Wedding Wednesday: Welcome Bags

This week is all about the welcome bags.

Next week will be the other little details.

Then - that's a wrap :)

I love the little details and I loved planning out each little thing for the welcome bags.

I wanted to put an emphasis on making them great because a ton of our friends were staying over at the hotel and the welcome bag is the first glimpse of the wedding weekend for most.

I searched and searched Pinterest and Etsy for different kind of ideas before making my list and then gathering the items!

Just a tip - do anything you can in advance! I found bags I liked probably seven months out so I ordered them.  Anything personalized and non-perishable I ordered about 3-4 months before.  Last minute items I picked up about a month or two ahead and I stuffed the bags about two weeks in advance to be able to enjoy it and not get into a pinch.  Plus the weekend before our wedding was a holiday weekend so this bride wanted to enjoy!

{What's in the bag}

Welcome note

What's to do in the city letter

Shhhh! We're recovering door hanger

Two personalized cups

Two personalized napkins

Mini wine bottle with "old, new, borrowed, blue, Christina and Derek are ready to say I Do" and ribbon tied on

Chips 

Pretzels

Cookie pack

Baggie of candy with a homemade tag and ribbon tied on

Water bottle with custom label 

{Some Other Favorite Ideas to Include}

straws

hangover kit/advil

postcard of the city you're in

fan (depending on the season)

pashmina (depending on the season)

tissues

mints/gum

tide to go/wet wipes

fruit (I just didn't want to have to worry about that at the last minute)

drink other than water

Spring Lust List

I'm very into hot pink for the upcoming months, per usual.

BUT this year some new colors that I've worn before in past years but am really looking for this year are green, yellow and especially navy.

I'm highly loving the hot pink/navy combo. Also florals.  

{Dresses}

The pink dress made it into the spring category because I just don't think I can wait until summer to wear it; I looked for a hot pink dress all last summer.  This one is cute and comfortable.

I've only found two rompers that I liked in all of my shopping.  One is below.  I love that it's long sleeved (or can be rolled up to quarter sleeve which I love).

Kate Spade seems to be really into this pattern this year because I've also found it in a suitcase, tote and a different style of dress.

  

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{Tops}
The first top is sitting in my shopping cart right now; I love how it would look with white pants for spring or even into summer on a cool night.

On the loving navy note; this navy/white combo is really light weight and fits true to size (wait for a 40% off day at Loft though) it would also double as being perfect for weekends rooting on the Nittany Lions.

The green top took a little while to obtain; I had to reorder in a size up but now it's good to go and perfect for spring because it's a little bit of a heavier material.

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{Bottoms}
I haven't done a white pair of jeans in a while but I was very happy to find these; I'm always too hot for pants in the summer - always shorts or dresses - but this year I'm over the "no white until after Memorial Day weekend" and am ready to use these for spring!

Comfy and floral?! The second pair would be a great pick.

All the colors in the third pair are perfect to brighten up the spring.

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{Jewels}

I posted about the first necklace a while back.  While it differs a tiny bit from the photo I still really like it.  It will add a lot of color to anything hot pink, green or yellow.

The Kendra Scott necklace can really add an extra factor to any outfit.  I wore this for one night of my bachelorette party and can't wait to use it again now that spring has come.

I don't own much lavender but I think this necklace would be really sweet for the spring season.

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{Shoes}

Some of my favorite sandals for spring are Tory Burch; I love how they always come out with slightly different pairs each season.  These a a plus because you can add your monogram :)

Once spring hits I usually switch right into wedges but I could really use a pair of spring heels like this nude pair that would go with anything.

I don't think I'll get these but they are too cute not to share.  Love the little pineapple addition.

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{Purses/Totes}
Hayden Reis has some of the cutest but also durable totes.  I crammed so much into this as a carryon for our honeymoon in September.  The inside of the larger bag is huge, seriously. Plus you can add a monogram and get a matching smaller bag to attach inside.

