Welcoming Your Traveling Guests

August 25, 2008 | Categories Wedding Planning

There were quite a few people who came from out of town to attend our wedding. I put together welcoming gifts for my parents and grandmother and other family members but I still wish I would have put additional energy into preparing welcome baskets for all of my traveling guests… You can really have a lot of fun filling your baskets and not break the bank. Your guests will love and appreciate the gifts and your thoughtfulness will make them feel right at home!

Ideas For Your Welcome Baskets

(which btw, do not have to be baskets but anything in the spirit of the season or theme of your wedding)

  1. Write a welcoming note.
  2. Include a specialty item from the town you’re getting married in: food, drink, etc.
  3. The latest best seller or a fun, trendy magazine.
  4. Tickets or coupons to local attractions
  5. Is your guest traveling with a baby? Maybe an item or two for the wee one: wipes, juice boxes, sunscreen, diapers, etc.
  6. Toiletries and items that your guests might not be able to get at the hotel i.e. cotton swabs, cotton balls, sunscreen, travel sewing kit, mini manicure set, clear nail polish
  7. Fresh flowers are always nice!
  8. Fun dollar store “stuff”
  9. Items that fit the style of your wedding i.e. eco-friendly items for a “green” wedding
  10. Mug with tea packets or gourmet coffee
  11. Don’t forget the guys: shavers, shaving lotion, shoe polish
  12. Mini wine or champagne bottles (include plastic glasses)
  13. Travel games
  14. Hand lotion
  15. Bottle water
  16. Update 8/30/08: Itinerary of wedding related events (Thanks Michelle) :)

Additional thoughts? Share your ideas in the comments section!

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  • http://imaynotbefamous.blogspot.com AmyJean

    Wow, thank you for the traveling guest blog. Although my wedding is a little ways away, the OOT guest bag was something i wanted to research more, but you just made it a lot easier! :)

  • Heidi

    Hi Amy Jean,
    You’re welcome! Have fun putting your welcome bags together~ sounds like you have some time to enjoy the gathering.

  • http://www.cathydavidphoto.com Cathy and David – Photographers

    For our baskets we included the following: Our favorite love movies (princess bride and father of the bride), our favorite soda (jones), some water (always helpful), yummy cookies and snacks (also helpful), and then included little fun things like mini gardens and such. And then we put it all in a picnic basket that they could use again. :)

  • Heidi

    Wow. I would have liked being an out of town guest at your wedding! Princess Bride is one of my favs too! “have fun stoymin the castle…” “my name is Indigo Montoya…” ha!

  • http://michelleandgreg2009.com Michelle

    I’ve been thinking about a welcome package for my guests, and this is a great list of ideas. I’ll definitely use at least a few! However, you left one important item off – an itinerary of all wedding-related events. With all the craze of their traveling to get to the wedding, it’s nice to have a reminder of when and where all events (rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception, day-after brunch) are happening throughout the weekend.

  • Heidi

    Michelle,
    Of course~ including an itinerary is an excellent idea and certainly a must-have! Thanks for commenting!