The Perfect Welcome Bag

When it comes to out of town guests, there is no way to really show how appreciative you are that they’ve made this trip for your big day. Whether they drove a few hours or flew thousands of miles, traveling guests deserve a little extra thanks! One of the smallest ways of showing your love is having a welcome bag waiting for them at their arrival. A little thought like this will definitely go a long way.

Welcome bags immediately set a tone for your wedding. So, when creating your bags make sure to consider things like your wedding style and colour palette – match them to your theme to bring it all together. Think of our local region and how to incorporate uniquely made Windsor-Essex gifts. Think of what is personal to you and your partner, like a homemade recipe you can make for your guests or your favourite bottle of wine. Most importantly, think of your budget!

Trust us when we say, no matter what your budget is you can create the perfect bag! If there is anything we can recommend that fits in all price points, it’s to leave your guests a hand written thank you note, an itinerary of wedding events and a list of local places to check out. Include some seasonal activities and your favourites cafes and restaurants in the area. Is there a festival or sports game happening on the same weekend? A local winery, brewery or distillery they can taste and tour? Do you have a favourite Windsor-Style Pizza place they must try before going home? Include these kinds of detail to really wow your guests.

If you are looking to create the perfect welcome bag but don’t really know where to start, well we’ve got your back! We have put together three ideas to inspire you and to fit every budget. All of our bag ideas include at least one locally made item to really showcase the incredible businesses in Windsor-Essex!

$20 Bag:

  • One or two bottles of water

  • Two small flight glasses from Walkerville Brewery

  • Papa D’s Hot Honey Sauce

  • Mason jar of store bought or homemade trail mix  

$10 Bag:

  • One or two bottles of water

  • Cup of your favourite Puf Cotton Candy flavour

  • Notebook from Tagged It Paper Co.

$5 Bag:

  • One or two bottles of water

  • Box of assorted baked goodies from Riverside Pie Café

Additionally, here are some other unique gift ideas you can include:

  • Locally made soap, essential oils, or a candle from FaerHaven

  • A bag of tea from Windsor Tea Emporium

  • Your favourite bottle of wine from an EPIC Winery

  • A ‘hangover emergency kit’ – think a bottle Advil and sunglasses

  • Chocolate or bonbons from Sweetness Chocolate

  • Some coasters and stickers from your favourite brewery

  • A bag of small batch artisanal coffee from Red Lantern Coffee Co.

  • A welcome Spotify playlist of yours and your partner’s favourite songs

Remember, no matter how big or small your welcome bag is make it personal to you and your partner! In the end, that’s what your guests will love the most.

Written by Madeline Silveria

Aubyn Evon