Ten Must-Haves for Your Wedding Welcome Bags

5. A Local Treat

What better way to pay homage to the location of your wedding than with local goodies from the area? Whether it's local craft beer or artisan honey, there are endless options to support local businesses and find a meaningful gift for your welcome bags. Putting in local items is also a great way to help guests learn about the locale and get familiar with the area you've chosen for your wedding and what it means to you. 

6. Personalized Map of the Area

Work with your significant other to create a completely personalized map of the area for guests (including easy directions to key spots). You can feature your favorite local spots, meaningful locations and tourist attractions guests might enjoy. Lots of graphic designers work with couples to embed a map into their invitation suite, which is also a fun option. In many ways, you and your significant other are playing host for your guests, and making sure they have a fulfilling experience is key (especially for out of town loved ones). 

7. Weather Accommodations   

Make sure your guests are prepared for whatever weather conditions might be incoming. For warmer weather opt for sunscreen, aloe vera, a fan and sunglasses to wear during the event. For colder weddings, hand warmers, umbrellas and wraps may be necessary. Make sure to at least have a weather plan for the day-of if you don't want to include anything specific in your welcome bags. 

8. Handwritten Notes

What's better than a meaningful handwritten note? Adding in a handwritten note thanking guests for attending your wedding is not only a meaningful gesture but a perfect addition to your welcome bags. Make your guests feel as appreciated as they are by telling them with a personalized card waiting for them upon arrival. It's super cute to see notes at the wedding receptions as well and handwritten cards after the event, but having them greet your guests is truly the perfect intro to your wedding weekend or day. 

9. A Water Bottle or Tumbler

Go for a more sustainable option than plastic water bottles and opt for reusable bottles or tumblers. To coordinate with your wedding design, choose a hue that matches your color palette at the wedding or opt for a personalized logo. Swell has chic and sleek water bottles that are a perfect fit for a wedding welcome bag and has customization options and a range of colors and styles. Tumblers, beer mugs and other options are also great things to include that will actually be used after your wedding. 

10. Wedding Itinerary (Duh)

If there's one essential for people to get upon arrival, it's your wedding itinerary. Make sure to include all the exciting festivities you have planned in your itinerary and list locations, times and dress codes if desired. If you want to opt for a more high-tech option, couples can opt to create a custom QR code guests can scan to take them to a corresponding website or digital page. This is another chance to work with a graphic designer or online company to design something that is a showcase of your style and vision.