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Favors & Gifts

City-Inspired Wedding Welcome Gift Ideas

By
Anna Price Olson
Updated on June 21, 2017
Give your guests something special from your destination!
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Photo by KT Merry; Planning by Bundles Gift co.

When your guests travel by plane, car, bus, boat—whatever!—to attend your wedding weekend, it's only polite to thank them with a welcome bag or basket and it's a good idea to leave these treats in their rooms to greet them when they arrive. Often, they're almost guaranteed to be hungry and tired from traveling, so step one of making your welcome bag: Put something edible in it! This can come in the form of your favorite granola bar, your mom's famous chocolate chip cookies, or even a local snack from your destination. Next on the list is obvi something to drink with said snack. We are always fans of water bottles (hydration, people!) and something alcoholic like canned rosé, a mini wine bottle, or anything you can pregame with before the rehearsal dinner. (This is a weekend of parties, after all.)

From there, everything else is really up to you! To help you gather inspiration, we curated a list of picture-perfect gift bags that also feature some pretty awesome stuff. Find the one that matches your destination or city, and get packing. Just remember: It's not how much you stuff in, it's really the thought that counts.

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Photo by Kate Headley; Planning by Pineapple Productions

Atlanta

This woven bag packs on Atlanta's charm with pastries from local bakery Henri's and old fashioned Coca-Coca bottles, a nod to the city's hometown factory. Also peaches! This couple included a couple of the juicy fruits, a natural addition since Georgia is known as the Peach State.

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Photo by Mary Neumann Photography; Gift Box Design and Creation by The Welcoming District; Shoot Coordination by Cate Thorin of Ivy + Honor

Louisville, Kentucky

These guests are getting lucky in Kentucky, that's for sure. We love how this couple packed on the Southern charm with Kentucky bourbon served in mint julep glasses—with striped straws and actual mint, too!

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Photo by KT Merry; Planning by Bundles Gift co.

Vail, Colorado

We love this welcome bag because it sticks to the bride's neutral color scheme while still showcasing the city's local flair. And what's not to love about a can of Underwood Pinot Noir?

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Photo by Red October Photography; Design & Coordination by Marigold & Grey

Brooklyn

Any true Brooklynite would shop locally, right? Now's your big chance to source everything from your neighborhood. (And, yes, it's still okay to personalize these local treats with out-of-state touches, like cookies featuring your college logo.)

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Photo by Kate Headley; Planning by Pineapple Productions

Washington, D.C.

In a city as iconic as D.C., it's easy to stay true to theme. Start with a touristy-but-chic bag, throw in a tour guide, and then add in the treats, like mini cans of Sofia wine and popcorn. We've also seen capitol-shaped cookies, Bulletin pop tarts, and Georgetown cupcakes that are just as pretty as they are yummy.

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Photo by Gia Canali; Planning by Mindy Weiss Party Consultants

the Hamptons, New York

Number one rule of a beach wedding is to provide a beach bag! We especially love this wicker tote because it's a classic your guests will totally use again. Add in some light beach reading (like a regional magazine) and Tate's cookies (a Hamptons staple for good reason!) and you're golden.

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Photo Courtesy of Grace Vincent Gifts

San Francisco

When you're hosting a wedding in a city as beautiful as San Francisco, you have to give your guests time to explore. That's why these Golden Gate–printed collapsible flasks are perfect for a hike across the bridge. (Again, hydration, people!)

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Photo by Kate Headley; Planning by Pineapple Productions

St. Michaels, Maryland

No Maryland gift bag is complete without a crab element, whether it be an emblem on a koozie or crab-flavored chips. We also love this nautical navy-and-white color scheme as it's perfect for the Eastern Shore's classic, preppy vibe. (And, last but not least, we we can't help but wonder if this NYC–based couple included apples and Boylan soft drinks as a nod to their home in the Big Apple. We're thinking yes!)

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Design by Southern Oak Gift Co.

Asheville, North Carolina

No need to recommend your favorite breweries on your Web site if you include a beer map of the entire state in the welcome bag. We also love the idea of including a sweet-and-salty snack mix that's Carolina-made and a magazine about the great state.

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Photo by Sargeant Creative; Planning by Sterling Social Events

Santa Barbara, California

This trendy Cali couple provided all the hotel room essentials, including a candle (and matches) to make it smell great and coconut water to keep you going the morning after. Two citrus fruits complete it with a healthy SoCal touch.

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TOPICS:

welcome bags
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