DIY Wedding Welcome Bags That Set the Tone for Your Weekend
There are a lot of moving parts when planning for your wedding, and making sure you spread the gratitude for everyone involved is key. That's why DIY wedding welcome bags are a great way to say thanks to your loved ones while treating them to something a little special. These are perfect for welcoming out-of-town guests and other friends and family members during your wedding weekend. Not to be confused with DIY wedding favors, a wedding welcome bag is something you give at the start of the festivities, like at the rehearsal dinner or placed inside your guests' hotel room. You can fill them with any number of essentials or unique gifts to celebrate the loved ones in your life.
Of course, there are some DIY wedding dos and don'ts before taking on a new wedding-related task, and if DIY isn't your thing, then The Knot Marketplace makes it easy to find welcome bags from local vendors. All you have to do is enter a location, and filter by "welcome bags" under "gifts and favors." Let's dive right into everything you need to know about DIY welcome bags for your wedding that your guests will remember long past the weekend.
In this article:
- How Much Should Wedding Welcome Bags Cost?
- DIY Wedding Welcome Bag Costs
- Who Typically Pays for Welcome Bags for a Wedding?
- How to DIY a Wedding Welcome Bag on a Budget
How Much Should Wedding Welcome Bags Cost?
A wedding welcome bag can cost as little or as much as you'd like. (That's what makes this such an easy and great wedding idea.) Thankfully, there are many ways to make this work on a tight budget, especially when you buy in bulk online or in retail stores like Costco. Spending between $5 to $15 per person is reasonable, but if you want to include any luxury items or things from local artisans, the price per person will increase since these are typically more difficult to find in bulk. Use the The Knot Budget Tool to see how welcome bag costs fit into your budget.
DIY Wedding Welcome Bag Costs
The low-cost range of a wedding welcome bag is anywhere between $7 and $20, and doing the work yourself can also help you save a little money compared to ready-made welcome bags online. Here are some things to take into consideration for your welcome bag budget so you can plan accordingly.
Bags
The bags themselves will vary in cost, but you can find miniature drawstring bags or smaller gift bags to give your guests a convenient place to store their new goodies. Pro tip: Keep the bag small enough to fit in a pocket or purse so your loved ones don't lose their welcome bags during all the hustle and bustle. This will also help you stay within your budget.
Wedding Merch
If you're ordering special merchandise for your wedding, like monogrammed items or personalized options, make sure you take these extras into account for your cost. Personalizations may be a little pricier, so consider finding places with the cost built in.
Snacks
Bite-sized snacks are a fun choice to introduce your guests to some favorites, and they'll help keep their energy up during the busy weekend. Plus, you can find cost-effective snack items at stores like Costco and Sam's Club to give your guests a good mix on a budget.
Guest Count
Buying for 150 is much different than buying for 25, so factor in your guest count when creating your DIY welcome bags for wedding guests. If you're having a larger wedding, smaller bags will help cut down the cost while ensuring everyone gets a warm welcome.
Custom Extras
Want to surprise individual guests with something just for them? Adding guest names to an item or even a special treat they'll enjoy is a wonderful way to personalize each bag and thank your loved ones, but something like this can be more costly. Just ensure that each bag has around the same cost so you can better stick to your wedding budget.
Who Typically Pays for Welcome Bags for a Wedding?
Since the newlyweds are thanking guests for coming to the wedding, welcome bags are usually covered by the happy couple. This bit of hospitality isn't always a must-have, but some couples opt for this kind gesture as a way to give special thanks. When it comes to who pays for different wedding expenses, some families may offer to chip in for these gift bags, especially if they're paying for a portion of the wedding as well. You may even find some of your wedding party can volunteer their time toward the creation of these bags, which is another helpful way for others to contribute.
How to DIY a Wedding Welcome Bag on a Budget
One way to save money on a wedding is by doing some of the work yourself. This budget-friendly DIY item is a thoughtful way to welcome your loved ones to your wedding. Follow this easy step-by-step guide to ensure you have everything you need to create these special gifts for each guest during the big weekend.
1. Plan the contents of your bag. Decide beforehand what you'd like to put in the bags, such as local favorites or custom favors. Planning ahead helps you to figure out what size bag you need, what will be included and how it will factor into your budget. There are plenty of wedding welcome bag ideas to help you tap into your creativity. Some things you may consider including are:
- Practical wedding weekend must-haves, like tissues, a bottle of water or mints
- Wedding info such as an itinerary, transportation info or maps
- Local favorites like miniature souvenirs or regional snacks
- Personalized touches such as a sweet note of appreciation or personalized favors
- Hangover kit essentials like electrolyte drink mix, aspirin or gum
- Pint-sized wedding goodies like hand sanitizer, tiny champagne bottle or bug spray
2. Choose your welcome bags. Once you've decided on the contents, choosing a bag to fit all of these goodies is a must. You can buy in bulk to save costs and ensure everyone is getting the same size across the board, but try different colors during your order for some variety.
3. Gather your materials. It's time to grab your shopping list and order everything you need for these DIY welcome bags. Keep an eye out for special online deals or in-store savings for your items, especially if you plan on buying in bigger quantities.
4. Assemble your DIY wedding welcome bags. This step will take a bit of time, so work out a system that makes assembly easier. See if you can recruit any help and assign each person one task, like putting in snacks or tying the bags.
5. Store and distribute to guests. Make sure you have a safe place to store your completed bags before your wedding and a spot to display them when your day rolls around. Having a sign for the welcome bags will be handy to let guests know these goodie bags are theirs for the taking. Some couples also work with their hotel or venue to place their DIY wedding welcome bags directly in their guests' overnight rooms.