Out of town guests

I’m only giving bags to people that stay in the room block I got. I think it’s easier that way.

I thought it were for folks who booked your hotel block.....I could be wrong, but I was running with that.

We had gift bags at our blocked hotel so anyone who stayed there got one (which was almost all our guests).

We will have gift bag at our hotel so anyone staying there will receive a bag regardless of how far they traveled. Some of FH family is traveling from out of state, but they will be staying with his parents - we are not providing them a welcome bag.

BTW, last Saturday FH & I went to the hotel to get a feel & get familiar with the layout & the welcome bags that people had were INSANE! I definitely had welcome bag envy. One of the parties also had an easel sign welcoming everyone - and I shamelessly copied & did one for us. Needed? Nope, but welcome bag envy was real that day LOL

I would personally say anyone who stays at your suggested hotel.

I'll also say I've been to several out of town weddings, staying at the blocked hotel, & never received a welcome bag lol. I say if you want to save some money, skip out on this! Or do something super small as like a nice hand written welcome card (unless you have like an insane amount to do lol) & some nice chocolates.

Our wedding is out of state so the only ones really traveling to our wedding is us & our bridal party lol.

It's nice but not customary. Almost my entire guest list is out-of-towners so if I made them guest bags it would cost me thousands. I agree a note for those in the hotel blocks is nice though!

If you WANT to do gift bags, go for it. It is a very nice gesture. But I've traveled to dozens of weddings, including foreign travel out of the US, and I've never received a gift bag. It's definitely not customary or required.

We're giving a welcome bag to anyone/couple who booked a room through our block.

We did gift bags only for those that stayed on the hotel. Keep it mind that it’s not a must, but a nice thing if your budget has room for it.

We gave welcome bags only to those guests staying at our blocked hotels

Gift bags are a newer trend I believe, not customary at all. Like PPs have said, I'd just make them for a room block if you even want to.

For everyone giving gift bags, are these seperate from wedding favors? Did you also do wedding favors ?

This is a good question, and i have the same situation. I am making welcome bags too, but planned on making them only for guests who booked hotels. They’re all out of town guests but to avoid driving to find everyone, I’m just doing the hotel guests. We can always thank everyone for coming at the wedding

View Quoted Comment Yes they seprraye from favors. The favors are given out at the wedding and for every guest

Although some people make welcome bags, the majority of people don't. It is not an established custom. For a long time wedding favors were something everyone did. They were usually nuts or candies, tied in a tulle bag, for many years. Then people did all kinds of creative favors. Now fewer and fewer people bother. People usually leave them behind, unless they are edible. $100-400 people do not need to spend, when money is an issue, as it is for most of us. We have been to 9 away from home weddings since April this year. 1 ziplock bag of home baked brownies or cookies in room the 2 times we stayed at room block in main hotel, from couple, loved them. Twice bath bubbles, bottle of wine. Plus scented body wash (1 time) and liquid soap dispensing bath mitt to exfoliate (1 time).
Neither of us used stuff, and we don't drink wine. Three couples in nearby rooms, we offered ours, but they did not want their own, nevermind ours. People put unwanted stuff on a hall table in lounge. When we left 2 days later, someone had taken 15 or so bottles of wine. Chambermaids disposed of all the rest of the unwanted stuff, most bags untouched. I have seen this so often. Everyone tells hosts, oh, what a lovely gesture. Then throws out most or all the stuff they got. Things like wine, eventually someone takes, or drinks, when it is clear others do not want it. It is really a shame , since even little things, plus rather decent bottles of wine, add up for 50 or so people. . . The 5 times we got nothing in room, we did not miss it. Did not take any favors home except one tin of penuche, which was excellent on the drive home. . . .