trbutler

I was the same way, I went to Alfred Angelo and I looked at Bridesmaids Dresses, I actually ended up with this dress http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/Disney-Maidens/524/?pg=1it is part of their disney collection. They made it for me in white and I LOVED it! And it was only $200.

So I wanted to do something different for our Pre-Travel Packets so I had another bridge suggest that I take the luggage box idea that some brides were using for their invitation or save the date. So I went to work and started making the idea my own. I used the directions from @@MrsWeiss1211 post http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/61010-message-in-a-bottle-save-the-date-invitations-pictures-instructions-and-prices/ Let me tell you, these boxes take time, and what I added to them didn't make them cheap! So I knew from the beginning that the size @@MrsWeiss1211 used wasn't going to work for my project, so I searched high and low for the best box for my project. This is what I ended up with - http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/StaplesProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=379584&cid=EM:ORDCONFRM::SKU Yes, they are white, I folded them backwards so the brown would be showing. As far as the rest of the supplies, I used what was in the original post. So inside I added: Luggage Tags Trial Size Bath & Body Works Endless Weekend - Body Wash & Body Cream http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=26693436&cm_sp=FO-_-Body+%26+Bath-_-3+for+%2412+Travel+Body+Care&cp=12586965.12587138 Trial Size Sunscreen Aruba Tourism Information - I contacted the Aruba Tourism Bureau in the USA and they shipped out some info with a map of Aruba Pre Travel Info Package (templates are below) Since I had a few single guys coming I didn't think they would like the Endless Weekend from B&BW so I got them the Ocean for Men http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23437866&cm_vc=200 These were also the talk of the town! I had several guests post them on Facebook when they received them on their doorstep. I hand delivered as many as possible and the rest I sent via USPS. I have also attached the template from my Pre Travel Info Sheet Pre Travel Packet - Print (2).pub Hope you enjoy!

I really wavered back and forth if I was going to do chair sashes, I thought you know I could spend the money on something else. But I am so glad I decided to do them, it just added such a nice touch to the ceremony. I got a tremendous deal for www.linentablecloth.com, they had a 40% off sale, PLUS free shipping! I got 40 organza sashes for $16.58! I added some starfish to half the chairs to pull together the theme of the wedding. I glued these pins http://www.michaels.com/bead-landing-bar-pin-1-inch/M10443180.html?dwvar_M10443180_color=Gold#q=bar+pins&start=1to 3" starfish.

I didn't hear anything bad about it, but I have heard some brides on here say they didn't want to do it. I think you need to know your guests, but some of the drugs are so expensive in individual packets.

@@acw271011 I shopped with coupons, but here is some ideas: Small pouches of Kleenex Gum/Mentos/Tic Tacs - I would look for them on sale at walgreens, CVS, etc - or I would go to Costco Aloe - I bought a large bottle at Christmas Tree Shop & Got empty bottles at DollarTree and added labels Small tube of sunscreen - Target 97¢ Shout Wipes - Target 15¢ - they had some crazy sale going on Ibuprofen - http://www.amazon.com/Medifirst-Ibuprofen-Tablets-Compare-Advil/dp/B0006GDBXQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435090437&sr=8-1&keywords=ibuprofen+packets Aleve - I bought a big bottle and put in the small pouches Pepto - I bought it at Christmas Tree Shop and put a strip in each bag Zantac - I bought a big bottle when it was on sale and put in pouches Rolaids - Christmas Tree Shops Chap Stick w/ SPF - Christmas Tree Shops in a 4 pack Imodium - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008ATM5ZQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s02 Off Wipes - Walgreens they were one sale and I had a coupon Safety Pins Emery Board - Christmas Tree Shop B&BW Hand Sanitizer - During an annual sale with a coupon

@@TheBHolders this is where I got them https://www.bgpaper.com/Details.asp?Product=23ZLthey are a local store for me, so I didn't pay shipping. But I am sure you can google this size bag or if you have a local paper supply place (more on the commerical side (Not PartyCity) they may have them. I got these from another past bride. Here is her post with the template http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/65045-my-oot-bags-are-done-tons-of-pictures-a-template-emstypes/ I got them at Walgreens they come in a pack of 12. http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/deep-woods-off!-insect-repellent-towelettes/ID=prod6028493-product To answer your questions @@FutureMrsReed, I spent about $30 per bag. I had $9 in bocca clips, which really increased the price. I also only had to do 20 bags, so that helped a lot. My best advice is to start buying things now and during sales. For example twice a year Bath & Body Works does a sale, check out what they have. I also would search for coupons that I could print and help save some dollars. I kept a spreadsheet with what I was spending and budgeted to make sure that it was practical purchases when I bought something. Hope this helps! Also, the folders I used for my welcome letters were left over from my wedding invitations. Here are some of the items included in the welcome packet: Wedding Welcome Letter 2.pub Wedding Itinerary 2.pub

Okay here is the rest: Snack Bags These were a hit also, people loved these after getting back to their room from drinking, hanging at the beach, etc. I simply bought gallon size ziptop bags from Dollar Tree and filled with: Snack Size bags of Asst. Nuts - Costco Small Cans of Pringles - Costco Cracker Packets Theater Size Candy - Starburst, Twizzlers, Swedish Fish, Mike & Ikes, etc Granola bars Boca Clips These were a HIT! People loved these, after they figured out they weren't chips clips! They aren't cheap, but well worth it. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/boca-towel-clips-trade-set-of-2/113349?Keyword=bocca+clip Other Items Sewing Kits from Micheals Pashmina - AC Moore Yankee Tins Loofa ID Holder for room key, money, and ID Welcome Letter - this also included an itinerary and other important tips and info Balashi Beer - local beer in Aruba Aruba Tourism info we got from the hotel lobby And here is the finished product.

