The Night Before.
First impressions with soon-to-be family members. Reconnecting with long lost friends. New introductions between cousins and sorority sisters. There may be plenty for guests to talk about, but getting conversations started often takes a little intention. While you can't facilitate every interaction, you can create an instant icebreaker--something that makes conversation feel effortless, spontaneous, and enjoyable.
Enter the beloved wedding welcome market: a fresh, versatile way to curate the tone for your wedding weekend while encouraging guests to connect. Reimagine the traditional welcome bag by transforming it into a functional, beautifully designed display that doubles as a thoughtful guest experience--and skip the hassel of hotel bag delivery logistics.
Keep reading for our display tips and tricks, along with Northern Michigan product recommendations to inspire your own welcome market.
Special thanks to the incomparable Stacy of Juniper & Lace Events who collaborated with us to create the dreamiest "Night Under the Stars" welcome party for L&R in late March. And, of course, to thye incredibly talented Dan Stewart Photography for capturing every detail.
We are incredibly grateful for couples like L&R who trust us to let our creativity run wild and say 'yes' to exciting ideas. L's loved of astrology fueled the 'Night Under the Stars' concept which came to life through elegant sequin linens, moon- and sun-inspired welcome bins, and thoughtfully coordinating signage. The best design concepts always begin with intention, and we love creating experiences that authentically reflect each couple's personality and story.
L&R are true Michiganders who spend as much time outdoors as possible in every season. L is also an avid plant enthusiast, which inspired us to include small potted plants and propagated clippings for guests to take home. Every single one was grown or propagated by L herself, making this detail especially meaningful. We also couldn't resist featuring one of L&R's favorite trail hiking snacks: Peanut Butter Kar's Trail Mix.
Supporting local businesses is a priority in every welcome market we create, and this one was no exception. Guests were treated to Grocer's Daughter's signature Chocolate Sleeping Bears--arguably some of the cutest molded chocolate you'll ever see. Great Lakes Tea & Spice also provided an assortment of speciality teas, including Mackinaw Breeze, Snow Buds, and several of their bestselling blends. Their handcrafted spice mixes were another guest favorite.
For the coffee lovers, we included MUD/WTR packets, while hand and toe warmers helped prepare guests for a day on the slopes after the wedding. Even the youngest attendees had something to enjoy, with bubbles and coloring books to keep them entertained.
The true showstopper, however, was the layered design. Textured black draping created a beautiful background to pop the wooden shelves and the custom curated design elements. We even transferred this draping to be utilized the day after for L&R's epic ski & snowboard seating display.
One of the questions I'm asked most often about welcome markets is how many of each item to purchase. A good rule of thumb is to plan for 75% of your total guest count. Offering a thoughtful mix of options--coffee and tea, sweet and salty--also helps accommodate a variety of preferences without overbuying.
For this event, we offered reusable jute tote bags for guests to fill with their favorite items. Out of 100 guests, we had about 60 bags used up. One advantage of our approach is that we bring bags for every guest, but any unused bags return to the studio and aren't charged to the client. Its a cost efficient solution that allows guests to choose what they'll actually enjoy wile avoiding the waste that often comes with preassembled hotel welcome bags.
Interested in a full service welcome market for your wedding weekend? Submit an inquiry to learn more about our process and see if our services are the right fit for your celebration.