May 2013 Brides

[Kal520]

Thanks ladies, I do like the idea of doing a pre-trip package too...or even the excursion, I will have to look into this. My fiancé wants to swim with whale sharks though, which I am not into at all! A catamaran cruise is much more me

[ChocoTaco7568]

Originally Posted by chrystine888 

 

6 MONTHS TILL MAY, LADIES!!!  :-D

So excited; we're almost there... 6 months and 17 days left of a 22 month engagement!

[uhura526]

We are doing welcome bags in lieu of favors, however our welcome bags will be almost 100 percent filled with things you can only get in Grand Cayman.  I think I mentioned this before, but we are putting a welcome letter, a cartoon map of the island, tortuga Caybrew beer (or ginger beer), mini tortuga rum cake and cayman saltwater taffy.  that's it.  Want to keep it simple but basically scream of grand cayman.  I was not interested in doing anything like a bunch of monogrammed stuff. This also means less stuff to bring with me from home

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by Tulumbride2013 

 

I do agree about the bags to a certain extent. We did them but tried to keep them somewhat simple, and didnt do a bunch of monogrammed items and mugs or randoms ie. water bottles . I did get a few things I thought could truly be up to use, like shotglasses:) meds/ Advil, and some other things.

I really like the caterman an idea... We wanted to do something like this put it was super pricey. We are doing a tequila tasting for our guests though, they'll get to try a bunch of different types of tequila, and they can bring their shotglasses!

Oooooh I love that idea. Where are you doing the Tequilla tasting? On the resort or through a company? Let me know that sounds like soooo much fun!

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by chrystine888 

 

Thanks for the site!  I actually did end up getting my bags from there!  They ended up costing something like $2 each!  :-)  I agree that some OOTs have crap that you wouldn't ever use, so we are keeping a specific goal in mind: to give out things that will be useful at the resort (it is AI).  They can either throw them away or keep them as souveniers after the trip.  We have large 22 oz screen printed cups with lids and straws that people can fill up and use for the beach.  We have the key holder wristlets, body poufs, magnetic flip flop bottle openers that read "Punta Cana, May 13, 2013."  We also have screen printed pens with pads of paper because previous brides at this resort mentioned that those were not in the room (strange, but true!).  Also Aloe, suntan lotion, EmergenC, advil, chapstick with sunscreen, hand sanitizer, etc.  We're estimating 70-80 guests, so it is going to be a real pain getting all of this stuff to Punta Cana, but I think our guests will appreciate the sentiment! 

 

I really like the idea of the catamaran...I wish I had thought of that earlier!  Doing all of these little projects is getting crazy!  My FI and I were working on stuff during the hurricane since we were both out of work.  His brother came over and said that we looked like we were running a bridal sweat shop!  AAaaahhhhahahaha!!!! 

 

6 MONTHS TILL MAY, LADIES!!!  :-D

 

PS- Melnry, LOVE the engagement pics!

I don't know if you're set on everything for your OOT bags but from everything I've heard from other brides getting married near/on the beach they said bug spray was a must. Another bride said it was like $15 a bottle at the resort and she wishes she had stuck it in the OOT bags cuz I guess some of the guests were eaten alive and had to spend the $$$ to get it. HA HA Bridal Sweat Shop. That's hilarious! Hope there wasn't too much damage to your house in the hurricane and thanks for the sweet words on the pics.

[chrystine888]

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

I don't know if you're set on everything for your OOT bags but from everything I've heard from other brides getting married near/on the beach they said bug spray was a must. Another bride said it was like $15 a bottle at the resort and she wishes she had stuck it in the OOT bags cuz I guess some of the guests were eaten alive and had to spend the $$$ to get it. HA HA Bridal Sweat Shop. That's hilarious! Hope there wasn't too much damage to your house in the hurricane and thanks for the sweet words on the pics.

 

BUG SPRAY!  Great idea!  I'll throw it in there!  We were lucky with the storm; my FI's bro is stranded in his apartment in Hoboken though!  YIKES!

[allieplask]

I agree with the few others who have responded to this...... for me, things like advil and suntan lotion are not things I would want to get in an OOT bag because I'm a crazy packer and I already have all that stuff with me anyways.  More work for us and things that I am not sure would be appreciated.

 

Like Choco, we are doing "pre-travel" packets with packing lists and luggage tags.  When guests arrive in Jamaica, they will get a welcome/thank-you-for-coming letter, a list of scheduled events/activities, a resort map and a note explaining that we are treating all of our guests to a private snorkel/catamaran.  They will also be getting canvas beach bags (per room) and t-shirts for each guest (my FI and I own a company that specializes in graphic design, printable apparel and promotional products).  Although we aren't crazy about lugging everything down there with us, we figured we couldn't not do bags and t-shirts since they are at such a low cost to us.

 

Originally Posted by Kal520 

So...tell me if I'm crazy and delusional from wedding planning but I don't think we can going to do welcome/OOT bags. Originally I thought obviously we have to do them it's what you are supposed to do! But the more I think about it and my fiance and I talk about it, it's just a bunch of crap no one is going to use or want and all the toiletry type stuff people bring with them anyways. No offense to anyone (well...everyone!) who is doing them I think they're cute especially the bags themselves, but maybe not for us. It will be waaay less stuff to drag down there, save money, time, effort, etc. Instead, I think maybe we will buy everyone a bottle of champagne or some sort of bigger useable gift to show our appreciation for them coming to Mexico for our wedding. What does everyone think about this? Good idea? Bad? Any other ideas of bigger gifts we can do per room?
 

[KristieT]

Originally Posted by ChocoTaco7568 

 

Quote:

For similar reasons, we decided not to do OOT bags.  But we are doing pre-travel packets about 4-6 weeks out (1 per couple or 1 per single guest).  Contents will include the following: thank you letter, packing list, resort map/info, leather luggage tags/passport covers, and a 2GB memory cards for digi cams.  If we find great deals on other useable items then we'll include them.

I also have chosen not to do OTT bags! When i first joined this site i almost felt i was bad not wanting to do it as its seems so common. Choco I love the idea of a pre-travel packet.

Def saves bringing everything down with you.

[Tulumbride2013]

Melnry The tequila tasting is through our resort, in a private party type area. It's 17$ a person.. Weird I know having an all inclusive and paying to drink, but they do snacks and stuff like that and I think it will be great:) As for the bags.. I'm most def wishing I didn't have to lug all this crap down with me! I may give mine out before we go at least to the ppl who are local.

[allieplask]

a tequila tasting? that sounds like so much fun! especially if the wedding is in mexico.. i love it!

 

Originally Posted by Tulumbride2013 

Melnry
The tequila tasting is through our resort, in a private party type area. It's 17$ a person.. Weird I know having an all inclusive and paying to drink, but they do snacks and stuff like that and I think it will be great:)
As for the bags.. I'm most def wishing I didn't have to lug all this crap down with me! I may give mine out before we go at least to the ppl who are local.