Wedding “Welcome” Bags at the hotel

I've travelled for meetings where there have been welcome bags in the room, similar to your description, and I have been very appreciative of them. I think they are a lovely idea for wedding guests who have been travelling; makes them feel appreciated and adds to the experience imho.

Not sure the age of your daughter… but my daughter would turn green at the idea of providing bottles of water. Nope.

They are if the less is more, reduce and reuse mindset, as are many of those of us that raised them. Stuff for the purpose of stuff? Nope. P

I've liked them best when they're kept simple. Some water, maybe a little packet of Tylenol, a couple of snacks, and maybe a local treat or souvenir. Nothing elaborate or overly cute, just practical but thoughtful.

We did them for my daughters wedding, but there weren't too many to do, as most guest were local. But the ones that stayed in the hotel were mostly family and close friends.

We did the mini cans of pop and a mini liquor bottle of what we knew they liked as a mixed drink. We added some snacks, like pretzels/chips and a little nice chocolate. It was a way for them to have a nice mixed drink and a snack in their room. The ones that did not drink alcohol, we just added the mini pop's. Everyone loved them. I just used small sized kraft bags and printed a 'Welcome" graphic on cardstock and attached it to the front of the bag and tied a ribbon around the handle to close.

Pinterest has some classy ways of doing the bags. I'd double check with hotel to make sure they will place the bags, or hand out at checkin.


The hotel usually already supplies guests with bottled water.

When I travel, after I check in at the hotel and get settled, the first thing I do is find a grocery store for a 6pack of water and snacks.  Having at least 1 bottle of water for each person in the room already be there when I open the door would be so greatly appreciated by me.  However, I would never expect it or be upset that it wasn't there.

It wouldn't have occurred to me that it was a thing. I'm with your daughter - not necessary - and depending on the hotel and the 'status' of the guests, water etc.. may already be provided. I know we usually get water and a choice of snacks at check-in.

I like them but do not think they are necessary. But my favorites are the ones that include little snacks of regional/local products (that may or may not be unique) to try…such as a local chocolate. I am sure those are much more pricy though.

Definitely not necessary - but add me to the list that appreciate a bottle of water. Most hotels do NOT give complimentary water anymore. I have status at Hilton and Marriott so always receive a bottle or two on arrival for those properties, and notice it when I stay somewhere else. The other items in the bag are usually tossed. If you're trying to simplify/save money - perhaps a compromise would be to just buy a few cases of bottled water and put a custom label on them and leave a few for guests?

I'm with your daughter. I feel the same way about wedding favors. I feel like generic gifts are just a waste. Sure some will appreciate and use them but often they are just a waste of time, money, resources etc. I also hate having to deal with more "stuff".

I feel like it’s a nice idea, but a lot would get wasted and wouldn’t do it.

I personally hate them. They usually contain stuff that gets thrown away without being used so I see them as unnecessary waste. I think most people travel with refillable water bottles these days.

We had a destination wedding in Hawaii in June with 110 guests and did not do them after discussing with our wedding planner. Most of it ends up in the trash and being on an island involves extra steps to dispose of trash.

The resort we were at gives guests refillable water bottles and has water stations all around the property.

At our welcome reception on the first night, we provided two drink tickets per person that could be used anytime during their stay. The value of those drink tickets were close to what welcome bags would have cost us.

We also didn’t do thank you trinkets or anything else that would add trash to landfills.

They are nice but I don’t feel like anything would be missing if I didn’t get one. And there’s usually a bunch of stuff that goes to waste — like koozies, aspirin, cheap sunscreen/lip balm, a cheap reusable tote that’s not big enough to actually carry groceries or anything of note. Water, one snack, and itinerary are all I need!

I’m 35, FWIW.

I do like the idea of a list of room numbers and a welcome letter. My daughter did do an itinerary. She also left little fancy tickets in the room for the “rehearsal dinner” and then little tickets from the rehearsal dinner to the next days events.. basically what time to be where- for each person… there were less than 25 people, all of which were traveling out of country. All capable travelers (we all wished my parents would go, but they wouldn’t have gone if it was an hour car ride away anyway, and everyone was far flung.) Military families, several revisions of divorces… etc. For example, I got a “ticket” at the rehearsal, reminding me to meet at a certain time and place and we went to get hair and make up done. Grooms mom got a “ticket” reminding her to pick up the bouquet and flowers for the wedding… and we made sure a bottle of her fav wine and an arrangement for her room were included.

Daughters dad (my ex) got a “ticket” to take a few of the groomsmen to a certain restaurant for breakfast, and the groomsmen (3 of them) got tickets to meet up with ex for breakfast… it was a very very small wedding and we everything was personalized. That’s impossible with a bigger group.

And again, everyone was an experienced traveler, and only one person was there, literally, because my daughter didn’t want to someday regret that she wasn’t there. She had a ticket with another person (trusted, near and dear, and very closely related to the difficult person) to go pick up breakfast goodies (a list of nice to have local items) at the the downtown farmers market that morning, for breakfast the next day.

Sorry for all the info… I literally just wrote it out so I can remember this topic for the scrapbook I’m building. <3 Do whatever works for you. But my daughter would have been dead set against water bottles/pamphlets or anything excess trash. In part, I think she only went along with the tickets because she knows how much scrapbooking means to me, and I loved the idea. Also a great way to make sure no one, at all, felt left out. Everyone had a place to be and a group to be with.

I wouldn't need one.
If I were going someplace out of town or out of state, I would have already done my own research in regards to places to eat and things to do.
I would also be picking up my own case or two of water (to meet my daily water and hydration needs).