OOT Bags - Anyone DISLIKE???

[Vettiebean]

I'd imagine you'd collect everyone's arrival and departure information. If you have a welcome dinner or a number of your guests will arrive on the same day, then you can get the majority of the bags out of the way by handing them out at dinner. Or do a round of welcome hello's to your guests with the bags or have them all come to your room. I don't plan on giving out our room number to anyone except for the few gfs who will going me on the wedding day getting ready, but it's an option. 

[IdOinCABO]

I will say i was at the resort where we are getting married in October and having a little bag to tote stuff/towels and things of this nature around was needed. If i got something in my room when i arrived like an OOT i would be so excited. We thought we packed everything but you would be surprise what my fiance HAD to buy (5.00 tylenol and 4.00 tums) and they didnt have things like Q tips or shower gel in the rooms. Sure they had stuff you could buy and it was sooooooooo OVER priced it was a total joke.

 

I am that bride on a total budget but im going to try to do them and keep them under 8.00 each one. I think its totally doable! I found the bags (really cute for 2 something) and i will just put a few little things (including a big bottle of water that the hotel provides!! Love that! and then today i bought these cello bags and im debating to buy a box of band aids and that type of stuff at the dollar store and fill them up and then also have a little packet of information/times and what not....

 

People are coming from all over and like the other girls mentioned its a total extra! Im having a lot of fun looking around and keeping my eyes out for cool stuff.... but i think i will keep the bag as the main thing with the big bottle of watter put fun color tissue paper, the little cello bag full of stuff and the information they need to know and call it good!

 

food for thought

[goodtoglow]

I'm on the OP's side..... I think that the majority of my guests, if not all, will be bringing the items that are usually packed in OOT Bags, and a lot of the stuff will be useless or thrown to the side. Plus, a good quality tote bag is quite expensive, and the cheaper ones are more likely to rip apart if my guests wanted to use them as a day bag (not to mention I'm certain all of the ladies will have beach bags packed!)

I'm going to give everyone a welcome letter, as well as a room directory, but other than that we won't be doing OOT bags. We did use cruise points for champagne and chocolates in each room, as well as an open bar cocktail party (cruises are not AA). Hopefully that will let them know how much we appreciate them coming.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who dislikes OOT bags! I kind of thought I was alone and that my guests would be expecting something, but I'm relieved to see that is not the case!

[Vettiebean]

So, I know a lot of brides make kits and add supplies for guests who have too much fun. I mean, let's face it. We're mostly all going to Mexico, somewhere tropical, lots of us are going to all inclusive alcohol flowing resorts, and that jazz. I've seen a lot of people adding hangover stuff, tylenol, etc. Here's something to consider adding: condoms! lol No, seriously though. It's a tropical vacation, lots of alcohol, a wedding... it's been known to happen. Condoms may seriously come in handy for some of your guests. I know that most of my guests are couples, but not ALL of them are... just some food for thought. 

[sltrotter18]

I am doing the OOT bags instead of favors.  Along with the bags will be a note with some extra things that I will have in our room in case people need them like seasickness pills or a sewing kit.  For instance, I'm not going to do a whole first aid kit for each bag but will definitely include ibuprofen, pepto, aloe.  Many of our friends I feel may forget this stuff so we will provide some just in case.  We are also doing custom koozies that they can use around the resort and definitely for when they go home!  I think the OOT bags are a nice gesture to show your appreciation!

[proti007]

Glad to see I'm not alone
 

Originally Posted by goodtoglow 

I'm on the OP's side..... I think that the majority of my guests, if not all, will be bringing the items that are usually packed in OOT Bags, and a lot of the stuff will be useless or thrown to the side. Plus, a good quality tote bag is quite expensive, and the cheaper ones are more likely to rip apart if my guests wanted to use them as a day bag (not to mention I'm certain all of the ladies will have beach bags packed!)

I'm going to give everyone a welcome letter, as well as a room directory, but other than that we won't be doing OOT bags. We did use cruise points for champagne and chocolates in each room, as well as an open bar cocktail party (cruises are not AA). Hopefully that will let them know how much we appreciate them coming.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who dislikes OOT bags! I kind of thought I was alone and that my guests would be expecting something, but I'm relieved to see that is not the case!

[vlynnw]

I'm doing OOT bags but they are pretty simple.  I'm including a first aid kit, tylon, pepto, emergen-C, hand sanitizer, beach ball, pen and paper, and a travel mug.  The bags are basically for them to use around the hotel and I added the other things just as little helpfuls because not everyone remembers band-aids or tylenol.  I'm not doing sunscreen and aloe because those are things you typically take with you on vacation anyway...plus I listed it on their things to pack list in my pre-travel mailers! haha I should also add I'm only having about 16 guests....if I were having a lot more then I probably wouldn't have done them at all, since I'm on a tight budget. 

[Janet1480]

I'm so torn! I agree with both sides. I would love to do an OOT bag as I do agree it is a nice gesture and most people would/should appreciate it whether they use it or not, you cant please everyone

I thought to maybe do something different...let me know what you think.....

I am thinking of doing a welcome letter and attaching a little organza bag filled with casino tokens from the resort for their enjoyment. This way, i dont have to pack much, the guests will have a little bit of entertainment and the money would be spent either way

[Vettiebean]

Hi Janet, 

 

I think that's an absolutely wonderful idea!! 

 

I think the beauty of these gifts, whether it be bags, cigars, or tokens, is all about the gesture and sincerity. I'm all for showing my guests I appreciate their presence, and I think you've found a good way to do that. Not to mention, talk about a hassle free, easy to travel idea! like you said, the money would be spent either way, so it's a really good gift idea. 
 

Originally Posted by Janet1480 

I'm so torn! I agree with both sides. I would love to do an OOT bag as I do agree it is a nice gesture and most people would/should appreciate it whether they use it or not, you cant please everyone

I thought to maybe do something different...let me know what you think.....

I am thinking of doing a welcome letter and attaching a little organza bag filled with casino tokens from the resort for their enjoyment. This way, i dont have to pack much, the guests will have a little bit of entertainment and the money would be spent either way

[CanadianLindsey]

Our guests loved them, one GM even giggled like a little girl with joy when we gave it to him!!  Most resorts don't provide medicine, sunscreen, aloe or the other items we handed out and I know all of our guests used their OOT bag contents. You can personalize them however you want, big or small since it's something your guests won't expect, even adding practical items like luggage tags and a spanish translation book to your itneraries would be thoughtful and apprecited I'm sure. It doesn't have to be a "bag". We handed ours out before we left so we only had to pack 3 with us for our international guests. It is a personal choice for sure, but I like DIYs and gift giving so I found it fun.  And it was a nice extra way to say how much we appreciated the few friends and family who came to our wedding and we didn't spend a lot on them(for 24 guests we maybe spend $100, most stuff we got on sale or a $ stores).