torilynnsmith

Alright question about the key card holders... can any past brides shed some light on whether these were used or not and how?! I know this is sort of a stupid question, I have read tons of threads about ideas and inspirations and was sold but when I went to explain it to FI and my mom I just couldn't explain why people wouldn't slip it in their beach bag or pocket..... Would people still use the holder but put THAT in their bag or pocket or do they definitely wear it around their wrist all the time?! Any insight would be super appreciated!!!!!!!

Hey ladies, I have a question about the key card holders. How are they used exactly?! Stupid sounding but ...... I know that people put their room key in them and use it to keep their key safe but what is the point. Do they wear them in the pool/ocean? Do they wear them around their wrist/neck all the time, to dinner, to shows, to the bar?! I have purchased ID holders that are zipper pouches with a key card (id) slot but I just want to better understand if people actually use them..... I am starting to think it may be a wasted spend......

OMG it is probably tacky to ask this but how big is that rock!?!?! Your ring is very gorgeous!!!!!!!

Are you through nolitours transat?! thats what their numbers are too!

Oh I totally forgot I also have 2 face cloths in my bag that I rolled and tired with rafia.... I read a few reviews that there weren't face cloths (now I can't even remember if it was my resort lol) so I got a face cloth for each person, this filled it up a bit and they only cost $0.44 each!!!!

HAHA so funny you should say that! I posted my OOT bag thread but never actually put the items in the bag. I am going to visit my mom tomorrow and she asked that I bring one to show her so I put everything in tonight and I am finding the SAME thing!!!!!! I am already pretty up there with my OOT bag price so I really dont want to add a lot more. I have: - 2 mugs - 1 wedding week survival kit (ziploc sandwich bag full of stuff with bag topper) - 1 note pad, pen, sewing kit - 1 shell soap They just arent as full as I anticipated them being. I am thinking of adding a wordsearch/crosswork/sudoku book and some playing cards to each bag. I don't think it has to be full full full but I also don't want it to look like we skimped out when we definitely didn't!!!!!! I know exactly what you mean but the towels filling them out!!!! Another option may be the vista print t-shirts or hats.... though I know most of my guests wouldn't use them.... pashminas.... hmmm I will keep you posted as I get ideas!!!!!

Welcome to the site Ashley, it will be a great resource for you!!!!! I would recommend sending out your STDs as soon as you have your wedding date set with the resort, doesn't mean you book travel etc. but it will at least give your guests time to save and plan, book vacation etc. We waited to book so we bypassed STDs and just sent out invites. We made the arrangements with our TA, when we booked we mailed out our invites (May) for our February 2012 wedding. Our guests has 3 months to book from the date we put down our deposits so this made the most sense to us!!!!! I would definitely choose your resort and secure your date as a lot of brides have mentioned, dates book up quickly!!!!!! I think it all depends on travel. Where your wedding is at home you can probably follow more at home "traditions" rather than DW standards because I am assuming less people are travelling. One reason for the advanced STD and invites is because people have to book and AI vacation (or flight/hotel) and need time to save, book etc. I have been wanting to start my own planning blog because I have so many ideas floating in my head and want to help other brides!! I will definitely check it out!!!!!

Thanks everyone... I am still unsure as to what we're going to do. 20 people in our group decided not to go with the flight and package we arranged and had our TA arrange something different for them so this inhibits our "free trip" potential slightly but I guess I will wait to see numbers!!!!

Walmart had stripped towels for $5.00 they came turquoise and white, lime green and white, pink and white and a few other combos I think. Not sure if they still do but it would be worth checking out. Not to discourage you from doing towels, I don't know your resort or anything but most provide towels there and a beach towel can get pretty stinky and musty after a week. I still think it is a great idea and I know some people prefer their own, just though you could have a few $$ if you hadn't thought of this. On a more positive note (I promise I am not trying to be negative!!!!) I would totally check out walmart because the ones I saw were actually quite nice!!!!!

Of course!!!! PM me your colours and what you are looking for and I would be happy to help!!! I posted a thread with my OOTs so check them out!!!!

ahhhhh congrats, I am worried I am going to be short but we are thinking our single male guests we are going to get those drawstring type backpack bags as I can't see them carrying a beach bag and then for our wedding party and parents we may do different bags if we need to to stretch the bags we were able to find!!!!! I can't wait to see your OOTs once you get started!!!!

Are you giving everyone their bags before you leave or once you arrive in jamaica?!

Nikki you are so so talented!!!! Where did you get your beach bags?? I love the snacks and all the cute saying to go with!! Also great choice with the raspberry lemonade blistex it smells SOOOO yummy!!!!!!!

