Are OOTs a must? What are alternatives?

[Branya2012]

 

Originally Posted by bacha24 

I didn't know what OOT bags were either until I found this site!  I was onboard with the idea right away, but the fiancee wasn't too crazy about spending more money.  But in the end we decided that our guests have spent a bit of money to join us for the wedding so it is the least we can do to give them a little bag of goodies.  We also decided to have a get together prior to the trip so that we won't have to lug everything to Mexico.  We also decided we are doing 1 bag per room or family.  If there 2 single people sharing a room we would give them a bag each.  I have been obsessively reading the posts about OOT bags and decided get canvas tote bags (and iron on transfer our logo) so that they can use the bags when going to the pool or beach.  We also bought bubba kegs as we swear by bringing these to an all inclusive resort.  And I am currently researching prices for the other little items we can put in the bag so that I can be as frugal as possible.  I am still looking for ways to incorporate a map of the resort or a list of excursions they can take - not sure how to put that together just yet.....

 

Bubba kegs?

[jello]

Sometimes I feel like the only person on this board choosing not to do OOT bags.  Most of my guests are very seasoned travelers, and I think they would just laugh if I gave them a bag with basic necessities like sunscreen and tylenol.  ( I can totally see the value of it if your guests don't travel often, though!)  

 

Since we're not doing my wedding at an all-inclusive resort, we are planning to put together a map of the area for my guests with information like restaurants, activities, and driving directions from the airport.  We'll also include a nice welcome letter to say thanks for coming. 

 

As my fiancé says, "These are grown-ass people".    While I agree that it's important to show appreciation to your guests for traveling all the way to your DW, I don't think that appreciation necessarily has to come in the form of a OOT bag or even any physical gift.

 

Just wanted to share my two cents from a different point of view. 

[cinnagirl]

Jello, I might not do OOT bags as well. We're on a very tight budget and I can't justify the expenses of buying people things that they'll most likely have with them anyways, particularly in terms of over the counter drugs. Most of the people coming are regular travelers so I'm not too concerned with them forgetting anything. Or I might just do a welcome package with info on the resort, the area, excursions they can take, etc and then give everyone a bag. Based on all the OOT bag posts, it looks like the bags themselves were used the most. 

 

OR I might focus on giving my guests a really nice favour (which I wasn't going to do originally) like a nice leather luggage tag. Something they can use again and again. We'll see once the costs start rolling in. 

[DwBride2Be]

I'm with jello, When I travel I bring all that stuff, but I did see a really cool thing recently. They had a deck of cards and a welcome booklet and in the booklet the had instructions for different card games, some multiplayer and some 2 player. I am going to send their tickets out to the with the welcome booklet and cards so I don't have to lug it all there. The other thing I wonder about is that I deal with group vacations a lot in my line of work and if you get the bags delivered, what about the people who insist on changing rooms? Plus how do you know if someone didn't get theirs, surely they won't come to you and tell you because they didnt even know about it, they might just be a bit hurt. I know this happens as I've escorted groups and tried getting things delivered, it never goes perfectly. The best way is to hand them out yourself at a cocktail party, or dinner. That being said, I love the idea of snacks because there can ever be enough snacks in the room Just my 2 cents L

[cinnagirl]

The card game idea is awesome!! I might steal that idea.

Originally Posted by DwBride2Be 

I'm with jello, When I travel I bring all that stuff, but I did see a really cool thing recently. They had a deck of cards and a welcome booklet and in the booklet the had instructions for different card games, some multiplayer and some 2 player.
I am going to send their tickets out to the with the welcome booklet and cards so I don't have to lug it all there.
The other thing I wonder about is that I deal with group vacations a lot in my line of work and if you get the bags delivered, what about the people who insist on changing rooms? Plus how do you know if someone didn't get theirs, surely they won't come to you and tell you because they didnt even know about it, they might just be a bit hurt. I know this happens as I've escorted groups and tried getting things delivered, it never goes perfectly. The best way is to hand them out yourself at a cocktail party, or dinner.
That being said, I love the idea of snacks because there can ever be enough snacks in the room
Just my 2 cents
L

 

 

[LAtravelgirl]

I think OOT bags are a thank you to the guests for traveling to the wedding and for some at great expense. It is like saying wedding favors are not a requirement, but most wedding have them. I can't remember if it was The Knot's book on Destination Weddings or Emily Post's wedding etiquette book I read, but if you do the OOT bags, a wedding favor is not also required. We are doing both. Our favors are less "favors" and more "gifts" as there is nothing wedding-like about them. Our OOT bags will have a personalized tumbler with a lid and straw as we know this is a great thing to have at an all-inclusive. I have towel clips as I know how windy the beach is in The Bahamas. Playing cards as not everyone does beach activities. The first aid kits I think people give not only as some of the items might be overlooked when packing, but so it completes the vows "in sickness and in health" if the OOT bags are going with a vows theme.

[oblaka9]

I think they are a great idea, but I am not doing them. The very idea of toting 30 bags worth of stuff to Central America makes me want to hyperventilate. Instead we will have an informal dinner on the day of everybodys arrival so that the guests can start getting to know each other. We will also have a small bottle of local liqueur as a wedding favor. We'll purchase these at the same time we are buying the rest of the booze for the reception, and I'll just bring down some ribbon to make bows around the necks of the bottles.

[Dvhtu]

I didn't know what OOT bags were until I found this forum. I felt like OOT bag is a must since the guest actually spends lots of money to celebrate our wedding but I dont like the idea of having to carry all those extra things with me since we might have more than 50 guests. I am glad I found this thread - maybe I can just do a welcome booklet and a simple thank you gift instead of doing OOT bag.

[MissJali]

I think I like the idea of just doing the beach bags as most people always forget to pack one and it would be nice for everyone to see each other with the same beach bag that allows them to know who is a part of the wedding party and who isn't. There will be a few people on each side that don't know each other and this might be a good way to get convos started when they see each other at the pool or beach before the wedding.

[Kal520]

To all the people who said they are not doing oot bags I am right there with you, they are just an added expense and most of the time it's unnecessary stuff that people won't use. Though there are some things I think would be good such as bug spray (most people wouldn't think to bring this) but I just don't feel like lugging a bunch of junk to Mexico either. With that said, we are still debating on what to do as a larger gift in each room. We still want everyone to feel that we are grateful that they made such an effort to come. I looked into excursions, waaay too pricey from what I have seen so far but I only got different quotes from one company.  We want it to be something we find there locally so I think my anxiety will just have to continue over this until we are there and whatever it is we decide to buy is purchased!