Welcome to DC!

Welcome bags have become a staple at weddings in the past couple years. And while I usually try to do exactly opposite of whatever's "in" at the time, I really wanted to have welcome bags for all the guests staying at the hotel. 

I started looking for cute gift bags, but anything that wasn't white or tan seemed to be $3 each...and that wasn't going to work. I wish I remembered where I found the link, but when I clicked on it, there was a beacon of gift-bag light.

Canvas tote bags for $1!

How perfect! I could screen print them, fill them with goodies, and guests could actually keep and reuse them! Less waste!

I wanted something that was pretty gender neutral (no cherry blossoms) and I didn't want anything with our names, initials, or dates on it. Who wants to use a "Jay and Renee 24/7!" tote at the grocery store?

 

I found this adorable clip art at iStockPhoto and it worked perfectly!

I Gocco'd the image onto each tote using navy blue ink. TIP: I had a little trouble with the ink bleeding through, so I put a magazine inside each tote before I printed the image. I let them dry for 24 hours then, to make sure that it doesn't wash out, I heat set each print with an iron. 

As I've probably mentioned a few times, most of our guests were from out of town and planned to explore DC a little while they were in the area. So not only did we fill the bags with the usual water, gum, advil, and granola bars, we added business cards from a local cab company, DC Metro guides, and vintage Washington DC postcards.

So definitely think about using canvas bags instead of paper. Who knew they were so cheap! Plus the guests were really wowed!

How Sweet it Is

We ended up making about 3,000 cookies for the big day. 

...Chocolate chip...

...red velvet...

...sugar...

...oatmeal...

...lemon...

...shortbread...

Well, you know, you've been reading the blog.

About a month before the wedding, I realized that if I went to a wedding with that many awesome cookies, I'd want the recipes. 

With a couple clicks of the mouse, several reams of paper, and some baker's twine, I put together these adorable recipe books for guests to take home.

Each book had 25 (I think) recipes in it, covering all our favorites.

mmm...snickerdoodle blondies

I used Paper Source's text weight eco-white paper in 8.5x11. and printed each within a 3 7/8" by 9 1/4" area (to fit the #10 backing, also from Paper Source)

Let's try explaining that again. I used Microsoft Word and set my document to two columns each measuring 3 7/8" by 9 1/4". That way I could print two per sheet and save a little paper. I typed up all my recipes and started printing.

I designed the cover in Adobe Illustrator using clip art, but as always, you don't need any graphic design skills - draw something or collage and get it photocopied, use rubber stamps, download a free template (try i-do-it-yourself.com), or purchase one if you really feel like it's out of your league.

Once everything was printed and cut down to size. I punched two holes at the top (the #10 backing comes with holes ready). 

A little bakers twine threaded through the holes to tie it all together...and ta-da!

The guests LOVED them. People kept coming up to me and saying what a great idea it was and how they were excited to try *insert name of awesome cookie here*.

So give it a try, make it a favor, it's the gift that keeps on giving...provided your guests enjoy baking.