What do you put in a welcome bag for out of town guest?
I have about 25 staying at the same hotel as my reception but they are all coming in at different times. So instead of inviting them to my rehearsal dinner I want to give them welcome/thank you bags.

You can have the hotel give it to them too.

In the bags you always make it personal:

Thank You note
1. Cookies/Candy/Treats
2. Bottled water and/or specialty drinks like a Jones Soda or Izze in the color of the wedding.
3. I have seen personalized tea bags or coffee bags
4. Maybe a map with list of things to do/places to eat or visit
5. Snacks from a local store that wouldn't be found somewhere else...Example: here in Tallahassee we have a store that sells brittle by a local owner...She recently expanded services to include homemade ice cream...a certificate for like 5 bucks from a local favorite would be lovely....
6. Soaps/lotions/chap sticks or butters like Burts Bees
7. Candles
8. Candle holder
9. Mugs
10. Travel Sundries Like toothpaste and mini handcreams (Bath and Body Works is on Sale down here)

11. For kids you can add mini-puzzles or etch and sketch, mini magnetic checkers
12. For Older Kids and Adults you can do personalized games or cross words or Sudoku....
13. Personalized Mugs/Pens?T-shirts with the wedding date, event could also be fun....

It all depends really. If they'll be there for a few days, you might want to supply them with fun things to do while they're in NY. Some packages that I've done include a nice bottle of wine or fruit platters or baskets. I've done some spa packages, which included some shampoos, bubble baths. I've had some couples that made T-shirts for their bridal party and out of town guests. To the T-hirts of the guests, it read "Special Guest of Mr & Mrs" and the wedding date below. I placed it in a gift bag, with directions again to and from the church, directions to the reception, information about the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and placed some colorful paper on top, used a very nice ribbon to tie the handles together and I left it in their hotel concierge to be given to them as they checked in. Eveyone loved it.

See, it doesn't really have to be an elaborate affair you know. It would be a very nice gesture to invite them to your rehearsal dinner, but not really mandatory since you have 25 of them in addition to guests you've already invited.

You know what I've just thought of, since your rehearsal dinner is happening in the same place as the guests are staying, how about having a welcoming cocktail reception just for them a couple of hours prior to your rehearsal? Nothing fancy, just a glass of wine for everyone and some Hors D'oeuvres. It's something to think about anyway.

thanks Bumble I am going to target now to get some of their little sale items soaps lotions and candles.
I am going to also price the mugs.

Ginoue I my rehearsal dinner is actually somewhere else my reception is in the hotel.
I love the T shirt idea.

In my welcome bag, I put chips, the body shop soap lotion & body wash, tissue, gum, bottled water, mango scented candle, instant iced green tea packets and raisins.

I had just about the same things. the $1 store had a nice little pack that had a soap case, mirror, toothbrush holder and body sponge and they were the colors of the wedding. i added toothpaste, shower caps, gum, mints, toothbrushes and different activities around the town.

The ladies supplied you with a lot of great ideas Diva, now get moving and get shopping.

Thanks ladies for all your tips I am almost complete with my out of town guests gift bags.

We didn't have too may out-of-town guests, so we didn't bother with the welcome bags afterall, just made them feel at home with tours and meals. I think a lot of magazines and guides out there give us so many ideas that we think we've got to do this and that. It's a nice touch but not a necessity.

I choose to do a welcome bag for my guests because they are coming to a big city and coming from a small town it can really be overwelming. I think a cute litte welcome bag would be the thing needed to mske people feel comfotable.

I think who your guests are and where they are from can help you decide whether or not to give your out of town guests a welcome bag.