Welcome Bags - Optional or a Must-do?

I'm not. I would never expect them as an OOT guest, though they would be a pleasant surprise! Frankly, I don't know who is staying at our hotel, because many people have been reserving outside of our block. I'm not going to chase that info down just for some bags with water and snacks. Plus, others are reserving at other hotels and I don't want to hunt all those down either, or make it look like I'm choosing favorites by only picking certain hotels to have bags.

I know some people have done them for a destination wedding instead of favors, but for a wedding in your hometown or near by I wouldn't. I have enough to worry about. lol OOT guest have info where to stay and what to do (like waterparks, golfing, space and rocket center) on my website. They will recieve a box of chocolate as a favor like anyone else.

The bags definitely are not necessary but a nice gesture if you have the time. There are lots of options to include items that are free and can easily be out together for a few dollars. Here is a blog article with some ideas:

http://favorite-announcements.com/?p=69

Most of our pot guests are my family and they are almost all originally from where our wedding is and will be staying mostly with friends and family. The few that will stay in hotels will just go.to their usual, so we aren't eve booking a block of rooms anywhere.

I say, if you want to do it and have the time and the budget, do it. If you don't, don't feel guilty.

I don't think you need to but my family will be staying with us. There may be around. 8 of us in one house! Thank goodness we have a few extra bedrooms. I'm not making bags though, they are really laid back and would think its unnecessary.

Nothing is a necessity except you, your fiance, an officiant, a witness or two and a license. I don't think it's necessary.

It's optional. We are doing them. Majority of our guest are coming from OOT so we will make bags and put them in their hotel rooms. Bottled water, small bag of chips, mini chocolates, mints, a personalized Do Not Disturb sign, and pamphlets of local wineries, apple orchards, and pumpkin patches. We live in the Hudson Valley area so a lot of our guests are planning a 4 day weekend since its a holiday weekend.

If we have money in the budget we'll put together a few welcome baskets for our family (those that will be attending the rehearsal dinner). If not, no big deal. Our friends are younger and don't care about that kind of thing... they're just happy to be attending a wedding with an open bar

I'm doing over the top bags because everyone is traveling to us but I agree it's not necessary. However we're including a number of free items - a thank you note from us for coming, a list of local restaurants we suggest, a map of the area, a Metro map, a custom crossword puzzle about us that I made online and printed at home PLUS we contacted a number of store where our hotel is and they have offered a stack of coupons to put in our bags. Since our venue and hotel are somewhat remote the 30 or so stores and restaurants there will be frequented by our guests and I just thought this was a nice option.

For the paid stuff we're doing Diet Coke (the hotel has free water bottles in the room), Berger's cookies (my fiancee is from Baltimore), Utz's crab chips (the Baltimore thing again) and some other small stuff. It's not cheap but neither was them traveling from afar so I made this important to me. But again I don't think it's necessary.

Absolutely NOT necessary.

Its not necessary, but definitely appreciated. I really didnt put much in my bags, but everyone really enjoyed them. It was just something nice as en extra thank you.

Definitely optional.

Here's what's necessary:

Bride

Groom

Officiant

Wedding License

2 witnesses

*Everything Else* is optional. Keep that in mind and you'll stay more relaxed.

Completely optional.

I have to admit I completely loved receiving one from a recent wedding we went to. OOT bags definitely do not go unappreciated!

Yeah totally optional and most of our OOT guests appreciated them. My now in laws actually refused them :/ which slightly offended me. But yeah NORMAL people will appreciate them but don't feel obligated. "OMG I came to this wedding and didn't get a bag with snacks and travel sized lotions, how rude!" said no OOT guest ever.

Yup totally optional. I've been to weddings and stayed in hotel block and never gotten a welcome bag. Never thought twice about it.

We are only giving welcome bags to our OOT guests.

It's a new trend, I really think it's just one of those things people are using to "one up" each others weddings.

While thoughtful, it can also be a huge added expense, and I would never expect one as a guest.

Totally optional. We didn't do full welcome bags, but we put together little baggie with salt water taffies from a local taffy store (we got married in northern Michigan) with little tags that reminded guests about our shuttle for them to and from the venue..

Honestly, I've gotten some that seemed like such a waste of money.. mini wine glasses (seriously.. we didn't keep those!) and pens with the couple's name on it.. just some snacks are nice I think.. if you do them, it's just something to make their stay a little more comfortable or to show how grateful you are that they are celebrating with you!

Optional.

But we are choosing to go with them. We are seeing the wedding day as the part where we are getting married and then as the party we are hosting.

A lot of people made it their priority to come and spend the day with us and celebrate. We want them to feel special as much as we can. And while it is an added expense, it isn't huge.