Thanks!!!!!! I still have a few print projects to do, our welcome letter, door hangers possibly.... Patrick was not in love with them so we'll see! I think theyd be a cute funny thing!

They look amazing!!!!! You probably saved a lot doing it yourself, that is my plan too!!!

OMG!!!! No way Leigh, that is awful!!! Let me know if you need any of your templates or anything I still have them in my email I believe!!! Finished my OOT shopping this weekend and am pulling my bags together today!!!!

Michaels had a sale of the packages of card stock, you get 4 or 5 colours and they were 3.99 for I think 80 or 100 sheets for $3.99. It's great if they have your colours in a multi pack, they have a great aqua, blue and green pack. Also remember never to go to michaels without a coupon!!!!! You can print them from their website and it is DEFINITELY worth doing!!!!

I am definitely doing a TTD. I love the idea of taking a beautiful white dress out of context. I don't want to do the typical beach and water shots, but something more exotic as well! I think "trash" is improper because you arent really trashing it! A lot of brides have said the ocean cleaned up their dress after the reception and they just showered off the salt water and it looked great!!!!

Janet that is a gorgeous dress!!!! Can't wait to see it on you, I am sure you will be beautiful!!!!

Great work!!! Are you doing invites on etsy?!

Thank you so much everyone!!! It means so much to hear that you like them, I find with some of my DIYs I start to think they aren't as great as they were in my head... probably from looking at them for so long!!! We went to Buffalo, as it is only an hour and a half from my Parents house in Mississauga. We went over all the time while I was growing up but this time went to a whole bunch of new areas and spots which was great. Cheektowaga and Amherst are two other cities around there that we venture too as well. Nothing is too far once you are over which is great!!! Thanks!!!!!! The DIY part is easy, I am sure I could help you out with your templates!!!! I thought we had 2 checked bags each but I found out today we only have one, luckily the second bag is only $20. My plan now is to use a duffle for most of our clothes and "soft" stuff and put the mugs and "breakables" in our hard sided suit cases. That way we have 4 going down but only 2 coming back as we will just put the duffles in our hard sided suitcases!!!!! We budgeted $10 a person so roughly $20 a bag. The break down for the items I bought is in the post above. It will depend on whether it is a couple or a single bag exactly how much we spend, I know I am slightly over but we are cutting favours and the silk fans we planned on so I feel that it evens out! I KNOW!!!! Thanks!!!!! I was so dead set on these and I thank YOU for all your help keeping me posted on their status!!! Were you able to get yours? I think you mentioned your mom was going to check out her dollar trees.... You're a Navy and Green bride too?! So exciting, I don't come across it very often, especially for a DW!!!! Can't wait to see your planning!!!! I thought of sewing kits but I knew I wanted compact ones with scissors, all the dollar store ones here were either huge (weight was a concern too) or had no scissors, I figure a sewing kit is no good without scissors really... When I saw these at Michaels in the dollar bin I was over the moon!!!!!!!! The colours are so fun and bright and everything locks into place which is awesome!!!

Here are the templates I used, it took some adjustments with some of them to make sure they printed properly. I purchased full label sheets (8.5x11) for any labels as I designed my own sizes to fit perfectly and used the same cardstock as our invite for our bag toppers and tags. I used pink cardstock for our pepto bag tops. Mug Tag-Pepto Bag Topper-Survival Kit Bag Topper-Welcome Tags.pptx Hand Sanitizer-Sewing Kits-Key Card Holder.pptx Lipchap labels-first aid kit-sewing kit.pptx

