Showcase your local favorites in your welcome bags and baskets with these fabulous Greater Toledo goodies!
Downtown Toledo Basket
This basket is perfect for guests staying at the Crowne Plaza or other downtown hotels. Include signature items from Petit Fours at The Oliver House such as their Cafe L'Orange Coffee and delicious apricot scones. Include a gift card and treat guest to afternoon tea and cookies on their seasonal patio. And no Toledo welcome basket wouldn't be complete without Tony Packo's Pickles!
Perrysburg
There are many goodies in this bag to satisfy any sweet tooth! Perrysburg's famous Marsha's Buckeyes are a tribute to the state of Ohio or maybe your home team. Currently available in this two-package box, which can be customized, Marsha's Buckeyes will be introducing their new packaging in May 2011! Look for more details on this in the coming month.
Another town favorite is DebHouse Fresh Baked Goods. Not only are they great tasting, but the proceeds go to a great cause: The Deborah House, a home where shattered lives of young Romanian girls are being restored through education, counseling, legal services and lift-skills training. Choose from homemade cookies like chocolate chip and oatmeal cherry or their Lemon Bars, Buckeye Bars or Coconut Macaroons. A complete list of all their baked goods can be found online. Another good tasting treat that goes to a good cause is Comfort Crunch: an artfully arranged, naturally sweetened mix of nuts and dried fruits in flavors such as Original, Pepita Pick-Me-Up, Toffee Talk and Ginger in a Snap. 5% of the net profit goes toward cancer support programs. Your guests can have their cake and eat it on the go with Babycakes Cupcakes 2Go! These adorable pint sized goodies come a variety of flavors such as Brown Sugar Cinnamon Chip, Brownie Bliss, Dark Chocolate Raspberry and S'Mores Delight. Check out all their flavors online. Babycakes2Go lasts for ten days and guests can eat them whenever they want, even taking this treat home with its convenient jar and twist top. Customize the label with your monogram or personalized sticker for that added touch. Nothing goes better with all these goodies than a good cup of coffee from Flying Joe at Levis Commons. Treat guests to their signature grounds in their guest room or invite them to check out their coffee house right for their delicious lattes ad fruit smoothies. I love this recycled bag from Scoots on Louisiana. Its easy to pack home, yet strong enough to hold all these goodies!
Sylvania
If your guests are staying at the Wingate in Sylvania, than be sure to treat them to some Biggby Coffee and bagels from Barry's Bagels. For a truely "sinful" breakfast bread, include the 'Sin-O-Man' Cinnamon and Maple Loaf from Country Grain Bread Company or their HUGE cookies like Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter made with whole wheat flour. Call ahead and they will pre-package slices of the breakfast breads and cookies with personalized labels. Or add your wedding monogram like the one shown above.
Maumee
The place for good coffee, homemade scones and muffins in Maumee is Georgette's on Conant Street. Not only will you be supporting Fair Trade with their coffee, but Georgette's also provides jobs for individuals with developmental disabilities through their employment program. While you are there, walk through the shop to find a gift shop selling fair trade handicrafts. The box pictured was provided by Georgettes and makes a great package for your guests. Personalize it by adding a label and some other goodies mentioned below.
Brittany's Top Ten Picks for any Welcome Bag or Basket:
1. Local Flavor: pick your favorites and include them. Even if it's something you make yourself or mom's cookies. It adds the comforts of home to your guests stay in Toledo.
2. Greater Toledo Guide from the Toledo Convention & Visitors Bureau. These are free if you call ahead and place an order for the number of guides you will need. Included are maps, reviews, restaurants and area attractions for cities and suburbs in the greater Toledo area. 3. Water: You can customize your water with labels from Collingwood Water. Or order stickers online. Use your wedding logo or monogram to complete the look. 4. Asprin or Tylenol: Packets of two pills are handy and really appreciated for headaches or long nights of partying. Find these at a dollar store or Warehouse Club like Sam's or Costco.
5. Mints: Whether they are needed to settle their stomach, or cover up their cocktail breath, these are sure to be used.
6. Keep in mind that guest maybe flying back home and you don't want a container or any item that is too heavy or un-packable. Small glass items can be rolled in clothes for safe keeping, and most containers can be folded up or gently smashed down for the trip home.
7. Keep it simple: Something sweet, something salty and a good drink will do the trick. For a sure winner, pop your own popcorn, or even get creative with some chocolate drizzled on top. Package it in small bags and tie them with a colored ribbon.
8. Include an itinerary or timeline of events. Just in case guests for got their invite, they can easily be reminded of the weekend's events. If you are providing transportation, include pick-up and drop off times. An example of this can be found on the Perrysburg Bag.
9. Share not only your favorite treats, but your favorite locations about town. If you have a late Saturday ceremony time, suggest places for guests to go during the day such as The Toledo Museum of Art or the Toledo Zoo.
or 4 guests.
