OOT Guest Gift baskets - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

Julz518 · #1 04-09-2007, 02:45 PM

I was just curious, how many of you made up gift baskets or gave gifts to your out-of-town guests? Why did you decide to/not to do that?

If you did, how many OOT guests did you have, what did you put in the baskets, and about how much did you spend (per basket)? Did you try to personalize them in any way (e.g. if you know they have kids, did you put in "extra" stuff for the kids?). And how receptive was your hotel to giving them out?

I've only been to a few weddings that did this, and I thought it was a really nice touch... but I'm a little worried about the cost and the trouble. Did anyone feel it was expected??

555Ann555 · #2 04-09-2007, 02:55 PM

I think it's a lovely idea, but I had neither the time nor the budget to do it myself!

I think if I hadn't made as many other DIY things I might have been able to, but at the point where I would have made them I was doing all the table things (place cards, menus, table names, favours, gifts for the mums, etc.)

If you can do it I think it'd be lovely

AshyBekka · #3 04-09-2007, 03:40 PM

We did it and it worked out really well. I found cute wooden baskets on sale at Hobby Lobby, and made about 50 or 60 OOT gift baskets that were left for them at the hotel when they checked in. They had bottles of water, snacks, Arkansas related gifts and were wrapped in red celophane and tied with a bow. We also included schedules of activites in the baskets that we made for wedding party/immediate family who needed to know when shuttles were leaving for the rehearsal dinner, wedding, etc.

imstilldreaming · #4 04-09-2007, 04:09 PM

I would have loved to, but we just don't have the time or money!

NovemberGal · #5 04-09-2007, 05:29 PM

I didn't. I had so few family coming in that I didn't even block hotel rooms, and my in-laws planned all kinds of things for their (much larger) group of relatives, so I didn't feel I needed to do anything for those folks, as it was taken care of. Plus we didn't have a lot of events surrounding the wedding, and since we're a suburb of DC there's really just too much to mention, and easy enough for folks to figure out on their own if they wanted some extra activities.

We were hoping friends from Canada would be able to make it down, and we would have helped them plan a whole week-long vacation, but they were not able to make it.

litlbit · #6 04-10-2007, 06:39 PM

I don't think we will. Our families come to town enough that they know "the sights to see" and all that. Plus some of them will stay with family that lives in town anyway. I do like the idea though!

maroki13 · #7 04-11-2007, 12:23 AM

I would have loved to (and it was on my to-do list for a while) but in the end we didn't have the time or the money to get them done. I did make up a schedule/timeline for all OOT guests that my mom (who was staying at the same hotel) passed out, because it was all my family who came in from OOT.

Kim&Bob2004 · #8 04-11-2007, 12:28 AM

I would have loved to, but for me it was a matter of time, not so much money. I had a few things bought but just ran out of time.......

seansgirl · #9 04-11-2007, 03:10 AM

I have thought about it. However haven't thought about the cost. I know it would be practical to throw in things like water and snacks, and I am sure they would appreciate it. I will have to figure it out still.

pashmoloo · #10 04-12-2007, 08:12 AM

I actually offer these in the UK. I think they are a great idea and if you can do them then i would. They dont have to filled with expensive items.
I saw some in the new issue of inside wedding magazines, and they are around $25 plus each and the minimum order is 25 hampers!!!!!!!

I was really shocked!

Heather · #11 04-12-2007, 01:46 PM

We did it. We loved it. Guests loved it. We bought in bulk and saved a lot of money. Didn't get anything crazy - just some snacks, candy, bottled water, map of the area, phone list of who was in the hotel from the same town, directions to the local "big" mall. I got all of the bags at The Christmas Tree Shoppe for fifty cents a piece. I had to make 40 bags, but I made 50 just in case. Some people shared a room so I wanted to make sure everyone had one.

Altogether, I didn't spend more than $75 on everything for the bags and I received a lot of compliments and thank yous from the guests.

Julz518 · #12 04-12-2007, 01:58 PM

So, it sounds like people have just done "vending machine" items, yes?
Did you use a "theme" - like local products, theme of the wedding, or your favorites?

One wedding I went to gave us a bag full of their favorites: favorite soda, favorite snack, and a list of their favorite places... I like that idea, except that I can't think what our favorites are!!!

I would like to have a theme to the bags... any other suggestions? We're having an outdoor counrty Irish-German-Hungarian wedding

litlbit · #13 04-12-2007, 06:25 PM

I like the "favorites" idea. I totally understand not knowing your favorites, my problem is I have too many! Start by making a list. Like, if you could only pick three places to go for dinner, what would those three places be? You can do the same for a lot of things, like candy, drinks, etc.

Although now that I think about it, it would be really fun to have a different cookie or treat from each of the backgrounds your wedding will celebrate. You could even include recipes!