Please help me decide what to do!!!

[gkashmira]

OK so here's the deal. I bought these palm fans and have tied ribbon on each of them (I tried to wrap the ribbon so it looked a little bouquet like). I also bought these place cards from Michael's along with little gerber daisy stickers that I'm going to put on them to spice them up.

 

 

So here's my dilemna:

 

Originally I was going to have these set-out on a table for guests to pick up as they go from the cocktail hour to the reception. Each would have their name on the outside and their table number on the inside.

 

But then I was thinking that the great thing about these fans in that it is going to be very hot in June and people can actually use the fans during the ceremony which is out on the sand at 6pm.

 

But then how do I have these given out before the ceremony? Do I trust people to hold onto them through the ceremony and cocktail hour and then remember to look inside them for their table assignment?

 

Or should I have these given out before the ceremony and simply write "Thank you" or something on them instead of people's names. Then I would use matching placecards for people to pick up as they go into the reception.

 

And lastly one of the reasons I got them is so they would look pretty at the place-settings. But if I do this then they can't be used as placecards OR fans... sort of defeats the purpose.

 

So here are the options:

 

1. Use as placecard to be picked up at reception - write names & tables on them and have people pick them up as they go to the reception site (around 7:30pm)

2. Use as placecard but hand them out as people arrive at ceremony

3. Use as a favor only - give out as people arrive at ceremony and have separate placecards

4. Use as decoration only - have set-out at place-settings

[CourtneyV]

I think the point in which the fans will get used the most in during the ceremony. That'll be the hottest point of the day - and at your reception it'll be getting dark and thus colder so guests might not use them as much... and you definately want to get your money's worth! But I think if you include the placecards on the fan people won't think to look, or won't acknowledge it come time of the reception.

[A10CalGal]

I vote that you give these out pre-ceremony so they can be used for what they are made to do - cool people off! I think your guests will appreciate that. They are very pretty, and people will probably end up setting them on the table anyway. Your photog can get a nice pic with them on a table setting to satisfy that part of it for you, yes?

[Jessalyn]

I agree. I'd hand them out before the ceremony. I'm doing something similar. I'm putting an open fan (mine are sandal wood fans) on each chair at the ceremony and a petal cone on top of it. If I were doing a program, I'd put the program on top of the fan.

 

I'm handing mine out this way, so people can use them while it is still warmer and brighter.

 

So, long answer If I were you I put a little thank you tag and do the place cards separately (coordinating).

[gkashmira]

If I hand them out as favors what should i write on them:

 

Thank you

Welcome

June 16, 2007

Los Cabos, Mexico

etc. etc.

 

 

Or should I do a combination of the above (write half with date, half with Los Cabos, etc. etc.)

[soulmates]

I agree, you should use them during the ceremony!

[Jessalyn]

Sarah had a cute phrase on hers....something about good friends and nice breezes...let me see if I can find it.

[ajncooter]

i agree the fans for the ceremony would be the best!

[Jessalyn]

here is the link to Sarah's http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t3567

[deleted]

I chose #3 because the usefulness of them in June would be more important as fans than as placecards. Now if your wedding was during the winter I might change my mind but June is hot! However, I don't think you need to write on them or have people's names on them. You can just have a basket of fans and hand them out? Then use those pretty name cards as your placecards?

 

PS LOVE what you did with the ribbon. So elegant!