What I put in our out-of-town wedding guests' welcome bags

• votive holders and votive candles (and matches) for the couples
  
• a bag of snacks (TGI Friday's Potato Skins, or the like)
  
• granola bars -- I think I tried for 2 for each person for each morning they were staying
  
• bottles of water -- 1 per person
  
• a bag of Pepperidge Farm cookies -- Nantucket and Sausalito, I believe
  
• body lotion or shower gel or something "girly" along those lines
  
• room/linen spray in some romantic flavor -- lavender or rose, I think I chose
  
• a package of mints
  
• a package of cocktail napkins

For the kids' bags, I tossed in anything I thought they'd like. Coloring books and crayons, activity books, glow-in-the-dark light sticks, rolls of paper to write on, stuffed animals, I can't remember the rest, but you get the idea.

Welcome gift bags

I don't want to ruin the surprise for any of you wedding-goers, so I won't give details, but last night I went shopping for things to put in the welcome gift bags for the people who are staying at the Sheraton. The kids have separate gift bags, which I hope will keep them pleasantly occupied during any downtime the weekend will afford.

I even stuffed the bags and so they're mostly set until I drop them off at the Sheraton a few days before the wedding. I have yet to write up the packet with local information (restaurants, Boston info, other things to do in the area, etc.), which I'll also put in the bags. Hopefully I can get that done tomorrow.

So far I have 8 rooms booked, although I'm expecting a flurry of RSVP cards in the next 5 days (hopefully!), so more will be booked shortly.

Then, next Thursday, Paul and I start individually bugging people and getting head counts and hotel info, if necessary, because we really need to know who's coming and who's not.

For those of you traveling in from out of town, remember, the Sheraton room rate is good only until Aug. 1, so I have to let them know you're coming by then. If you'd rather RSVP by email, feel free!