With the emergence of destination weddings and guests often spread all over the country, savvy couples are taking advantage of a golden opportunity to offer a warm welcome and set the tone for a fabulous series of events. What a great idea! Wedding welcome bags are a nice added touch, immediately comforting the travel-weary by making them feel right at home.

Unfortunately, smaller details such welcome baskets often find themselves last minute on the wedding planning task list. Avoid the last minute panic, and start your planning early. Remember, it's these little extras that can turn a typical wedding into an extraordinary delight for your guests. Prove that you're a bride who leaves no detail unturned!

Costs

How much you spend is entirely up to you. You can be as lavish as you like, although simply giving a bottle of water and a plate of homemade cookies will let your wedding guests know you care. Remember - you only need to put together one welcome basket per room - not per guest. So confirm the number of rooms reserved with your hotel, and assemble your baskets accordingly (of course make a few extras, just in case). If you know that many of your friends will be shacking up together to split the cost of hotel rooms, consider packing double of some items in each welcome basket.

Delivery

Depending on the policies of the hotel in which you've reserved your room block, the staff may personally deliver the welcome baskets to each guest room, or they may leave them at the front desks and give them to guests as they check-in. Be sure to inquire and make arrangements with the hotel ahead of time.

What to Put in Them

Include some essentials that will make their stay more comfortable-such as bottled water, snack items, mints, tissues etc. Think about what items you often wish for when staying at a hotel. Welcome bags are also a great place to include relevant information for your wedding guests - phone numbers for the families, other guests staying at the hotel, a wedding itinerary, nearby attractions and local maps.

Also consider including items that are reflective of your wedding location. Use your wedding welcome baskets as a creative way to tie everything together and introduce guests, many of them visiting for the first time, to the area. Getting married in Maine? Throw in some maple syrup! Or Texas - how about a miniature cowboy hat or a packet of spicy chili mix? You get the idea....Use this opportunity to be creative, and make your wedding a memorable event - from arrival to departure!