Destination Wedding Guests

My FSIL had a destination with a showout of about 65 people. I believe she invited around 120! No welcome bags.

We are having a DW, invited 138, expecting 60-80. No welcome bags, but my FSIL ended up getting a complimentary private catamaran due to the number of rooms she got booked, and invited all the guests that were there the day before the wedding! So we budgeted to pay for that just in case we don't get lucky enough to get it for free. But that will be our big thank you to the guests, along with hand written thank you cards post-wedding.

Common theme for DW is guests don't care much about the little gifts, so I wouldn't be too pressed as long as you're providing great drinks, food, and atmosphere!

We are having 30 people at our DW and we are doing welcome bags for those staying at our hotel. I would love to do them for everyone, but it would be too difficult trying to deliver them to multiple places, and our hotel will put them in the guests rooms so they are waiting for them when they arrive. In the bags we are putting a hangover kit (canned bloody Marys, excederin & Emergen-C), Mardi Gras beads (bc we are getting married in New Orleans), little bags of coffee from Cafe Du Monde (a famous coffee shop in NOLA), praline candies (what the area is known for), sage smudge sticks (cuz NOLA is known for haunted hotels haha), a map of the French Quarter, coupons for things to do, and a hand written thank you letter.

I m not having a destination wedding but have attended several some were pretty big between 80-110 people others were around 25-40 people, every one was beautiful. As far as welcome bags go any wedding I have had to stay in a hotel block for I have received a welcome bag and have always appreciated. A welcome bag doesn't have to be extravagant and it is a really nice touch if you can swing it. We have a number of people coming in from out of state and staying in the hotel block so we are doing welcome bags for them. The bags will have waters, snacks, drip drop (an electrolyte powder), hand sanitizer , Starbucks card,Advil, the shuttle schedule and wedding timeline, and a thank you letter. Happy planning!

We have about 35 people coming to our wedding, but since not everyone is staying at the same hotel, and since I'm also flying in, we're not doing welcome bags. We're having a welcome dinner though!

My parents only had 10. Immediate family only.

As my side flew in (& was a destination wedding for them), we had a hotel ballroom reception and a room block. Our local friends also rented rooms so they could party later as well. My husband and I made gift bags and this was one of our favorite planning activities. We had fun writing out our recommondations on NYC local sights and restaurants along a Marvel theme, printed easy on Microsoft Word. I used Amazon to get good deals on rose gold gift bags, individually wrapped slippers (my fav), under eye masks, lip masks, Advil, and hydration packs. Locally, we got 1L Smart waters, and granola mini-packs. Our dentist friend gave us toothbrushes, mini-toothpastes, and floss. There was no convenience store on premises.

I've appreciated the welcome bags I've received in the past as I always have to fly far. They don't have to be extravagant, just a thoughtful way for the bride/groom to greet me when they are otherwise super busy running around. Good luck.

Welcome bags are not needed, but can be a nice touch! Many guests don't care, think about it, or leave it behind. I just went to a DW in Hawaii in July, and they gave us gifts. Because we flew, trying to fit the stuff into my luggage was sort of annoying and I was worried about it breaking, and did not really have room. So if you do a gift, make sure it is small and easy to travel with! If you are tight on a budget I would consider skipping it all together. Everyone is different, but getting some gift that is not relevant or easy is just another thing to hold or worry about. Relevant or needed gifts are wonderful!