OOT Bags for 100+ Guests- What to do?

[JennyBenz]

So I have been seeing so many amazing DIY OOT bags from you all!! This was the one project I've been most excited to get started on. But, reality and my FI chimed in saying how in the world are we going to carry OOT bags for 100+ guests down to Mexico?!

As much as I love the "Oh Sh*t Kits" and "in sickness & in health" bags, my FI doesn't feel it's a necessity, and it would add a ton of weight to our many bags we'll be bringing with us. So I'm back to square one.

Help this confused girl out please 

 

-We have mostly families & couples going. But for our single friends rooming together, can we still get away with one bag per room?

 

-We're thinking of ditching the custom-made tote bags for plain old colored craft bags. I went to a DW where they used them and handmade a cute little hang tag to go on the outside, it was super cute!

 

-Instead of lugging down a million travel size toiletries, first aid supplies, etc. we were thinking of just taking a trip into town to buy everything. We'll be there almost a week prior to our wedding, so it gives us time before we hand them out at our welcome party. I also hear you can score some really awesome deals in the markets down there, and always haggle for a better price!

 

Here's what I'm thinking of buying down there, so it's a real deal "welcome bag" from Mexico!

   *Mini tequila or liquor bottles

   *Maracas

   *Snacks from local suppliers in the market

   *Postcards, possibly with postage so they can keep or send

     - OR - Maybe address to us and have them send a favorite memory or well wishes ???

   *Booklets of various excursions, and contact info for the agent at the resort [wonder if I can get this ahead of time?]

   *Some snorkeling & swimming accessories for the kids in the group

   *Our welcome letter with itinerary, contact info, & map of locations for the day of the wedding

 

Any suggestions?

Thanks ladies!!

 

 

[2012mrstobe]

Whew! You made my head spin with the thought of trying to prepare 100+ OOT bags for guests!

 

But I think you are headed in the right direction by giving your guests an OOT bag with a true Mexico feel. The items you suggested are very good ideas. If you use the kraft bags, you can vary the color of the bags and the tissues to tie your wedding colors in (as well as making sure the hang tags incorporate your logo and your colors). As far as the bags, you can find them as fancy (with handles) or plain as you want them.

 

It will be so much easier to wait until you get to Mexico and go into town to purchase those things since that will be an awful lot to carry over there.

 

We only have 14 bags to prepare and although I put a personal touch on a lot of the items in the bag (first aid kit, room key holders, sewing kits, etc.) I will still be purchasing rum when we get to Jamaica as well as some local snacks to put in the bags.

[JennyBenz]

That's what I thought, if I spruce up the bags it would be so much easier to travel with!

And yes, once we realized how much it would actually be to bring down there, we passed on the extra 10 suitcases LOL

Thanks =)

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2012mrstobe 

Whew! You made my head spin with the thought of trying to prepare 100+ OOT bags for guests!

 

But I think you are headed in the right direction by giving your guests an OOT bag with a true Mexico feel. The items you suggested are very good ideas. If you use the kraft bags, you can vary the color of the bags and the tissues to tie your wedding colors in (as well as making sure the hang tags incorporate your logo and your colors). As far as the bags, you can find them as fancy (with handles) or plain as you want them.

 

It will be so much easier to wait until you get to Mexico and go into town to purchase those things since that will be an awful lot to carry over there.

 

We only have 14 bags to prepare and although I put a personal touch on a lot of the items in the bag (first aid kit, room key holders, sewing kits, etc.) I will still be purchasing rum when we get to Jamaica as well as some local snacks to put in the bags.

[soonCB]

Another option for avoiding bringing everything down you could give people the welcome bags at the airport before the flight (I guess this would only really work if most of your guests are traveling from the same place).

 

My other suggestion would be to try to order some of the stuff before you go down to ensure that there is enough. Perhaps they could deliver to the hotel? I would just hate to plan to buy everything when at the destination and them not have the quantity you need. I am sure you can find a local vendors as Mexico is a popular wedding destination. Perhaps ask the wedding coordinator for suggestions?

 

I think you have a great start with the items you plan to include. A great and easy personal touch is to print off personalised labels or tags to attach to some of the items. I really like the idea of addressing the post cards for people to send you well wishes or even to use like a guest book.

 

Originally Posted by 2012mrstobe 

Whew! You made my head spin with the thought of trying to prepare 100+ OOT bags for guests!

 

But I think you are headed in the right direction by giving your guests an OOT bag with a true Mexico feel. The items you suggested are very good ideas. If you use the kraft bags, you can vary the color of the bags and the tissues to tie your wedding colors in (as well as making sure the hang tags incorporate your logo and your colors). As far as the bags, you can find them as fancy (with handles) or plain as you want them.

 

It will be so much easier to wait until you get to Mexico and go into town to purchase those things since that will be an awful lot to carry over there.

 

We only have 14 bags to prepare and although I put a personal touch on a lot of the items in the bag (first aid kit, room key holders, sewing kits, etc.) I will still be purchasing rum when we get to Jamaica as well as some local snacks to put in the bags.

[JennyBenz]

Hi soonCB! Thanks for the advice =) You're right, it will be a big chance of going down there in hopes the markets have enough qty. to fulfill our needs.

