The first time I ever received a welcome bag was when I checked into my hotel for a cousin’s wedding about fifteen years ago. After a long drive, I so appreciated having a few refreshments before heading out to celebrate. Welcome bags for out-of-town wedding guests have now become the norm. They can be costly to put together, however, so to make it a little easier I designed some tags that you may easily personalize on your own computer. The only permanent text is the word ‘welcome’ at the top, so you may also use them for family reunions, birthdays, christenings, or any occasion when you have guests coming to town. You may download your free printable gift tags using the form at the end of these instructions.
Download the PDF using the link at the bottom of this page. Save it to your hard drive or a thumb drive. The PDF is a letter size, 8.5×11 inch sheet, with four circle tags on a page.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free from Adobe. You must use Reader to edit the PDF, or it will not work properly. Open the file and type your custom text in the highlighted fields. Save.
For paper, use a cream, white, or pastel cardstock. If you do not have a printer, you can also have them printed at Staples or an office store local to you. Once you are ready, print as many sheets as you need.
The tool you need to make these tags is an extra large circle punch. I used a punch that I bought on Amazon and I love it. Click here for the exact dimensions and current price on Amazon.
Trim the sheet to remove a little of the border, so you are able to fully insert it into the punch. Insert your sheet and flip the punch over so that you can center the design inside the frame. Then just press down.
You now have a perfect circle. Punch a small hole at the top for your twine.
Deciding what to put in your wedding welcome bags is no small chore. The idea is to make your hotel guests’ stay more comfortable, and that usually starts with food. Try some of the local favorites, such as chocolates, cheeses, and salty snacks made nearby. Favorites of the couple are also a good idea. Be sure to provide water and perhaps a bottle of wine from a nearby vineyard. Then, depending on where your wedding is and the season, add things your guests might need (sunscreen, umbrellas, Advil, bug spray, lip balm, mints.) Depending on your budget, consider souvenirs like personalized blankets, coozies, frames, local guide books, sunglasses, or playing cards. Finally, slip in a weekend itinerary and suggestions for things to do in the local area. A little visual inspiration:
I used simple brown paper bags for my mock ups, but if you want to upgrade I highly recommend custom tote bags from Zazzle, such as these with a map of the place where you are getting married (search Zazzle’s website for your state or country). They run sales often. Other suggestions: a graphical itinerary \ coconut water \ Terry’s chocolate orange \ cheese spread \ bread sticks \ adventure awaits luggage tags \ custom coozies \ magnetic photo frames \ tissues \ Parmesan crisps
Tie the tags to your gift bags using any ribbon, and they are ready for your lovely guests. If you are not doing bags, you can even just tie to a bottle of your favorite something. They will love them.
Ready to Start? Please enter your email address to release your free download. If you are not yet registered for Faking it Fabulous, you will also be added to my mailing list to receive notifications when I add new printables. Your email address will never be shared, and you may unsubscribe at any time.
Please use a computer, not a mobile device, to download your printables.
Note: Tags are for Personal Use Only, and the PDF may not be sold, distributed, or posted on other websites. If you wish to share this project, please link to this page. Happy crafting!
