Out of Town bags/Hotels - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

breezy · #1 05-20-2006, 01:34 AM

We are having a small wedding, but over half of the guest are from OOT (out of town). Due to it being small we found that the best deals were AAA discounts not a group discount. I have posted several hotels on our "wed"page for guest info.

I have OOT bags for guest, but won't necissarily know what hotle they are staying in. Would it be OK to send a request with our invites (more casual than formal) asking for the name of the hotel they are staying in so that I could drop off their OOT bags?

If not what ideas do you have as to how to get that info???

TIA

Robyn Lynn · #2 05-20-2006, 01:38 AM

Well, I put it on my website("let me know where you are staying because I have something for you"), but I only have a few coming from OOT so it is easy to find out where they are staying.

On that note..... will the hotel let you leave the bags for them before they get there?

ljeagle · #3 05-20-2006, 01:46 AM

I think it sounds fine with putting a note with your invites. If they all have the web then maybe u could just put it on the web. For the ones that don't tell u I would give them a call a few weeks ahead of time and ask.

Steph · #4 05-20-2006, 02:32 AM

I am curious. What is in an OOT bag?

maroki13 · #5 05-20-2006, 02:54 AM

Quote:

I am curious. What is in an OOT bag?

It is sort of like a 'welcome' bag to guests who are coming from out of town. It can contain anything the bride and groom want...maps, small gifts, ideas of things to do around town, memorabilia, a personalized note. Some people leave them at the hotels for their guests to get when they check in; others may be able to leave the bags inside the hotel rooms.

breezy · #6 05-20-2006, 07:05 PM

maroki13 got it. It's just a nice guesture for guest that have traveled a ways to help you celebrate.

We are hoping to leave them in the rooms prior to their arrival as a nice surprise and hopefully give them something to relax with. If not the front desk can give them out at check in.

We are including some beachy theme stuff like sunglasses, flip flop shaped gummies, flip flop themed hardback writing notebooks, flip flop shaped playing cards. We are also including message in a bottle candies that have a cute scroll at the top... we will write a note on them each. Magnetic travel games, heart shaped mazes, fresh homecooked cookies (from a mix... I'm not crazy enough to try to make home-made cookies right before the wedding

) and perhaps some other snacks. An orange (because the wedding is taking place in ORANGE County

) We'll also have maps, a welcome letter with additional information (like good eats, shopping, pharmacy and stores for forgotten items, and phone #'s) They are all going in a HUGE heavy canvas type bag.

For a few we will probably include plastic wine glasses and a bottle of wine. Others a 6 pack of beer

Those that have kids, we are including more kid oriented stuff, frisbees, beach balls, shovels and pails for the beach. A few stuffed animals, kid sunglasses, water guns and bubbles.

There are some pics in my checklist thread
http://www.pashweddings.com/weddingf...ead.php?t=2390

Is this another of those regional things?

PlanetClaire · #7 05-20-2006, 11:06 PM

OMG- that is awesome!!!

I think it is perfectly acceptable to let everyone know that you need to know where they are staying- you could always use an excuse like needing to know if plans change etc...without blowing the surprise that you have the gifties for them.

I'd call them even- just to say hi, thank them for travelling to the wedding etc...

I want a bag!!!!

Heather · #8 05-21-2006, 01:45 AM

We did bags too, but not that elaborate, and we only had 2 hotels that we blocked rooms at. If a guest didn't stay at either one, then they didn't get a bag, lol. Ours had: chocolates, snack mix, bottled water, candy, a scroll with places of interest in the area, directions to a mall, a list of who was staying in which room and little wrapped bags of potpourri. (I think...) Steph did you stay at The Franklin Plaza? I can't remember everything in them.

I think it's okay to ask them. Once you know where everyone is staying, you could just call the hotel(s) and explain the situation. Gift bags like this are becoming more and more common and you'll simply be able to drop them off. I would ask them to put them in the room before the guests arrive though. It's an even nicer suprise when they walk in and see it.

Robyn Lynn · #9 05-21-2006, 01:55 AM

Breezy, you put my bags to shame

Just kidding. I'm stealing the orange idea as I live in Florida!!!

Mine have -- Bottle of Zephyrhills water (which is actually bottled in Connecticut, but there is a town north of here by that name) with a tag on it that says "thank you for sharing our special day", Florida keychain, silly Florida postcards, mini yo-yo, bag of candies and little toys, Mickey Mouse lollipop, shower cap (motels/hotels never have them!!) and a thank you note. They are in gift bags I bought at the dollar store.

I actually got the idea for the bags on this website. Thanks!!!

labeadel · #10 05-21-2006, 09:05 AM

Thankfully all of our guests stayed at only 2 different hotels, so we didn't have to worry too much about it. Be prepared though to tip the concierge guy or the head bellboy to hold onto the bags to place in the room for you. The guy at one of the hotels didn't seem to pleased about doing it until we slipped him a five. anyway, we were around the hotel that most people stayed at since we were getting married there also that we hand delivered most of the bags.

breezy · #11 05-21-2006, 05:07 PM

I think there will only be 3 hotels. 2 of them are on the same campus literally next door to each other.

Robyn I love some of your ideas for the bags

Thanks for the tip on tipping

My oldest brother and his fiance will probably not even notice them... they are breezing into town and then out on the town for the night. She is a HUGE Yankees fan and even flies up to NY (her home state) from FL for games. As luck would have it there is a game the Friday night here against the Angels.

My brother called to see if there was anything important going on, but I told him to get the tix and GOOOO!!!!! She will be so excited.

Jacqueline · #12 05-21-2006, 05:48 PM

the uk dont do OOT bags that and most of my OOT guest are staying in a scout campsite in tents which they love

but i cant see why it would be rude to do so if you say you have something for them along side most people would be happy to let you know

autumnwillow · #13 06-01-2006, 12:47 AM

That sounds acceptable to me

Steph · #14 06-01-2006, 02:01 AM

Heather I didn't stay at the Franklin. I ended up at the Holiday Inn with Neil. He was there for the Coroner's convention.

Heather · #15 06-01-2006, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steph

Heather I didn't stay at the Franklin. I ended up at the Holiday Inn with Neil. He was there for the Coroner's convention.

LOL! So that's why you don't know what an OOT welcome bag is. You would have gotten one if it weren't for Neil!

(Have you talked with him lately?)

Steph · #16 06-01-2006, 07:12 AM

I called him the other day but he never called me back. He is weird like that. haha.

Kim&Bob2004 · #17 06-01-2006, 03:31 PM

I wanted to do OOT bags but ran out of time (ROT!

). I would think it was really cool to show up at a wedding where the couple had taken the time to do that though! Great ideas!

BTW, we have a OOT basket for guests, so that might be an idea to use when you are setting up your home????? we have shampoo, tooth brushes, tooth paste, deodorant, etc in it. Things you might forget at home.....

DragonYoga · #18 06-01-2006, 04:17 PM

OOOO those OOT bags sound like a fantastic idea!!! I'll have some OOT guests in my wedding... hmmm...

Lizbet · #19 06-01-2006, 04:22 PM

My parents did this for our OOT guests. They included some tourist info, a few snacks and bottled waters, and travel games for the guests with kids.

555Ann555 · #20 06-01-2006, 04:33 PM

I think it is a really cool idea!

And you could probably rope someone else into doing it for you, it isn;t the kind of thing that only the bride could sort out... Same goes with the emergency kits, I got my MOH to make mine!