Local Bridal Guide: 5 Places to Find Philly-Themed Canvas Totes For Your Welcome Bags or Bridesmaid Gifts


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The local designers at Pilot & Captain are behind this stylish carry-all.

When your guest list includes family and friends who are making the trip from out-of-town, it’s always a really kind gesture to have some sort of welcome bag or basket awaiting their arrival at the hotel. After traveling to the city, and especially after partying into the wee hours of the morning at your reception, they’ll be appreciative of the drinks, snacks, and maybe a few Advil, that you’ve stashed in their rooms.

Our favorite way to build your welcome bags: Start with an awesome Philly-themed tote that will not only hold all of the goodies you stuff into it, but also makes for a nice reusable gift that your guests can take home.

And speaking of gifts—these totes are in no way limited to your welcome bags. We love the thought of gifting them to your bridesmaids either alone or with something it them, too. Philly-themed wine bags (more about them below), for example, are a great way to say thank you when filled with each girl’s favorite bottle.

We’ve pulled together a list of places where you can find these decorative bags, including a local talent who can custom design them for you. Take a peek and let us know what you think. We’d love to see photos of how you use these Philly bags for your Big Day!

The Atelier
Where: Online and by request.
What: Philly-based designer and illustrator Melissa Noucas has garnered fans near and far thanks to her sophisticated blog and the darling prints and notecards she sells online. If you’re on the hunt for a bag that’s one-of-a-kind for your wedding, Noucas will gladly whip up a Philly-themed design to print onto her canvas totes. Just shoot her an email for a price estimate and to discuss ideas!

Maptote
Where: Available online.
What: As the name suggests, canvas totes are this company’s specialty, with custom options for cities all across the country. For your Philadelphia affair, there are multiple sizes and styles (like grocery, hobo, and wine totes) all adorned with super cute Philly-centric illustrations. Prices range from $17-22.

Open House
Where: 107 South 13th Street, Midtown Village
What: When you’re in the market for a fantastic Philly-themed gift, Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran’s 13th Street shops are a good place to begin your search. We’re big fans of the “I Love Philly” tote that uses an adorable little pretzel instead of a heart, which you can find among the goodies at Open House or online here for $26.

Paper on Pine
Where: 115 South 13th Street, Midtown Village
What: We told you all about Paper on Pine’s in-house-designed Philly-themed cards, totes, and accessories when they debuted last year. We love the idea of using their wine bags as a part of your hotel welcome baskets or picking up a few of the pretty makeup pouches as bridesmaid gifts. They retail for $18 and $20 respectively, and can be purchased both online and in-store.

Pilot & Captain 
Where: Available online. 
What: From the guys behind Old City-based design studio, The Heads of State, Pilot & Captain is a go-to for city-specific shirts, totes, and paper products. You’ll want to stock up on their oversized heavy canvas carry-on—currently on sale for $36—that’s stamped with PHL in bold block letters (and is supposedly big enough to fit 14 cheesesteaks).

RELATED: The Best Made-in-Philly Welcome Bags For Your Out-of-Town Guests

RELATED: Paper on Pine’s New Philly-Themed Cards, Totes & Accessories

Check out our other Local Bridal Guides here

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