I must apologize for the delay in getting these posted, but better late than never, right? I wanted to share, because this forum was such a huge part of making our destination wedding a hit! Our OOT bags were a HUGE hit! 6 months later and people still talk about them! When putting together our gift bags I tried to be practical and include useful items, our wedding wasn't at an all inclusive so I didn't add any cups, etc. The Bag I looked forever for the perfect bag, and this was my final decision, and I was thrilled with my choice. It had all the features I wanted, a bag that zipped closed, had an inside pocket with zipper and it also has an exterior storage area with a pocket. I am lucky because my mom has an embroidery business so so did the embroidery for me for FREE! I wanted to my bags to be used after the wedding, so we didn't include a date or our names and just put a seashell & Aruba on each of the bags. Here is the link: http://www.thedealrack.com/gemline-tote-bag-g1510-utility.htmlThe great thing about Deal Rack is they offer free shipping on any order over $50. Like I said, everyone loved the quality of the bag, many of our guests would be out and other people at the resort would ask "Where did you get that bag?" I probably could have sold some Wedding Survival Kit These were a lot of fun to put together, I bought ziptop bags from Dollar Tree & printed my toppers from a template I got on here. I would suggest buying these items a little at a time, when things are on sale, it helps that wallet a lot this way!The kits included: Small pouches of KleenexGum/Mentos Tic Tacs Aloe Small tube of sunscreen Shout Wipes Ibuprofen Aleve Pepto Zantac Rolaids Chap Stick w/ SPF Imodium Off Wipes Safety Pins Emery Board B&BW Hand Sanitizer Also, I the price for Zantac and Aleve was crazy prices in individual packets so I made these:

We take food all the time to Aruba and never have an issue, so I'm packing it in our suitcases.

I am including luggage tags, travel info, webpics card, and Endless Weekend items from Bath & Body Works. I also received some island maps and tourism flyers from the Aruba tourism board.

When are you/did you send your Pre-Travel Packages? We are getting married on December 13 and want to get the pre-travel packages sent before the holiday season sets in. I was thinking about sending them out around the 1st of November so about 5-6 weeks before the wedding, is this too early?

In my OOT bags I am including several snacks and was wondering if most people are just putting them in lose or packaging them together some how. This is what I am including in mine: 2 oz Snack Nuts from Costco http://www2.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11300083&whse=BD_823&Ne=4000000&eCat=BD_823|9894|75630&N=4047545&Mo=37&No=1&Nr=P_CatalogName:BD_823&cat=75763&lang=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=bdoff Chewy Granola Bars http://www2.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11899433&whse=BD_823&Ne=4000000&eCat=BD_823|9894&N=4054951&Mo=12&No=3&Nr=P_CatalogName:BD_823&cat=95188&lang=en-US&Sp=C&hierPath=9894*75763*&topnav=bdoff 1.3 oz Pringles Candy (one of the following: Theater size Mike & Ike, Twizzlers, Swedish Fish) Lance Crackers http://www.webstaurantstore.com/lance-8-count-captains-wafers-sandwich-cracker-variety-pack/999900247.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleShopping&gclid=CjwKEAjwns6hBRDTpb_jkbTv1UYSJACBhber1GJJGXFvVgwNJZZP1qbHcIJvEHgqb4mAooc4yiehrxoCIBXw_wcB Any suggestions would be great!

I'm interested in the pink wrist coils, starfish and seashells.

I am planning on getting koozies for our OOT bags, any suggestions on where to get them? I was going to get them from totallyweddingkoozies.com but read ALOT of bad reviews about them.

Is this what you are looking for? http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/76761-my-diy-pocketfold-invitations/ I can post my templates if that helps.

Target has small tubes of Banana Boat for .99.

We aren't having attendants either, this is both of our second marriages so it just makes it MUCH easier!

I have heard of more brides doing this. But most go to a specific store, maybe a David's or Alfred Angelo and pick out the color they want. Then have the BM pick the style that meets their body type. Some Bride's say it doesn't matter the length, some specify short or long, that is your choice. Hope this helps!

I am looking for an easy way for guests to add their own pictures to a general location that everyone can see them. This seemed like an easy and affordable (it is FREE) way to do it, but was looking for some advice for others. Thanks!

I printed mine at home on my inkjet printer and they turned out GREAT! Just make sure your settings give the best print, if you print on draft they won't look as nice. I have a setting on my HP on advanced settings for maximum DPI.

This really depends, are you having bridesmaids? If so start looking for bridesmaids gifts. How much is included in your package? Do you need centerpieces, flowers, decor, chair sashes, etc.?

Any more opinions?

@@MissJen3 You will get there! I got mine by going to the Newbie section and posting a post about the number of post left to go. I just kept posting on these to get me to 150. Good luck!

I am looking at a couple of designs, what do you ladies think? Option #1 Option #2 (this just is in a different color) Option #3 What are your thoughts? Or if you think yours is better, please share.