Well, I was going to wait to post these with my planning thread BUT since I found a lot of great price finds I thought I would share everything sooner than later so that my fellow brides can take advantage of the same great deals! There is nothing worse than seeing an OOT and loving the items but finding out they are 6+ months old!!! After convincing FI about OOTs and reading what feels like every OOT thread on this forum I finally was able to narrow down my list of what I wanted to put in them. When I came across the dollar tree totes on here I knew I HAD to have them and of course the Bubba Kegs for all our guests. As a Canadian bride a cross boarder shopping trip was needed to hunt down the infamous dollar tree totes and I was sure I was out of luck because they were sold out online and I had hear many brides tell me on here that their stores were sold out as well. Five dollar trees, asking 1 stranger, no lunch and a lot of persistence (thanks Mom!) I was able to track down 36 tote bags!!!!! The OOT Bag and contents Contents + shell soap (forgot it in the first pic oops!) Wedding Week Survival Kits "Too Much Booze, Too Much Sun, Too Much Food, Too Much Fun" Contents: -2 sheets pepto chewable tablets (in mini craft baggie with label top with medication information, dosage etc. on reverse) -4 shout wipes -1 2oz hand sanitizer (personalized label) -2 blistex chapsticks with SPF 15 -1 roll of Tums -1 tin mini altoids -2 gatorade individaul packs (may add 2 more if I can find them) -2 individual packed nail polish remover wipes -1 advil 10 ct -1 nail file ID Cases - was going to do the resealable badge holders with key coils but found these in the $1 bin at target. I just noticed the personalized insert isn't in this photo, I will post the template for it. "I take you, to have and to hold, my room key and my money, from beach chair to barstool, for soused or for sober, in heat and humidity, from this day forward, until I depart" Personalized items -First Aid Kit -Hand Sanitizer -Lip Chaps Travel Sewing Kits - with mini scissors, which I loved!!!! Bubba Mugs with tags - "To have and to Hold, To Keep Your Drink Cold" (front) "We hop you enjoy this Bubba Keg, to hold your drink and keep it cold while on the beach or by the pool. After our vacation in paradise is over, please take it home and enjoy using it for your hot beverages too! Whenever you use your Bubba Mug we hope you remember our wedding in paradise and know how much it means to us that you are able to join us for our special day!" (back) Bag Contents with price break down and where to buy Tote Bags -- Dollar Tree (US) -- $1.00 Shell Soap -- Dollarama (CDN) -- $2.00 for 6 -- $0.33 each Hand Sanitizer -- Big Lots (US) -- $1.50 for 4 -- $0.38 each Notebooks -- Big Lots (US) -- $2.00 for 8 -- $0.25 each Bic Pens -- Big Lots (US) -- $0.95 for 8 -- $0.12 Gatorade Singles -- Big Lots (US) -- $2.00 for 8 -- $0.25 each ID Cases -- Target (US) -- $1.00 Mini Altoids -- Target (US) -- $0.99 Advil 10ct -- Target (US) -- $1.97 Tums -- Walmart (US) -- $1.92 for 3 rolls -- $0.64 each Pepto Chewables -- Walmart/Target (US) -- $4.49 for 48 tablets (8 sheets) -- $0.56 each sheet Sewing Kit -- Michaels (US) -- $1.00 Nail File -- Everything for a Dollar Store (US) -- $1.00 for 10 -- $0.10 each Face Cloths -- Target (US) -- $3.49 for 8 -- $0.44 each Blistex SPF 15 -- Target (US) -- $0.84 Nail Polish Wipes -- Target (US) -- $2.69 for 10 -- $0.27 Shout Wipes -- Target (US) -- $2.69 for 12 -- $0.22 First Aid Kit (Johnson & Johnson) -- Target/Walmart (US) -- $0.97 Bubba Mug 18oz Tumbler -- Walmart (US) -- $4.98 Bubba Mug 32oz Mug -- Walmart (US) -- $6.22 I originally planned to do everything in our colours but when I found some great items in the US I decided that bright and tropical colours mixed would work just fine, also that way everyone wouldn't have the same colour bags, mugs etc. and there would be less confusion. Notebooks - mix of red, yellow, green and blue ID Cases - Mix of grey, pink, green and blue Altoids - Red (peppermint) Turquoise (wintermint) Tums - Mixed Berry, Citrus, Original Mint Sewing Kits - Pink, Green, Blue Blistex - Turquoise and Green Bubbas - Green, Turquoise and Black Tote Bags - Red, Yellow, Light Blue, Green, Pink We will be giving the large Bubba Mugs to our Wedding Party, BM and GM, Parents and ourselves! We were going to do the whole group in the large ones but they would be a lot harder to pack, the smaller ones will all fit in one suitcase easily and also will be able to be used at home for coffee etc. I added a few extra bandaids to each First Aid kit that I purchased at Big Lots Bandaid Brand 20 for $1.00! I like the Johnson and Johnson brand name kits but Dollarama here in Canada has great kits with a lot more pieces, alcohol wipes, gauze roll, tape roll etc that these do not have. We will be doing up a master first aid kit with other medications, and first aid supplies and I will be putting a small note in every kit that will let our guests know this so they can use anything should they need it. I will be purchasing plastic test tubes with lids that I will put some dish soap in and place inside every mug so our guests can wash them once we arrive in Punta Cana. Overview of some of our LOOT when I arrived home from Buffalo!! I think that is everything, if anyone has any questions let me know!!! I will post images of my tags and my templates in the next post!!!!!!

You are busy busy Leigh!!!!

Wow Jessica, everything looks beautiful. It looks like your day was perfect!!!!! enjoy your AHR!!!!!