Bridal showers are going celebrity-fabulous with swag bags taking the place of traditional favors. Now that doesn’t mean those key lime truffles and frosted cookie favors are out the window. They’re too cute to go away. Instead, they’re prettily-packed in little origami-type flower-fold favor boxes and included in the swag bag.
The bag itself is the real treat, the basis of the shower swag bag. When you give a fashionable, eco-friendly reusable tote, guests get something they can truly use again and again. (And when you go to the grocery store with reusable totes, they just might give you a discount off your food shopping bill! So many perks to the swag bag tote!)
Take a look at some of the pretty totes that I found at Envirosax:
Photos Courtesy of Envirosax
What else goes into a bridal shower swag tote? Anything matching the theme of the shower. So for a kitchen shower, you might pop in printouts of recipes you love, found at Food Network, or little bottles of gourmet spices, or a funky little egg timer you got at the dollar store. The dollar store, the dollar bins at Target and the craft store…these are your meccas for creating the bridal shower swag bag. The bag doesn’t have to be loaded to overflowing, and no one’s expecting an iPad or a Rolex like celebs get at the Oscars and Grammys. It’s just a fun twist on the tradition of bridal shower favors, one that the bride and her guests will love for the unique spin and the creative little goodies you put in each bag.
What’s the total for this new swag trend? You can do it for under $12 apiece, including $5 to $8 for the tote bag. If you DIY your treats, the price goes down. Yes, it’s a little pricier than the single frosted cookie…but here’s something that gives your swag bag budget extra benefit for the bucks: hang a swag bag on each guest chair, and you have instant, color-coordinated décor. Just a small, vibrant floral centerpiece on each table at $3 to $5 apiece, and the math works out quite nicely.
Still shaky about the cost? Here’s a smart budget-saving solution that makes room in your budget for swag bags: plan a brunch shower, and your per-person price is half what an afternoon buffet shower would be. And most brunch places throw in a free champagne or mimosa. Now you have room for swag bags. Get ready to hear the raves from the bride and the guests!
Sharon | March 15th, 2011 | See all posts by Sharon
Can you please email me a picture of a bridal shower decorated with an envirosax bag hanging on the back of each guest’s chair. I have ordered the bags but am not sure what to place in them or how to decorate with them. Thanks.