Welcome bags, do I really need them?

So you’re thinking about adding welcome bags to your destination wedding festivities? Let me start by saying it’s a great idea. They’re cute, fancy, sweet but there not a necessity. It will not make or break your big day. However, if you decide to have them, it should depend on two goals. First you want to offer your guests  an initial welcome.  Second, your budget can accommodate it.

Since you probably wouldn’t be present to welcome your guest as they check in, your bags can serve as an immediate form of gratitude and appreciation for their attendance. Many guests to a destination wedding make a lot of sacrifices to be there and the logistics of travel arrangements aren’t always the easiest. So a good welcome bag can help to ease any tension.

If your budget already included welcome bags, great!  If not, please don’t fall prey to the idea that it’s a must. There are many forums where destination brides share ideas, and you may feel the need to do what everyone else is doing. This pressure can be even more overwhelming if you’re constantly looking to Pinterest for answers.

If you decide that you want give your guest a personalize “wow moment” upon checking into the resort/hotel, then go for the bags. But even then, make sure it’s not going to interfere with more important things especially if you have a set budget.

Many brides are DIY-ing (Do it Yourself) wherever possible. Welcome bags are a great place to use those creative skills. You can get very personal and creative here. However, the goal is to make it simple yet memorable.

Here are five components you can consider sharing in your bags:

1. Share some Culture
If your wedding is in on an island, you want to give your guests a taste of the culture. This can be done with the help of your

on-site event planner. Find something that’s unique to the culture there and share with your guests. We got married in Jamaica and we offered their miniature bottles.

2. Share some Personality
Make sure to add a nice and short note. If it can be hand written, that would be even better. Here, you can add a personal pen with bride and groom’s name and wedding date.

3. Share some “Opps”essentials
Lots of fun can call on some “opps” moments.  So here you may want to share a Travel size sewing kit, Advil, Mints, hand sanitizer, etc. Your guests will party hard and these items, will come in handy.

4. Share some Sweet/Salty
Sweets… lots of it. You can even get some customized candy. You can’t go wrong here.  Add mint candies, caramel, chocolate (only if it wouldn’t melt) cookies, crackers, popcorns etc. Some all inclusive resorts don’t offer much late at night snacks, so this will be a great help.

5. Share some Enthusiasm
There maybe outside activities they can do after the wedding. Find out what discounts you can extent to your guests for excursions, tourist trips and other local activities.

Obviously this is not an exhaustive list. These are just areas that should be covered. At the end of the day, the one the thing to remember is it’s your wedding and you’re in control. Make it memorable for your guests, and UNFORGETTABLE for you and your hubby to be.

I love to help destination brides get clarity, so if you have questions, feel free to reach out.

[psfb id=”365″ title=”Tell Me About Your Wedding”]