Gift Bags!
April 14, 2016
Gift Bags are a great way to welcome your guests and make sure they have all the information they need to get to your ceremony and reception safely and on time. They are a lovely gesture that allows for creativity, but there are definitely some rules for making gift bags that will make things easy for you. Here they are!
1. Forget about putting guests' names on them.
This may sound silly. "What? I want each guest to feel special! Shouldn't I slap a nametag on everything they'll touch?" NO. To make your life as easy as possible, make each gift bag the same, especially if a third party will be distributing them. A front desk agent at the hotel will not know the difference from Uncle John to John the ring-bearer, so make your bags gender neutral and free of personalized touches. (Unless the touches are YOUR name.)
2. Include "Day Of" information with a phone number.
Your guests will have questions. Make a simple schedule that includes the time, location, and address of every event for your big day, as well as instructions on how to get there. If your guests are being transported by shuttle, tell them where the shuttle will pick them up. If they are driving, give them an estimated drive time. Finally, give them a phone number for your "Day-Of" Coordinator, Maid of Honor, or the Groomsman who is really good at giving directions. You don't want to be shouting timetables over the phone while your makeup is being done.
3. Be Prepared.
It's a motto for a reason! There are some extra-thoughtful and useful things you can include that won't break the bank, including:
Water Bottles
Gum or Mints
Band-Aids
Advil or Tylenol
Granola Bars
All of these items can be bought in bulk, in miniature, and most of them can be personalized with custom labels.
4. Finally, something fun!
My favorite easy-to-make trinket is a personalized Do Not Disturb sign for your guests' hotel room door. You can buy stencils or custom order them, and it's a great way to set the tone for a fun evening. You could also do bubbles or a fan to wave if you're getting married outdoors. Just make sure to have extras at the ceremony – at least one guest will forget and won't want to be left out.
Let us know your thoughts and ideas!
-Kleinfeld Hotel Blocks Team
1. Forget about putting guests' names on them.
This may sound silly. "What? I want each guest to feel special! Shouldn't I slap a nametag on everything they'll touch?" NO. To make your life as easy as possible, make each gift bag the same, especially if a third party will be distributing them. A front desk agent at the hotel will not know the difference from Uncle John to John the ring-bearer, so make your bags gender neutral and free of personalized touches. (Unless the touches are YOUR name.)
2. Include "Day Of" information with a phone number.
Your guests will have questions. Make a simple schedule that includes the time, location, and address of every event for your big day, as well as instructions on how to get there. If your guests are being transported by shuttle, tell them where the shuttle will pick them up. If they are driving, give them an estimated drive time. Finally, give them a phone number for your "Day-Of" Coordinator, Maid of Honor, or the Groomsman who is really good at giving directions. You don't want to be shouting timetables over the phone while your makeup is being done.
3. Be Prepared.
It's a motto for a reason! There are some extra-thoughtful and useful things you can include that won't break the bank, including:
Water Bottles
Gum or Mints
Band-Aids
Advil or Tylenol
Granola Bars
All of these items can be bought in bulk, in miniature, and most of them can be personalized with custom labels.
4. Finally, something fun!
My favorite easy-to-make trinket is a personalized Do Not Disturb sign for your guests' hotel room door. You can buy stencils or custom order them, and it's a great way to set the tone for a fun evening. You could also do bubbles or a fan to wave if you're getting married outdoors. Just make sure to have extras at the ceremony – at least one guest will forget and won't want to be left out.
Let us know your thoughts and ideas!
-Kleinfeld Hotel Blocks Team
