Ideas for Welcome Bags

When I’m not busy with my exciting internship at Calluna Events, I work front desk for a hotel and often get to witness some pretty interesting things. A few weeks ago, a large wedding party was staying with us that made our hotel a very wild and exceptionally fun place to be. However, what really caught my attention is what the bride-to-be did for each of her guests to make them feel appreciated and welcome since many of them had traveled for the wedding. When I came in for my shift that day, the bride and a couple friends/relatives were filling our lounge area with laughter, excitement, and heaps of goodie bags! They had purchased prepackaged food in bulk (more cost efficient), gift bags, and ribbons. Each guest got a couple bottles of water, a rice crispy treat, candy bar, chips, goldfish crackers, and a list of things to do in the area during the time they were staying for the wedding. Then each bag was topped off with a short thank you note in appreciation of the guest which was tied on with some ribbon and signed by the bride and groom. These bags were then given out to guests as they arrived at the hotel and made everyone smile when they saw that the happy couple had thought of them.

Whether your guests come from near or far for your wedding, they are going out of their way to be there and support you for your big day. Although gifts are a traditional wedding accompaniment, they are often costly and sometimes overwhelming. This is a reminder that you can do things simple and fairly inexpensive. And you don’t have to fill the bags with unhealthy treats or even food, but you can search for something of the same caliber to put a smile on your guests’ faces. Try checking out craft stores such as Hobby Lobby, , and Michael’s, or visit Costco or Sam’s Club for bulk food items. It also gives you the opportunity to be more creative and interpret your wedding style into the gift.

Try something befitting the season, if it’s a summer wedding throw in a mini sunscreen, a drink mix, maybe some seeds, if winter, try hot chocolate or an ornament. Or try finding something that represents you or your fiance or your relationship together. Guests will feel that the gifts are more meaningful and that you went out of your way to think of them, while you may save some money and really personalize the gifts you’re giving out!

Here’s a list of items you could include in a welcome bag for a Colorado Wedding – or in any state for that matter!

Eldorado Springs Water
IZZE’s (Boulder based company, now owned by Pepsi)
Boulder Potato Chips (started in Boulder)
Chocolove chocolate (Boulder based company)
Concertos in Chocolate (Colorado company)
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Chocolates
Celestial Seasonings Tea (local company)
Pekoe Tea (local company)
Punch cards/gift certificate to local coffee shop
Apple, orange or other fruit
Chewing gum
Breath mints
Sunscreen (Rocky Mountain Sunscreen)
Lip balm (Rocky Mountain Sunscreen)
Trail Mix
Local beer (Boulder Beer, Fat Tire)
Lara Bars, Luna Bars, Clif Bars, granola bars
String cheese
Emergen-C
Tissues – come in cute packets
Hand-wipes or hand sanitizer
Maps of Boulder, Denver or surrounding area
Boulder Magazine
5280 Magazine
Weekend timeline with directions to all wedding events
Brochures of area attractions
Welcome letter
Small packets of aspirin
Document with local weather info
List of area restaurants
Supplies: band-aids, safety pins,
Anything personalized that signifies you (a mug with your photo on it, chocolates from your favorite place, pens with your wedding date on them, hats with the wedding location and date printed on them)

Happy Reading – xoxo

Heather Dwight & Crista Schmidt (Calluna Events intern)

Colorado Wedding Planner

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