Hey, lovelies! If you’re wondering how to make your own wedding welcome bags, you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re sharing the ten things your wedding welcome bags need to make them extra awesome for guests.

But first, let’s talk about why you might want to give wedding welcome bags to your guests. Welcome bags do just that: they welcome your guests to your wedding weekend. It is customary to have welcome bags waiting for guests at the hotel. After traveling, whether a few hours away or a long airplane ride, arriving at a hotel and receiving a welcome bag is a nice gesture for guests.

Here’s what to put in your wedding welcome bags to ensure guests love ’em! Enjoy!

Bride-to-be, Meghan, wrote us in our Ask Emmaline inbox with a great question. She wants to know how to make welcome bags for her out-of-town wedding guests. And since we love a good welcome bag, we knew we wanted to share this one with you! She is planning a wedding in her hometown of Wilmington, NC. However, a handful of guests are traveling from out of town (she currently lives in Chicago). She says,

Hi Emmaline! Many guests are flying in for my beach wedding in North Carolina. I want them to feel comfortable in the area. I’ve heard of wedding welcome bags, but I have no idea what to put in them. Any advice?

Great question, Meghan! Wedding welcome bags are a nice way to greet guests upon arrival at their hotel. A welcome bag is a sweet gesture, since your guests have traveled to be a part of your day. Say thank you by leaving a welcome bag in their hotel room (this can be coordinated with the hotel — just be sure to tip extra generously) or at the hotel lobby. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 things your wedding welcome bags should have. You can make them yourself with just a few easy-to-find things. Read on for the list!

What Wedding Welcome Bags Need

– Start with a bag.

We love a bag that can be re-used. A tote bag like this is deep enough to be filled to the brim. By DreamState.

These custom state tote bags are SO CUTE! Perfect for a state themed wedding. By Anthony and Stork.

This Austin Texas tote is perfect for a Texas wedding!

Here are additional totes your guests will love:

Or how about something totally custom, like this illustrated tote…

Or say welcome to NY or any location with a map tote a la the lovely LH Calligraphy (left) or a state shape with heart on your location from Moko and Co (right):

If you’re making a welcome bag for a bridesmaid, splurge a little on a bag she can use forever — preferably one with a durable handle. The tote can be a part of her bridesmaid gift.

I love this one.

I also love these examples of wedding welcome bags as charming examples.

Also loving these wedding welcome bags and tags by Castleberry Hill.

Once you have the wedding welcome bags, it’s time to fill ’em up! Here are some tips on what to put in the bags.

What to Put in Wedding Welcome Bags

1. Wedding itinerary / booklet

Give guests a warm welcome with a wedding itinerary so guests will be on time and know what’s happening at what time. You can also include additional itineraries (i.e. for your rehearsal dinner, or a separate itinerary for bridesmaids). You can include phone numbers and addresses to the locations in case guests need navigation.

If you’re like, include a list of a few restaurants nearby, a local coffee shop, and grocery store. And, last but not least, include a phone number for a taxi in case they need transportation.

And… be sure to include a thank you note or card and be sure to write your own sweet sentiments inside.

Thank your guests for traveling to be a part of your big day and tell them how excited you are to see them out on the dance floor. This card is by E.M. Papers.

2. Snacks

Include a little something to munch on. Include something sweet (chocolate) and something salty (nuts or popcorn). You’ll likely have a guest who likes both or at least one of these. Or, for a combination, go with sea salt caramels. You can never, ever go wrong with sea salt caramels. By Black Tie Caramel.

As another option, these caramels from The Caramel Jar are amazing. I’ve tried them before and, let me tell you, there will be no leftovers. That’s for sure! Buy yours here.

3. Recovery kit

Something like this will do! By Clementine Weddings.

You’ll need to fill these bags with essentials, like headache medicine (buy the individual packs in bulk here for cheap!), some vitamin-c packets, some Pepto Bismol packets, and mini bottles of water. That’s really all you need!

Or these! Buy yours here.

4. Coffee

The elixir of the gods, I say! Give ground coffee or a gift card to a favorite coffee shop.

When I’m filling up wedding welcome bags or gift bags for guests, multi-pack gift cards are always a good way to save money.

This coffee always makes me smile! It gets great reviews, too. By Strong AF Coffee Co.

And any of these coffee picks are always delicious, too.

5. Map

A local map is ALWAYS a good idea. Sometimes my GPS lady and I don’t get along and, I swear, she gets verbally annoyed. Skip the satellites and go old-school — it’ll never let you down.
Pretty maps from Zoe are always a welcome addition!

6. A bottle of water

This is essential. Hydrated guests are happy guests. You can get these custom labels from Designed by ME and buy the small water bottles in bulk to save money here.

7. Granola bars

A little energy never hurt anyone! Plus, great idea for really hungry travelers who just arrived to their hotel. You can buy granola bars here in bulk, so you can put one or a few in each of your wedding welcome bags. Or, get huge bags of bulk trail mix here. Then, just grab these cute trail mix favor bags by Mavora.

8. A local souvenir

Pick up something cute from and local from a gift shop.

Read: this post for suggestions.

The emphasis here is on something sort of silly and definitely inexpensive — but local, and with the city’s name on it. For instance, a shot glass, a postcard, a refrigerator magnet, a keychain, coasters… you get the idea.

9. Bottle of wine or champagne

Make sure you pick a bottle of wine or champagne you enjoy yourself.
You can get a bulk order of wine right to your doorstep here.

Or browse hand-selected wine favorites here.

If it is a local wine, that’s even better! They’ll probably also need one of these handy.

10. A door hanger

This is too cute to pass up and a must-have for wedding welcome bags.

Have a question for Ask Emmaline? Submit it here! We’ll swoop in to help.

P.S. Welcome your guests with these signs at your wedding, too!

xo
-E.

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Updated: 2019