Welcome bags for guests at different hotels

If you don't want to give it out in front of the other guests who won't be getting it then maybe find out what hotel they are staying and leave it for them at the hotel or get someone in your family to drive to the hotel and hand it to them once they have settled in.

If you don't mind giving it out in front of other guests I guess you could technically wait until the Welcome Party, but you could always follow up after they RSVP and ask their travel arrangements and maybe a bridesmaid can help you deliver the bags to the hotels they need? That's a lot of work, but honestly I'd really just encourage them to stay in the hotel block.

When they leave you can walk them out and give them the bags. You don't want anyone asking where is my bag! Lol

I would not give welcome bags to your guests at the RD since not everyone is getting one. This would be awkward. I would find out where the guests are staying and make arrangements for the bags to be delivered there. How many possible hotel choices are there? If they're traveling in groups wouldn't they most likely stay in the same hotel?

I would make arrangements to have the welcome bags delivered at the hotel that your guests are staying.

So to offer a little more detail, there are two huge conventions in DC that weekend. As a result, the hotels have upped their rates and availability was not great. So, I booked three room blocks. Two within 15 minutes of the venue and one in Maryland just so people could choose a price point they are comfortable with. We are expecting maybe 10 or 15 out of town guest total so there aren't many. Guests have already told me they will checking out hotel discount sites to see if they can get a better rate. I still encouraged them to check out the blocks but, can't be mad at them for looking for better deals. So basically, the possibility of my guests being spread out across the four quadrants, Maryland and Virginia exists....I will follow up with them to see where they are staying and then get the bags to them if necessary. Just looking for other ideas that may be outside of the box. Thanks!!

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I don't have a wedding party so there are no bridesmaids to help. Honestly, getting my family to help with anything so far has been a no-go. Thanks for your reply though.

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I think this is an option but that someone will be either me or FH and that could mean any of the four quadrants in DC plus MD and Northern Virginia.

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LOL Now that's some out of the box thinking right there! Maybe we can have our kids do that for us!

We planned on giving out bottles of water when people leave the welcome reception. We will have a table by the elevator with a little sign.

My FI pushed back on this, as he thought it was silly. But I told him thats all I would want from the bag anyways, and I'm not willing to make a bag for all who show up to the welcome reception, thats way too much $$$ as I'm sure some locals will pop by.

eta - We are in DC too and no way am I driving all around town when I need to be relaxing and taking it all in. The welcome reception is in Navy Yard and people are staying everywhere! We may add baskets of snacks next to the water as well.

View Quoted Comment That’s a really good point actually. I hadn’t thought about the idea of just water bottles.

I have wondered the same thing also. I was looking at a hotel block, but most of my international guests are choosing their own accommodations from their own research. It isn't customary for people back home to be booking block hotel rooms, except in rare situations (but those are usually camping or beach home vacations). I have guests staying at air BnBs, and hotels. I'm going to hand out the welcome bags at my rehearsal dinner. I dont anticipate guests who are local expecting a bag, but even so I won't make a big deal about the bags to local guests.

Our RD is actually going to be a Welcome Cocktail Party with all the OOT guests invited. FMIL wants to bring extra Welcome Bags and give it to the guests whom are not staying at the Hotel Blocks.

Don't call them welcome bags. label them something else like "while you are in town" bags, "visitor guide" bags, "guide bags", "do as the locals do" bags, "travelers survival kit"

if you label them something that makes it obvious its to help them navigate and such while in town then the locals shouldn't be upset if you give them out in front of them.

View Quoted Comment This is brilliant!! Thank you!!

I would deliver welcome bags to the hotels where you have blocked rooms. Then at the RD give out the bags to your guest who are elsewhere. It'll minimize the number you have to five out in front of people who may not be getting one.

We handed them out at the rehearsal dinner. We had 5 couples and 1 single guy, none of these people stayed at the recommended hotel. They all had different reasons for staying where they did: staying with friends, one rented an airbnb since they were thinking about moving to the area, another wanted to stay at an hotel where they could use their rewards points etc. So yeah I wasn't going to drive 6 different places in one day. In fact two drove directly from the airport to the rehearsal dinner.

I also did not have a bridal party so the dinner was all family and OOT guests. It really wasn't a huge deal to hand them out in front of local family, they weren't upset I didn't give them a bag with a bottle of water, advil, some candy, and directions LOL.

I'm still undecided about welcome bags, but I think I would give them out at the RD. We'll have parents, wedding party and oot guests, so everyone would get something! I'm trying to think of who we might invite that wouldn't get something, but everyone is covered.

View Quoted Comment This is very helpful! Thank you for the reassurance.

Hi DC Wife,


Your bags look awesome!! How much did they cost and where did you get them from? My friend is doing a destination wedding early next year and is looking for inspiration. Thank you!!! (Sorry if this reposted).