When guests travel for your wedding, a welcome bag waiting at the hotel is one of the warmest gestures you can make. It says thank you for coming, gives them a taste of where they are, and handles the little things they may have forgotten to pack. Here are our favorite wedding welcome bag ideas: what to put inside, how to choose a bag guests will actually reuse, and how to get them into the right hands.
Start With the Bag Itself
The bag is the part guests keep. A flimsy paper bag gets tossed at checkout, but a sturdy personalized tote comes home and gets used for groceries, the beach and weekend trips, a small reminder of your wedding every time.
Our personalized wedding favor tote bags are made from durable natural cotton canvas, with custom text for your names, monogram, date or a short message, and a ribbon accent in your choice of color. They're eco-friendly and reusable, and they double as bridesmaid gifts or bachelorette weekend bags.
What to Put in a Wedding Welcome Bag
Something to eat and drink
- Bottled water or a reusable water bottle
- A local snack or treat: salt water taffy at the beach, chocolate from a local maker, pastries from a favorite bakery
- Mini bottles of wine or champagne for a toast in the room
- Coffee or tea packets for the morning after
Something useful
- Pain reliever, mints and lip balm
- Sunscreen for an outdoor or destination wedding
- Hand sanitizer, tissues and a stain remover pen
- A phone charging cable
- Blister bandages for dancing shoes
Something local
- A small guide to your favorite nearby restaurants and spots
- A map of the area with the venue marked
- A small item made in the region: olive oil, honey, hot sauce or a candle
Something personal
- A handwritten or printed welcome note
- A weekend itinerary with event times, addresses and dress codes
- Transportation details and shuttle times
- A small photo of the two of you
Welcome Bag Ideas by Wedding Style
- Beach or coastal: Sunscreen, sunglasses, a small towel and local saltwater taffy.
- Vineyard or wine country: A mini bottle of local wine, crackers and a recommendation for a nearby tasting room.
- City weekend: A subway card or rideshare credit, a coffee shop guide and late-night snacks.
- Winter or mountain: Hot cocoa packets, hand warmers and lip balm. For the reception, pair with embroidered blanket favors.
- Desert: Electrolyte packets, sunscreen and a cooling face mist.
How to Deliver Welcome Bags
- Hotel front desk. Most hotels in your room block will hand bags to guests at check-in. Ask in advance whether there's a fee, and label each bag with the guest's name.
- Vacation rentals. Drop bags off before guests arrive or leave them with the property manager.
- At the welcome dinner. Set bags out on a table so guests can grab one as they arrive.
At our own San Diego welcome dinner, canvas tote bags with a deep pink DB monogram lined a long white table beside blush and peach florals, ready for guests to take home. See the welcome dinner here.
Tips for Planning Welcome Bags
- One bag per room, not per guest. Couples sharing a room usually get one bag.
- Keep liquids sealed. Pack anything that could leak in a zip bag inside the tote.
- Assemble early. Put bags together a week before so it isn't a last-minute task.
- Order totes with time to spare. Our tote bags have a processing time of 5 to 8 business days, and we send a digital proof within 48 hours for your approval. Add shipping time on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should get a wedding welcome bag?
Welcome bags are traditionally for out-of-town guests staying at hotels or rentals. Some couples give them to the wedding party or immediate family as well.
How much should I put in each bag?
A few thoughtful items are better than a lot of filler. Water, a local snack, a useful item and a welcome note make a complete bag.
Can I personalize the tote bags?
Yes. Choose your font and ribbon color and add your custom text, such as names, a monogram, a date or a short message.
Do your tote bags work as bridesmaid gifts too?
They do. Personalized totes make lovely bridesmaid gifts and bachelorette weekend bags, and they're reusable long after the wedding.
Ready to Welcome Your Guests?
Start with our personalized cotton canvas tote bags, or message us about a larger order for your wedding weekend.