How To Make Wedding Welcome Gift Bags To Give Guests at Rehearsal Dinner or Party — Wedding Rehearsal Dinner & Welcome Party Planning Ideas, Advice & Etiquette

Welcome gift bags are a great way to greet your wedding guests to your wedding weekend and the wedding rehearsal dinner or welcome party are the ideal time to give to your guests! Let’s create a warm and welcoming atmosphere by gifting wedding guests with welcome gift bags made just for them. Your loved ones will feel appreciated and cherished with their welcome gifts for your wedding weekend.

For this wedding rehearsal dinner inspiration post we’ll share are top picks to creating your own wedding welcome bags to be given out before the wedding at the rehearsal dinner or welcome party. Whether you decide to DIY these goodie bags yourselves or you select what to order and hire your wedding planner to assemble these for you, wedding welcome gifts are a special touch to start your wedding off in the right way. It’s a wedding favor and treat all rolled into one cute bag! For more tips, be sure to check out our ideas for the best favors to pack your wedding welcome gift bags with!

Let us guide you through the steps of how to create personalized wedding welcome bags to give your wedding guests at your wedding rehearsal dinner.

Wedding Welcome Bags at Vail Colorado Wedding Rehearsal Dinner — *Wedding Welcome Bags from* *Wildflower Inspired Wedding Rehearsal Dinner in Vail* *photographed by* *Carter Rose Photography*

Don't get stressed - get Let's Get Rehearsed’s FREE rehearsal dinner guide packed full of everything you need to plan a welcome party, from saving money to celebrating the night before the big day!

Step One: Start With A Vessel

By vessel, we mean the means in which you’ll gather all of your gifted goodies. You can choose from a variety of options including bags, boxes, or even baskets. If your wedding weekend is following a specific theme, try to choose a vessel that’s in line with that theme.

Some of these options can be personalized themselves like canvas tote bags, or gift boxes that can be printed on with your custom wedding monogram, logo or a wedding welcome message.

You can also choose a neutral vessel and personalize it with a gift tag or sticker and attach it with ribbon or twine. This is a great option to allow the gift to be personalized with your wedding information, but allows the vessel itself to be reusable for the guests as it won’t be personalized specific for your wedding.

Pro Tip: Sometimes wedding welcome gift bags are called “out of town bags” for guests who don’t live in the area and are traveling to your wedding. Oftentimes, these out-of-town gift bags are given when guests check into their hotel. However, with a destination wedding, or guests not staying in a hotel and opting for a rental house, limiting welcome gifts for out-of-town guests only can be difficult or prove tricky. In this case, consider giving a wedding welcome gift bag to all of your wedding guests and pass them out the night before at the wedding rehearsal dinner or welcome party.

Keep reading to see our favorite bag, box and other vessel options for your wedding welcome gifts…

Step Two: Select Thoughtful Goodies

Now here comes the real fun - choosing the goodies you’ll include in your wedding welcome gift bags. Fill your gift bags with an array of thoughtful items that your wedding guests will appreciate. Here are some great ideas to get you started:

The wedding couple’s favorite treats and snacks
Local or regional goodies unique to wedding location
Mini bottles of champagne or wine with personalized labels
A wedding weekend itinerary
Travel sized essentials
Fun and meaningful keepsakes
Hangover or amenity kit
Useful items to coordinate with gifts (i.e. wine bottle opener with wine bottle)

If you’re looking for more inspiration for what to put inside your gift bags, be sure to check out our collection of the best wedding favor ideas.

Pro Tip: We love useful and functional wedding welcome gifts that your guests can enjoy right away and use throughout the weekend. Think: water bottles, hangover kits, treats, snacks. All of these useful and delicious goodies packed in a reusable bag, that’s a wedding welcome gift that any guest will appreciate and enjoy!

Pro Tip: If you’re looking for inspiration or ideas for what to pack in your wedding welcome gift bags, look no further than your wedding’s location or venue. The area or region where you’re getting married is the perfect starting point for wedding favors! Consider shopping local and support the businesses in the area where you’re hosting your wedding.

Keep reading to see our favorite options for goodies to include in your welcome gifts…

Step Three: Distribute With Love

Hosting your guests at the wedding welcome party or the wedding rehearsal dinner is typically the start of your wedding weekend festivities with your loved ones and the perfect time to give out your wedding welcome gift bags. Lining up the gifts at a welcome table at your rehearsal dinner is an aesthetically pleasing option and a perfect photo opportunity at your wedding rehearsal dinner.

Stress-Free Tip: Designate someone, like a close friend or responsible family member, to take responsibility of transporting and setting up the wedding welcome gifts so it’s one less thing for you to worry about. Whether you hire your wedding planner for this task or ask a trusted friend or family member, you’ll be able to be stress free and enjoy your pre-wedding festivities!

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Wedding Welcome Bags from Fiesta Themed Wedding Rehearsal Dinner (With Donkeys!) photographed by Carter Rose Photography

Time To Shop For Wedding Welcome Gift Bags!

We love sourcing items from Etsy for wedding welcome gifts. From personalized bags, to printable gift tags, and all of the goodies to put inside…you’ll be able to create a custom wedding welcome gift perfect for your wedding.

Ok, without further ado, let’s get to shopping for all of the items you’ll need to create the ultimate wedding welcome gift bag for your wedding guests!

If you’re looking for wedding welcome gift ideas for a wedding on the beach, in a hotel or on the side of a mountain, look no further than here…