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Welcome bags for OOT guests

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selflove

selflove

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May 12, 2005
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Any ideas for things to add? I want to keep it inexpensive and simple. Here''s what I''ve thought of so far:

itinery of weekend events
maps (lots of them, from the bike path along the beach to the specific driving directions to the church)
lists of restaurants/clubs/activity rentals in the area
bottles of water
sunscreen (it''s So Cal and a lot of people are coming from the upper midwest)
tissues
snacks (fruit or candy or crackers)
traveling votive candle (the only splurge, at $1 each from Michaels)

Anything else?

If I can''t find inexpensive baskets (ie. <$2-3 each) would gift bags be okay?

I know I can get the big gift bags from the 99cent Only store.

We''ll have 10-15 rooms of people.

Thanks guys!
 
Your list seems pretty good! And it''s TOTALLY fine to use gift bags instead of baskets. To me, baskets are kind of a waste, since no one wants to bring them home afterwards.

Some people like to put Tylenol/Advil/Aspirin in their OOT bags (for post-wedding hangovers), but I don''t think it''s really that necessary.
 
I''d look for baskets at the dollar store, I''ve gotten cute ones there. Check the kitchen section as well, I''ve found little tote style wire baskets that made perfect gift baskets with a little tissue paper tucked inside.

As for the contents, what you listed sounds perfect.
 
I am using gift bags. It makes more sense to me since most people are flying and might not want to lug a basket back with them. FMIL stocked up during the Bath and Body Work sales so I think we will throw in something from them, snacks, cheese (we are getting married in WI
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),some sort of beverages, that kind of thing. Basically we will just go to Sam''s Club.
 
A related question: How do you know how many OOT bags to put together? I''ve blocked rooms at a couple of hotels, but I''m also including a list of other hotels to give people a choice. Obviously, people who choose to stay elsewhere won''t get a bag, but how do I know how many are staying at the blocked hotels? Do you just call the hotels?
 
We included with our invitations a little slip of paper asking for their hotel name, reservation name and date of arrival so that we know exactly where everyone will be and when they''ll get there. Then we''ll drop off the OOT bags at the front desk, asking them to either put them in the guests'' rooms or hand it to them when they check in.
 
Tanyak-
If you call the hotels, they will tell you how many of the rooms have been reserved, and by who.
 
Great! Thanks for the tips.
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I don''t know how much you plan to spend, this may be a tad overboard, but I went to an OOT wedding and the bride include tickets to a Temptations concert that was next door to our hotel. MY ex was the Best Man so I think she just did it for the oot wedding party.
 
My cousin had OOT gift boxes and they were beautiful! If you''re concerned that the bags aren''t what you want, you can always get sinple white boxes and decorate them with bows representing the wedding colors! Very elegant and classy.
 
I think using the wedding colors is a great idea. It would make it more personal.
 
your list is great!

we did itinerary/welcome tied with ribbon to the outside of thin, handled raffia bags and inside we did sunscreen, flip flops (they were $3 each from old navy and we only had $30 guests so it was doable), a small travel coffee of our fave kauai brand (made there on the island), and a travel candle from a seller on ebay, they came in tins and we had custom round labels made for the top that said something like our monogram with the date.

i also put loose orchids inside each bag the day of and we went and put them in everyone's rooms/cottages the morning they arrived and then scattered loose orchids around them and onto their pillows in their rooms etc. it was fun!

my only comment is that i am all about the 'presentation' so not sure what kind of big gift bags you are going to put this stuff in but i would nix an item or two if it means that you can get cuter bags that work with your theme, and have the people be more like 'oh look how cute' rather than 'oh here is a big trough of stuff'...just in case you can't find large enough baskets etc. i loved our bags because they had an island feel which is where we were!

we got our raffia bags online through some website i can't recall right now, another option could be a jute bag, our raffia ones were like $1 each maybe and they were something like 7x5 in sizing. you can search google for more ideas! good luck!
 
Great advice, ladies! Thanks!
 
I received a gift bag at the last wedding I was in - I actually agree that doing gift bags instead of baskets might be better - then they wouldn''t have to worry about how to get them home. Otherwise, sounds good!
 
I have a question... do you do the OOT bags per guest, or per room? And if it''s per room do you put two of everything in the bag or one that''s enough to share (for ex. sunscreen bottles), assuming that the people sharing the room are a couple?
 
Date: 3/27/2006 9:45:37 PM
Author: LizzieC
I have a question... do you do the OOT bags per guest, or per room? And if it''s per room do you put two of everything in the bag or one that''s enough to share (for ex. sunscreen bottles), assuming that the people sharing the room are a couple?
Click to expand...

I am going to do one bag per room.
 
I am also doing one bag per room, except for the rooms that have like 4 college friends, I will probably do two and throw in a few extras!
 
The one thing I would add is mints/gum.

I''ve always been wary about putting Tylenol and/or Advil because I''m paranoid. I think about children getting into the packs, etc.

Munchkin
 
Selflove, I think your list sounds great & agree w/ adding mints/gum.

We were struggling with what to do for our guests in this regard. Our DW is in Jamaica at an all-inclusive resort so our guests wouldn''t need any food/beverages or maps, etc. Also, we were concerned at the thought of lugging lots of objects for the baskets on the plane.

So, we wound up ordering personalized wind chimes for our guests & are also making them a CD with Jamaican-themed music. We''re going to wrap these 2 items up together with turquoise ribbon & give them to our guests.

We''re planning to give one gift per room, but do you think it would be a problem that a few of the couples attending are not married? I figured they could fight it out for the prezzies.
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Here are the wind chimes:

shell_chimes.jpg
 
BS--those are cute!

I did have mints/gum on the list but then I crossed it off b/c I''m doing mints for favors at the reception.

I totally agree, basket=bad idea.

And I''ll do one bag per room also b/c it''s all couples or families in each room.
 
Hey sounds like you all have some brilliant ideas and I am sure to use them. I was definately thinking about the baskets, but the idea of the OTT guest lugging that back on the plane does seem like an awkward waste of money. However, my fiance and I are getting married in a small town in the mountains in the fall... everything is fall themed and I don''t want to push it over bord. Any ideas?
 
Hi swiftcarolinabride & welcome to PS!
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How fun to have a fall mountain wedding! Our beach wind chime (above) actually comes with leaves instead & might be nice for your wedding. (I got them here)

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If you want to give the guests some food (things they will consume while attending your wedding & won''t have to lug on the plane), fall-themed goodies like apples, cider, etc. might be nice. Good luck!
 
orientaltrading.com had great cheap totes, and etc.
also blissweddingsmarket.com has cute gift-y ideas.
 
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