Like the shoes, I don't think I'll get this one but again too cute not to share.  The navy/white stripes are perfect and the pineapple adds the perfect spring touch.

This smaller, lightweight bag would be perfect for early spring beach trips.

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{Lilly Pulitzer}
I'm a big lover of the Elsa top but this tunic - probably the most comfortable top I've tried on! It's also really lightweight and will be great for spring.  Elsa's will still be my favorite for going out though because the tunic is a little less dressy.

The middle dress is perfect for the cooler spring nights but still getting in those bright Lilly colors.

I love all of Lilly's beach pants (they are always too long, nothing the dry cleaner hasn't fixed before) these would be really cute for a night on the deck waiting for summer to roll in.

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Staycation {Weekending}

Another weekend in the books!

Enjoying our staycation.  Staycations are really starting to become a favorite in this house.

I heard that on Friday it wasn't officially spring until 6:45 so I guess the snow happened when it was still winter and now that winter is in the past, we should be in the clear.  Hopefully.

To celebrate spring's aririval I bundled up in my snow boots, coy scarf and used my seat warmers.  Let's change this soon, okay mother nature?!  Thank goodness I didn't jump the gun and change over my closet to spring last week like I considered.

The weekend kicked off with me burning my skin accidentally with my curling iron (ironicaly about a half hour before my skin appointment at the dermatologist).. anyone have any remedies to get rid of the burn mark?!

Whoever said a dog was a man's best friend never met Stella.  We had some cuddles and extra indoor play time while watching the spring snow.

Stella can jump up to the couch if she really tries her hardest.  Sweet girl put all her effort into the jump so I didn't have the heart to kick her off.

Can you imagine what it will be like when we actually have tiny humans to love on?!

Friday night we quickly cancelled our plans and stuck close to home by going next door to sit at the bar for some wood oven (delicious) pizzas.  I fell asleep on the couch.  Wild Friday night.

Remember Friday's post about the sweat pants.  Keeping it very real right here.

Miss Stella was invited up into our bed for the first time for some morning cuddles.

We ran all the errands, all the grown up errands, we hit all the hot spots.. Home Depo, Pet Smart, Home Goods, Target.  But we stopped for Mexican so it was okay.

Tim the tool man Taylor or what?!

My amazing MOH, Sam gave us a gift card to the Four Seasons as a shower gift which we were suppose to use on the honeymoon but we forgot it the day we went to the spa and didn't want to just tack it on to the final bill.. we wanted a special memory from it.  We've been saving it for this past weekend to celebrate six months of being married (wahoo!) and St. Patrick's Day since that's when we met!

Fun Fact:  We used to do Thanksgivings at the Four Seasons when I was growing up and could watch the parade from the window.  The hotel is moving locations in the summer so it was nice to go back one more time! 

We decided to really enjoy the stay-cation and just relax with no city wandering.  After some relaxing in the room we headed down to the hotel bar then out to our favorite restaurant, Ocean Prime.  The night was finished off the same way it started.

So nice it was to have a lazy morning and sleep in before heading down to the best brunch.  We had a nice little table right by the fire and indulged in the huge buffet.  Made to order pancakes were definitely my favorite! 

There's a PA state law that you can't be served liquor before 11am on Sundays.. how did I never know this?! I guess because we usually brunch 11 or after but anyway we had our bellinis and bloody mary's for dessert.

Miss Stella did fantastic at her first over night at the puppy resort and loved play group (I mean, of course she did).  Since my parent's were in Charleston and my brother in Palm Beach, Nash was staying there too so they let them have some special playtime together.

Melts my heart - look how happy!! And those are Uncle Nash's paw prints to the right.

A high priority is getting our house finished.  asap.  One day a switch just flipped and I decided it was time to just get it done. We spent most of yesterday getting wall hangings hung up and making a lot of progress around the house.  I'm hoping to have everything completely done by the start of summer.

Highlight of the weekend: We booked a quick little spring vacation to… Bermuda!

Has anyone been?! Any recommendations or tips?!

Linking up here and here today.