My OOT Bags~ the big hits and the things that weren't used

[Billandstina]

Yes we're facing the same issues...we figured we'd pass then all out at our welcome dinner Friday night but it seems most people will be arriving the same day as us (which means more than ever that I don't want to be holed up in my room assembling bags! Lol) but our resort wants $7 (you read that right) a bag to deliver them to the room!!!! At 30 bags that's not happening! I wish I could have some already put together so I can just give it to those arriving at the airport at the same time as us in Cancun but I know that's not going to happen! Lol

[agm04]

I have our medicine kits assembled already, but the only "liquid" is a travel sized aloe, and that's thick enough that I'm not worried about explosions.  The rest of the back shouldn't be *too* much of an assembly project, although I know it will take longer than I think.  My plan upon arrival:

 

- go to grocery store (across the street from our hotel), buy water and popcorn/other snacks

- go pick up rum cakes (also going in bags, also across the street)

- go back to hotel and ask my family to help me assemble - there will be enough of us that I think we can knock it out pretty quickly.

- deliver late afternoon to people at pool/beach/in their villas to people who are already there, and give the rest to the hotel to deliver as people check in.  We're staying in 3 bedroom villas, so one stop covers a lot of people.  For people staying off property, we'll either make a special delivery or just give them out at our Friday welcome happy hour.

 

There aren't that many loose items to add since the medicine kits are done - koozies, playing cards, schedule of events, rum cakes, photo share card, key holders, and whatever snacks we end up with.  One person can be in charge of snacks, one in charge of paper (maybe also attaching the card that has the name of who is getting the bag?), one in charge of koozies...you get the idea.

 

Wow.  I can't believe I just thought/talked about OOT bag assembly that extensively.  Is there a way you can assemble everything except the liquid so you just have to toss those in?

[Billandstina]

I'm thinking that's what's going to have to happen so that we can power through it as soon as we get there! Plus I'm hoping to get meeting my WC out of the way as soon as possible so that I can enjoy time with everyone who's travelled half way around the world to be there! I know I'm going to need a vacation after this "vacation"...too bad we're only there for a week then back here for an AHR without a honeymoon...lol

[alexisinjamaica]

Originally Posted by Billandstina 

 

Yes we're facing the same issues...we figured we'd pass then all out at our welcome dinner Friday night but it seems most people will be arriving the same day as us (which means more than ever that I don't want to be holed up in my room assembling bags! Lol) but our resort wants $7 (you read that right) a bag to deliver them to the room!!!! At 30 bags that's not happening! I wish I could have some already put together so I can just give it to those arriving at the airport at the same time as us in Cancun but I know that's not going to happen! Lol

 

Exactly-- I don't want to be in the room putting bags together when everyone is drinking by the pool! I can't believe your resort charges $7/bag. I thought $4 was bad. We will have about 30 bags too so I think I'm leaning towards sucking it up and paying $120 just so I don't have to worry about tracking people down individually or them not getting the bags until 2 or 3 days after arriving. But I won't be happy about it! Haha.

[Billandstina]

Yes I think that's what it's going to come down to as well! In theory I would love to greet everyone as they arrive as some brides do but I selfishly don't want to spend the entire time in the lobby when I could mingling with people in the sun! I think a good chunk of our guests are arriving with us (not so sure how I feel about that as I had hoped they'd arrive the day after so we could get everything done before they got there) so maybe I will be able to greet everyone! We'll see I guess when my TA let's me know when everyone arrives!

[agm04]

Originally Posted by Billandstina 

 

Yes I think that's what it's going to come down to as well! In theory I would love to greet everyone as they arrive as some brides do but I selfishly don't want to spend the entire time in the lobby when I could mingling with people in the sun! I think a good chunk of our guests are arriving with us (not so sure how I feel about that as I had hoped they'd arrive the day after so we could get everything done before they got there) so maybe I will be able to greet everyone! We'll see I guess when my TA let's me know when everyone arrives!

We'll have a lot of people traveling with us too.  I also wanted to have a day of prep but oh well!  I guess one of the few up sides to not being at an AI is that we're leaving and going to a different hotel after the wedding.  We'll still see people for brunch the next day, but after that, it's a week of honeymoon even if people are staying on the island.

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by alexisinjamaica 

 

 

Exactly-- I don't want to be in the room putting bags together when everyone is drinking by the pool! I can't believe your resort charges $7/bag. I thought $4 was bad. We will have about 30 bags too so I think I'm leaning towards sucking it up and paying $120 just so I don't have to worry about tracking people down individually or them not getting the bags until 2 or 3 days after arriving. But I won't be happy about it! Haha.

Why don't you do a Welcome Mixer at the lobby bar or something and hand them out there? Paying money to have them pass the bags out makes my stomach turn! That's money you could be spending on a fun activity or a nice dinner on the beach! Also, if you have bridesmaids and groomsmen put them to work. Divide and conquer have each person take a few bags and be done with it. You should save your hard earned money and do something fun with it...don't pay the resort more than you already are when you have so many people there to help!

[Billandstina]

Agreed! We'd be looking at spending about $210 to have them pass the bags out...ummm not happening! That's an extra hour of having a DJ! It really infuriates me when I know that my group will be bringing the property over $55,000 worth if rooms!! The least they could do is distribute the bags! But venting over...lol! We're not having any bridesmaids or groomsmen so I'm liking your idea for those of my guests who arrive the Wednesday with us...maybe I'll arrange am informal cocktail hour that night!

[alexisinjamaica]

Originally Posted by melnryluvco 

 

Why don't you do a Welcome Mixer at the lobby bar or something and hand them out there? Paying money to have them pass the bags out makes my stomach turn! That's money you could be spending on a fun activity or a nice dinner on the beach! Also, if you have bridesmaids and groomsmen put them to work. Divide and conquer have each person take a few bags and be done with it. You should save your hard earned money and do something fun with it...don't pay the resort more than you already are when you have so many people there to help!

 

Good idea! But...a welcome mixer is sort of the same problem as the bonfire-- some people are coming in on Wednesday, but only a handful. Then some on Thursday and everyone else on Friday, so unless I planned to meet people in the lobby each night, they'd be given out over the course of a few days. Which I guess isn't the worst thing in the world. We are only having a MOH and BM, but I like the idea of putting them to work.

[melnryluvco]

Originally Posted by Billandstina 

 

Agreed! We'd be looking at spending about $210 to have them pass the bags out...ummm not happening! That's an extra hour of having a DJ! It really infuriates me when I know that my group will be bringing the property over $55,000 worth if rooms!! The least they could do is distribute the bags! But venting over...lol! We're not having any bridesmaids or groomsmen so I'm liking your idea for those of my guests who arrive the Wednesday with us...maybe I'll arrange am informal cocktail hour that night!

 

I totally agree about the money we're brining in for the resort. Honestly, for that price I would say only if they would have shopped, bought and assembled all the stuff would I consider paying that kind of money.

 

Originally Posted by alexisinjamaica 

 

 

Good idea! But...a welcome mixer is sort of the same problem as the bonfire-- some people are coming in on Wednesday, but only a handful. Then some on Thursday and everyone else on Friday, so unless I planned to meet people in the lobby each night, they'd be given out over the course of a few days. Which I guess isn't the worst thing in the world. We are only having a MOH and BM, but I like the idea of putting them to work.

You could find out the times your guests are to be arriving a meet them after they check in at the pool or lobby or whatever. Or just do it at dinner each night. I say you save that money and get yourself a massage!