge here. I work at a upscale hotel for the past 9 years and have traveled to many for business as well and that has always been protocol.

If the front desk is providing the bags as each guest checks in to the hotel, they shouldn't charge anything. Like csquid and I mentioned, there is a charge to have the bellman deliver to the guests rooms. Just something to keep in mind to ask.

We did. It was my one and only DIY and I loved them.

We will be doing them and I love receiving them! Especially when they are filled with food/treats. Went to a wedding where we had a two hour trip beforehand, we were so excited when we got a welcome bag with water, pretzels, popcorn, etc. It was a nice little treat to have before the wedding.

We're going to do them. We'll put in the usual water and snacks. All of the snacks will be local Philly favorites. We'll also put a thank you card in there with an invitation to brunch the next day.

Thanks for all the feedback! And good idea about calling the hotel to check. Our hotel does not charge to give the guests a bag at check in but they prefer it to be generic so they don't have to look for names which is fine. Sounds like a small wedding bag with a note, water and a few treats is worth it. I will try to find ways to get everything cheap

@kristenann- what Philly foods have you come up with?

I did welcome cards with a personalized note and rehearsal dinner info and a map inside. My family thought it was the sweetest thing ever.

I want to, but haven't started yet. I wasn't thinking of including any food or water though (neither FH and I believe in bottled water for where we are located). I was going to put a note, some maps and brochures, and maybe a door tag. Maybe we will add a little candy or something.