Party DIY {Perfect Welcome Bags}

The welcome bag is a little wedding extra that takes the whole experience over the edge. It's a nice way to make guests feel at home and thank them for traveling so far to join in your special day. There are so many things you can place in your bags, but there are some key items that I think make it a perfect bag. These items are fun and show guests all the things they can do in town when they aren't celebrating with you. While the contents can vary based on location and theme, there are a couple standard items that can be customized to your wedding like maps, snacks, and beverages. This bag and list is perfect for a summer beachside wedding but is easily adaptable no matter where your wedding is. Here are my must haves!

1. Maps: Whether you pick up local maps from the store or have beautiful ones hand drawn, a map is a nice way to show guests all the fun places to go and will help them not get lost! Show where the hotel is, where the ceremony and reception are taking place, and provide a list of all your favorite places to go.

2. Welcome Note: It's hard to see and say hi to each guest before the wedding, so welcome them all with a hand written note in their bag. Thank them for coming and be sure to tell them how excited you are that they are here.

3. Weekend Itinerary: Provide guests with a weekend itinerary telling them when and where they need to be. Include things like the rehearsal dinner, ceremony time, reception, after party, and brunch the next day.

4. Local Flavors: Show your guests a taste of the community from the second they arrive. Include local favorites like craft beer, homemade treats from the bakery, Florida oranges or anything else that speaks to the favor of the area.

5. Beach Essentials: Since summer is upon us, I'm focusing on beachy weddings. Order personalized plastic sunglasses and throw in a pair for everybody. Toss in a bottle of sunscreen, a bottle of water, some aloe vera, and some magazines to read while lounging.

Welcome to the Party

It's time to get down with a little gift giving to your guests. Usually they are the ones showering you with gifts, but maybe every get together should start (or end) with a little thank you for attending. Whether it be a dinner party or a weekend full of celebration, thank guests for taking time out of their busy schedules and supporting you. While a simple dinner party only requires an embroidered dish towel and some nice hand soap, my favorite gift to give to guests is the welcome basket for a weekend soiree. Surprise out of town guests at their hotel with a basket full of essentials to make them feel at home and ensure a few days of comfortable fun. Some of my favorite items to pile in the basket (or bag) is a bottle of room spray in your favorite scent, luscious lotions, a bottle of wine with a couple glasses, a map of the area with a list of things to do in spare time, and a pair of fuzzy slippers. 

What would you want to see in a welcome basket?

*Image: Martha Stewart Weddings

It's All In The Bag

Happy Wednesday dolls! I am prepping this week for a much needed trip home to the beach. I'm constantly finding my thoughts drifting off during the day to sand, surf, lots of sun, and fruity cocktails. As I dragged my beach gear out from storage this past weekend, I realized one thing was missing...a straw tote. It's the perfect summer accessory and big enough to hold all my beach essentials. Plus, it has such an amazing summer chic factor that can carry the bag into night.  So, realizing my wardrobe gap, I jotted off the store and found the perfect straw tote. The only thing is that it was missing that personal factor that I am always after. So, I grabbed a brush, a bottle of outdoor acrylic paint in my favorite shade of blue, and some stencils and got to work. Opting for an anchor to portray the nautical feel I was after, I printed off an image from the internet, cut it out, and taped it in the desired location.

After realizing that pencil does not work well on straw, I grabbed my brush and hoped for the best. I had to outline in paint which left no room for mistakes. And, trust me, my shaky left hand was nervous about making a mistake and ruining what could possibly be my new favorite bag. After the anchor was complete, all that was left were the "S" and "E" for my initials. That part was easy compared the anchor. After all the painting was done, I let it dry for a few hour and it was good to go. 

Not only is this bag great for long summer days, I love the idea of customizing them as welcome bags for guests at destination beach weddings. Fill with sunscreen, bottles of water, a beach towel, and maps of all the local hot spots to create the ultimate experience!