Welcome bags

Welcome bags are optional, but definitely a nice thing to do. They're common in my family and social circle, and typically handed out upon check in to the out of town guests who stay at the hotel block. For ours, we included water bottles, snacks such as granola bars, chips, pretzels, candy, etc. and hangover kits with advil, mints, a gatorade packet, makeup remover wipe, etc. We bought all of the items in bulk from Costco so they were very affordable to make. Regardless of the timing of the wedding, as a guest, the things I would most want in a welcome bag are water bottles and snacks!

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the suggestions!

Save your money and focus on what guests will remember: good food, free drinks, good dj, and quality photo/video for your own memories. Skip favors as well for the same reason.


I have been an out of the area guest fairly often and have never heard of welcome bags prior to Pinterest and WW. I never felt neglected by the couple either for not receiving one when it wasn’t even a thing.

I hadn’t even thought of them at first but everyone talks about them all the time and then my mom mentioned them as well, so I think I’ll wind up doing them. Almost all of my guests are from out of town so that definitely factored into my decision too. I think it’s a nice gesture and they don’t have to be expensive. All of the opinions I’ve gotten have basically just said they appreciate a bottle of water and some snacks, so I’ll get those items from Costco and it’ll be cheap and easy!

I have never found welcome bags helpful, except for local maps, and bags of home made cookies. I pack any medications we might need ( Tylenol, etc) and the quality of little packaged crackers and cookies I find not worth it. I will provide better stuff if I want my kids to have it.

We’re doing welcome bags for all the guests staying in our room block. We’re including the standards: water bottles, Advil, snacks; we’re also doing mini liquor bottles and local candy.


As a guest, I definitely don’t expect them, so it’s a nice surprise. I say do it if it’s in your budget, but don’t sweat it if it’s not 😀

Welcome bags are optional. I would never expect them as a guest nor did we have them when we got married. I personally think they are too difficult to manage because not everyone will stay at the same place.

If you have the time and a wedding block I shrink it’s a nice touch. They are always a nice touch. Ours have snacks, Advil, water, and a schedule of shuttles to and from our venue as well as info for brunch the morning after.


In total it cost me maybe $60 and I have to say as a guest at weddings it is always nice to go back to the room and have some water and a snack especially since most people have been drinking and can’t really get food elsewhere. Yes I know I just ate for 6 hours straight but I will eat some Oreos if I’ve been drinking! But where I live weddings are definitely a little more elaborate so it’s really about your guests.

I would do them in your situation, especially with how far your location is from the airport. If I were one of your guests I’d be thrilled to have water, etc. waiting for me after a flight and a long drive!


I would definitely focus on finding a hotel that offers an affordable room block so you can serve as many of your guests!

Welcome bags are totally optional, but as a guest I always appreciate some water and small snacks so I don’t have to pay the outrageous hotel prices or worry about getting to the gift shop before it closes. In our welcome bags we put bottled water, small can Pringles, granola bar, small bag of mixed nuts, banana, cookie, breath mints, Lysol wipes, small hand sanitizer, single wick candle from Bath & Body Works, disposable rain poncho, Advil packet, and a $5 Starbucks gift card since there was one in the hotel.

View Quoted Comment Wow, what a welcome bag!

We are doing hotel welcome bags. Granted it's only for 7 rooms. Ours are themed after the city we live in (KC) and the bags will have the skyline on the bag. By no means did I feel I had to do this but thought it would be a nice gesture for our family.

I think that guests always love welcome bags, especially those who had to fly in from out of town. Even just a simple bag with a couple of water bottles and a package of pretzels and a candy bar hits the spot after a long day of travel. We will be doing welcome bags for our out of town guests, and including mostly water bottles and snacks.

View Quoted Comment Thank you for the suggestions!

A way to save on this is skip it entirely and put a cute box of stuff in the bathrooms to include minis of things such as Advil, mouthwash, bandaids, ankle bandages, mini deodorants, mini brushes, chapsticks, etc. I always found that stuff useful and appreciated it when I went to weddings!

I'm doing them, but there are only 8 rooms on property. If I was doing a room block in a hotel I think I would pass on them, mostly because of the cost and time it will take to put together.

We have all our guests for out 60 person wedding staying at the Bear Mountain lodge where we are getting married. Many people have not gone there so we putting in maps of local breweries, wineries, restaurants and fun places to go, wedding timlines and when breakfast will be getting delivered from Panera. Our welcome bags will include water, aspirin and each of our families favorites food. Is it necessary no, but we are hosting an event and are so happy they are joining us. We also have our theme on the bag with a thank you as well.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much for your thoughts and suggestions!

So if you would like to do welcome bags, you definitely don't need to go all out. We're just including water bottles, my favorite snack, FH's favorite snack, and then our favorite together. And then some single packs of Advil and then a door hanger that says, "Do Not Disturb. We've Been Partying All Night with the Mr. and Mrs." The snacks, bag, Advil, and water bottles are very inexpensive and the only more expensive item is the door hanger. I got them from Michaels for $15 for 12.

If it's in your budget and you want to put the effort into it, go for it. Otherwise, it's an extra expense that you can definitely cut out. I've traveled out of town for multiple weddings and have never expected a welcome bag, I know the bride and groom have bigger things to plan/organize than whether I have an extra water bottle in my room.