April 30th, 2009 by admin

Every bride wants a way to show appreciation to wedding guests who are traveling in from out of town to be a part of the wedding. A surprise wedding gift bag waiting in their hotel room is the perfect way to say thank you. Here are some great wedding gift bag ideas and examples that can be tailored to your wedding tastes and style.

First of all, there are certain items that are an absolute necessity for your wedding gift bags if you are leaving them in the hotel room for guests who have traveled from out of town. Maps, transportation information, and a wedding itinerary are all an absolute MUST. This will help minimize questions that your guests have and it will put any information they need right at their fingertips. Check with your local chamber of commerce or visitors’ center for free maps and information. Make sure to list the where, who and whens of all of your wedding events as well to keep guests informed about the weekend activities.

Another thing you need to include is a thank you letter. Just a few simple lines thanking your guests for coming to support you during this exciting time is all you really need. Feel free to get as personal as you want, but make sure you let your guests know how much you appreciate their time and love. If you want to get creative with your thank you letter, try anything from designing paper and graphics to match your wedding colors to putting the thank you on the front cover of a personalized wedding CD or a refreshing bottle of water.

So, now that we’ve gotten past the “must-haves” for your wedding gift bags, let’s talk about the fun extras and favors. Refreshments and treats are always fun. Anything from a monogrammed bottle of water to a personalized wedding candy bar will make your guests smile. Include local treats like peaches or salsa in the bag, letting your guests know a little bit about the area they are visiting. Everyone likes to have something to snack on in their hotel room, so little treats are always a big plus in the gift bags.

Include fun wedding favors that your guests will be able to take home and use as well. For example, a travel-size candle in a tin that has your initials monogrammed on the top of it is a great way to say thank you. The candles fit easily into travel bags and can be used again and again. They will also help set a romantic mood in the hotel room. Matching monogrammed matchbooks might be a great addition. Another popular idea is a monogrammed mint tin. Everyone is looking for ways to freshen their breath at a wedding and reception, so help your guests out by providing one on a keychain or one that can easily be slipped into their pocket or evening bag. Don’t have the money to buy special monogrammed items? Monogram them yourself by making labels on your computer! Or simply choose items in colors that match your wedding to save time and money.

Another example of something fun to add to your wedding gift bags for guests is a “personality” item. For example, does the bride love Hello Kitty, while the groom can’t get enough of nascar? Buy pencils in bulk that have pictures of your favorite cat and car, then tie the two together with a simple ribbon, symbolizing the joining of your two lives and loves. That will not only give guests insight into your personalities, but will make everyone smile as they get to know you both better. This idea can be applied to favorite music, sports teams, food… anything! Any fun and creative way you can think of to combine your personalities will have guests thinking about what marriage really means.

Putting together the perfect wedding gift bag is about more than just how much money you spend. In fact, guests will appreciate personal touches more than they will fancy items that might never get used. Put some of your personal style and personality into the bag and your guests will never stop thanking you and commenting on the sweet and thoughtful gifts they received when they attended your wedding.

Source