Welcome bags for out of town guests?

You certainly don't have to do it - guests don't expect it and it is another cost, but it's also a nice touch if you have it in your budget! My fiance and I are doing welcome bags only for those staying in the hotel room block. If you don't want to spend money on items for the bags, but still want to do something, you could instead write notes to your guests that the hotel can hand out at check in!

Totally optional. Unless a guest is also currently planning a wedding, they won't know a thing about Instagram wedding trends, and won't be expecting a bag.

It is a thing, but totally optional. Ive never really cared one way or another about receiving them and always feel bad that I just end up throwing away things people have paid for.

Outside of Pinterest, we have never received one as guests, nor has anyone we know. Most things in there are offered at the hotel already. Also not all guests will stay at the hotel you have chosen. Save your money and time.

It’s totally optional and not something you need to do. Don’t spend money on things that aren’t something you are really into.

Totally optional!! I want to do something like this for family since we'll all be staying in an Airbnb together but I'm not planning on making any for other guests- primarily because I don't want to have to trek around the whole island tracking down where people are staying.

You don't have to!! But I'm getting a lot of joy planning what to put in them. 😊

The bag is a pattern of drawn chinoiserie topiary, which fits our theme perfectly. (Thanks mom for finding those!)A printed welcome/thank you letterA local shop's popcorn bag (I love popcorn and grew up as this shop's particular popcorn being a special treat)A local shop's pretzel bag (PA my home state and where the wedding is, is really big on pretzels, but so is Germany where FH and I work and live atm!)A postcard of PhillyTravel size face masksTravel size mosquito sprayA few pieces of customized Hershey Kisses (since that's from PA and grew up going to Hershey park. They're customized with our colors and names and date!)

I received one at one wedding I went to. Pretty much the whole contents went in the trash because it was snacks I wouldn't/couldn't eat, medicine I can't take (aspirins), and bottled water (what I kept). They spent a lot of money on the contents of the bag and it went in the trash - it was very sad.

I really appreciated the welcome bag that I received at the last wedding I attended. The bottle of water came in handy after many cocktails plus aspirin and snacks as well. Plan to incudes the same plus small hand sanitizers.

No, you don't HAVE to do this. Some people want to make sure their out of town guests are comfortable and feel special. If you do want to do this, you don't have to spend a boat load of money, just get creative.

My husband and I really enjoyed writing our welcome message together with suggestions of our fav local restaurants and fun activities. Have fun with it if you choose to do it, but it's optional.

At least 60% of my guest list are from out of town. I was also only able to solidify 20 rooms at a nearby hotel because there are 2 other wedding blocks reserved before me for the same weekend!!

It is not a requirement but it is a nice gesture. Most weddings that I have traveled for I have received a welcome bag of some sort. Nothing extravagant most contained a beverage (water or soda water) a snack or 2, and sometimes a little packet of Advil and sweet note from the hosts that include the weekend itinerary and things nearby to check out. If you do decide to put something together Costcos or any discount bulk warehouse is a great place to look for snacks and beverages in bulk.

We thought about having them but waited until the month of our wedding to finally decide. We ended up not doing them because of the added cost, and not having them didn't alter our guests' experiences for the weekend!

If they're in your budget, I say go for it because it's a nice gesture, but if your budget is tight or getting to your max, skip them.

I have been think about doing the same thing. However I consider what if someone can't have something I put in the bags or doesn't like it. I would have feel bad and a little annoyed that they went to waste.
Are you going to make these bags and have wedding favors or are your bags going to be your favors?

I had never heard of this myself either until very recently. I'm doing only a few for specific people like my future mother in law because she's coming from Texas and is staying a while and wants tonsee things here and we missed her birthday so it's a combination gift. Of things to do and birthday gifts. I wouldn't feel obligated to do it if you don't want to or don't want to spend the money; no one is going to feel some sort of way if they don't get one.