agm04

Also, if it helps, I feel like I sort of ended up going "all out" on the bags and they're going to be about $25 each, including the price of the bag itself. I sewed my own bags and the bag itself (a beach bag) came out to about $5 each - I think you could find something niceish for that price. So it it helps to compare the $25 price tag to some kind of event, there you go!

Totally know what you mean! Makes sense to me.

Thank you! And yes, I did a lot of shopping around for the best price. It was like $78 for 100 or $82 for 200. Something crazy like that!

Here's a picture with some white and navy together. I still have 3 left to make, I think, and will have 18 total. Quite a project! But I do like them.

I'm really happy with how these turned out. They shipped really fast, and I only paid $82 total (free shipping) for 200 of them from www.discountmugs.com. I'm putting them in welcome bags and also having them out at our welcome happy hour the day before the wedding. (I couldn't find a single beer in our apt to pose in the pic!)

I think you should do whatever feels good to you. I ended up doing bags but struggled with the same decision. We're not going to an all inclusive resort, and most people will only be there for a long weekend, so there wasn't really time to schedule an excursion in addition to the welcome party/dinner, wedding, and brunch the next day. But I think either would be really nice and you should do whatever will make you feel the fuzziest when you look back on it!

I like those! Depending on where our rentals come out, I may skip the cocktail hour ones, too. It's just insane how much it all adds up. Make it stop! Haha.

We're doing the submerged calla lily ones, like this,but I think without the stones at the bottom and without the candle, and cylinder vases instead of square. The pricing comes as a cluster of 3 - I think they were quoted at $62.50 USD. I'll probably just do one in the center and one at each end of the table instead (we have rectangular 10 person tables). Does that sound like it will look weird? For the cocktail tables for cocktail hour, we're doing non floral centerpieces - just sand and shells in a vase. Those will be like $19 USD each, and I just refuse to spend any more than that! Maybe I'm cheap but it just seems crazy to spend so much on simple centerpieces.

I thought a LOT about favors, and loved the idea of scratch offs with a local coin, but FI thought it was cheesy. I couldn't come up with anything that I thought people would actually use, and I decided our budget was too maxed out to add something just for the sake of adding it. We're putting mini rum cakes in the welcome bags, and I thought about leaving those out and using as favors, but 1. I think they will clutter the table, 2. People will likely forget them (and definitely won't want to eat them after the big reception dinner). So we're just skipping the favor. I really wanted to make my own centerpieces, but the reality is that it's just not worth the minimal savings. Unless I'm going to haul vases to Grand Cayman, I still have to rent those, worry about them breaking, etc, and the savings on the other stuff just isn't worth it. I also realized I'm not going to want to be messing with things the day of. So - for those of you taking your own, more power to you! And I am a little sad I couldn't make it work. But didn't make sense for us.

I just picked up my invitations! Now, to put them together. Ahhh. I'm also almost finished getting everything for the OOT bags, except for the things I'll pick up there (like rum cakes).

haha yes - i really can't add to my list when i'm hungry, kind of like grocery shopping. i find my list looking ridiculously long.

I agree!

I think the vinyl stickers people generally use (from etsy or wherever) require heat to be removed, like from a hairdryer.

Oh in that case I agree with you, people can easily get what they need. Our condos have kitchens too, and I'm thinking I might throw a bag of microwave popcorn in each bag.

I get what you're saying but unless people are familiar with the area or a drugstore is within walking distance, I think at least some of the same things would apply? Meds, band aids, etc. That said, if you don't like that idea (which I get too!), here are some other things I'm including that you might like: personalized playing cards, gum/mints, koozies, you could still do the key card holder for taking to the beach and stuff. And i'm a big fan of making the bag a beach bag! Definitely agree that welcome letter, directions, and love the liquor bottle idea. I saw where someone did a voucher for a drink at their hotel pool bar (not an all inclusive, which i'm guessing yours isn't either) - also a cute idea. Good luck!

You look stunning!