That's actually a great idea, to call ahead and order some things to pick up. Unfortunately, the resort wants nothing to do with outside vendos, so even if there's a delivery to the lobby, they'll want to charge us an "outside" vendor fee [$800!!]. But I will definitely check to see if I can perhaps call some stores in the market ahead of time and see if we can do a bulk special order.

I'm sure someone will be willing to negotiate a very good price for all the stuff we plan on buying =)

Yes I do want to print a bunch of personalized tags & stickers to put on some of the items. I think that's a good way to add a personal touch, and won't take up much space in our luggage =)

 

Thanks again!!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by soonCB 

Another option for avoiding bringing everything down you could give people the welcome bags at the airport before the flight (I guess this would only really work if most of your guests are traveling from the same place).

 

My other suggestion would be to try to order some of the stuff before you go down to ensure that there is enough. Perhaps they could deliver to the hotel? I would just hate to plan to buy everything when at the destination and them not have the quantity you need. I am sure you can find a local vendors as Mexico is a popular wedding destination. Perhaps ask the wedding coordinator for suggestions?

 

I think you have a great start with the items you plan to include. A great and easy personal touch is to print off personalised labels or tags to attach to some of the items. I really like the idea of addressing the post cards for people to send you well wishes or even to use like a guest book.

 

[agm04]

I'm having major anxiety about the same thing!  We originally thought we'd have 60-70 guests and would need about 35 bags (one per couple, family, or single person), so I set out to sew beach bags for my entire group (almost done with 36).  Then FI and his family FINALLY got me their guest list, and between that, some people we thought wouldn't go saying they're in, and my parents deciding to add a couple here and there, we're now up to excpecting 98 and needing 55 bags.  Sooo I ordered a ton of new supplies to make more bags and now I'm flipping about how I'm going to get everything there.  I gave up on getting bubba tumblers bc I think FI would call off the wedding if I made him help me lug those to Cayman.

 

Anyway, my point is that had I know how many we'd need, I would have done a gift bag kind of thing instead of a beach bag.  I think that's totally fine.  People will love them no matter how they're presented.

[Ryves]

Instead of an  OOT bag we are planning on giving our guests a memorable experience at the Steakhouse onboard the Carnival liberty. Its going to cost us about $35. person but it will eleminate the load to travel with.

[Tulumbride2013]

I like the gift bag idea as well. You could do a cute little natural colored one with you location printed on it. Then you could include the welcome letter, and give everyone resort gifts certificates, if your resort does that. They could get massages, go on a snorkeling excursion..ect. Or pay or the group to take an outting excursion to one of the ruins or a cruise or something. Bet you could get a Big group discount!

[JennyBenz]

Hi AGM!

I'm glad to see someone is encountering the same issue as us LOL I don't want to expect less when I feel like I'd be setting myself up for disaster. Our RSVP's aren't due until January, but I was tthinking that we are sending out invites in October, and those who definitiely aren't going will most likely send them back right away. So that will hel pus get a better idea until the last day to RSVP. I loved the idea of the tumblers & so many other fun things like maracas, but to lug it all down there, we'd need 10 luggages alone! Thanks for the advice =)

Originally Posted by agm04 

I'm having major anxiety about the same thing!  We originally thought we'd have 60-70 guests and would need about 35 bags (one per couple, family, or single person), so I set out to sew beach bags for my entire group (almost done with 36).  Then FI and his family FINALLY got me their guest list, and between that, some people we thought wouldn't go saying they're in, and my parents deciding to add a couple here and there, we're now up to excpecting 98 and needing 55 bags.  Sooo I ordered a ton of new supplies to make more bags and now I'm flipping about how I'm going to get everything there.  I gave up on getting bubba tumblers bc I think FI would call off the wedding if I made him help me lug those to Cayman.

 

Anyway, my point is that had I know how many we'd need, I would have done a gift bag kind of thing instead of a beach bag.  I think that's totally fine.  People will love them no matter how they're presented.

Hi Ryves!

That's a great idea! How many guests are you expecting? We were thinking of doing an excursion, but that would be too last minute planning who's coming, who's not and when/where to go. So we'll probably stick with welcome bags or an onsite dinner/gathering. Thanks!!

Originally Posted by Ryves 

Instead of an  OOT bag we are planning on giving our guests a memorable experience at the Steakhouse onboard the Carnival liberty. Its going to cost us about $35. person but it will eleminate the load to travel with.

Thanks Tulumbride! I wish we could do an excurson with all of our guests, but in Mexico they can get pretty expensive, especially for 80-100 people =(

We are taking our wedding party out though on an excursion as part of our thank you gift =)

 

Originally Posted by Tulumbride2013 

I like the gift bag idea as well. You could do a cute little natural colored one with you location printed on it. Then you could include the welcome letter, and give everyone resort gifts certificates, if your resort does that. They could get massages, go on a snorkeling excursion..ect. Or pay or the group to take an outting excursion to one of the ruins or a cruise or something. Bet you could get a Big group discount!

[DestinationGirl]

I also am very worried about how to get all the OOT stuff to our destination. But it's definetly something I want to do for our guests! I will try to get the help of our parents and have everyone put a little bit of the stuff in their luggage/carry-on. Hopefully that will alleviate the load!