If you are struggling with the organization of your wedding, you have surely heard of a “wedding bag“: it is a small bag containing some items that can come in handy for the guests, during the big day.
For more than a decade, this trend, of Anglo-Saxon origin, has been depopulating in the Italian wedding industry as well: its function is to welcome guests and pamper them during the wedding day, offering an “emergency kit” to help them deal with a variety of situations.
Let’s see together when to resort to wedding bags and how best to organize them!
HOW TO CUSTOMIZE THE WEDDING BAG
Deciding to avail yourself of wedding bags is a shrewdness that denotes a deep attention to detail, as well as a strong desire to make those who will be present on the best day of your life feel good. That is why it is important to personalize this giveaway, which should be in line with the stationery, style and colors of the wedding. Only then will you characterize your wedding with an unmistakable element that everyone will appreciate.
Are you wondering what materials are most commonly used for making wedding bags?
- Paper: of any weight, the “paper bag” meets smaller budgets and suits all wedding styles;
- Fabric: jute, linen or wool for a natural, eco-friendly style or cotton, with some lace work, for weddings with a romantic touch;
- Wicker: for a country or rustic wedding in nature;
- Plastic: for modern style and sophisticated design, both colored and transparent.
The wedding bag can be of various sizes and different materials depending on the contents: medium-small bags fit any shape and texture while for larger ones, durable fabrics or rigid plastic are preferred. In general, I recommend opting for a medium size so as not to weigh down the bag and allow guests to move easily throughout the event. In addition, you could personalize the wedding bag with your names or a logo with your initials, along with the wedding date-just remember to use the same fonts and colors as the stationery!
HOW TO DELIVER THE WEDDING BAG
The delivery of the wedding bag can be done in different ways and depending on its intended use:
- At the hotel: in this case, it is more appropriate to speak of a “welcome bag” since guests will find it upon arrival in their room or at the front desk. It is usually designed for destination weddings in a remote location, involving two/three days of festivities characterized by a fairly packed program that also includes experiences in the local area;
- At the ceremony site: your guests will find everything they need to witness the exchange of rings and vows of love. Whether it is a sunny summer morning or a warm fall afternoon, friends and family will have an “ad hoc” kit carefully arranged on chairs or desks set up for the occasion;
- At the reception location: in this case, the wedding bags contain small gadgets to be used during the most fun moments of the banquet. You may consider arranging them on a table at the entrance to the room, entrusting the task of distributing them to a loved one or hostess. In order to avoid someone taking more “purses” than they should or, in the worst case scenario, some guests being left without, it is essential to make a quick calculation when organizing: ideally, one should be provided for each pair of different households.
WHAT THE WEDDING BAG CONTAINS
The content of the wedding bag varies depending on the season in which you wish to get married, the location you choose and its characteristics:
- Basic kit: that is, the most common. The following should not be missing inside: water bottle, booklet with ritual texts, paper handkerchiefs, box/bag for rice, petals or other things, candy for any drops in pressure, and moist sanitizing wipes. You can indulge in customizations, but be careful: consider uncluttered items that can be used throughout the ceremony. If you are getting married in the spring, a nice idea might be to also include a hair ribbon in the star color of your wedding or a lip gloss in pastel tones. For a summer sun-kissed wedding, however, a fan, a pair of sunglasses and sunscreen will be much appreciated! Finally, for the colder months of the year, I recommend that you provide a warm stole, hand cream and gloves-your guests will be grateful;
- Welcome kit: having your guests find, upon arrival, a wedding bag containing the wedding program, complete with directions on a map of the different stages contemplated, is a shrewdness that will prove very useful to your guests. If you have decided to enlist the help of a wedding planner, be sure to include his or her contact information as well: this person will have full organizational control and, consequently, will be the most suitable figure to help your guests should the need arise. And why not add a mini-guide in which to point out places of interest, restaurants or a list of activities to suggest to guests? These are arrangements that will make the big day an unforgettable experience for everyone!
- Party kit: to be arranged at the reception location, it is an alternative to the classic wedding favor. It contains the accessories you need to tackle a party late into the night: flip-flops for romping on the beach to the beat of the music, lifesavers for walking across the lawn, fun gadgets for the “photo booth,” sparkly stars to light up at the time of the cake cutting, and maybe even a couple of aspirin to recover from the party hangover!
- Kits for children: coloring drawings, plasticine, soap bubbles and assorted treats fall into the sphere of winning ideas for the wedding bag dedicated to them. If there are children of different ages among your guests, remember to avoid any items that might put younger children at risk without adult supervision such as candy or toys with plastic parts. I recommend that you use an entertainment service so that children and adults can enjoy the party in a carefree manner.
It is clear that the “wedding bag” is a pampering that the bride and groom-to-be wish to reserve for relatives and friends to make their participation in the day of the fateful “yes” more joyful and heartfelt. Be aware, however, that thisfree gift is not compulsory, so only include it if your overall budget allows for it: the costs of each element, added together, could cause it to rise, to the detriment of other, more important organizational aspects.
