Favors: Check

The latest news on the wedding front is that I finally broke down and ordered the darn maracas that I have wanted for a few months now. They arrived yesterday(in a huge box...how the heck are we going to get these to Mexico?! More on that later...), and we think they are perfect! I was a little bummed at first that we could not order specific colors, but I think that the multi-colored feel will actually be better table-candy than uniform maracas. So you can see, there are 6 colors total, and I ordered 48 of these babies. We are going to place a favor tag on each one, tied with some kind of ribbon or raffia, and place them on the reception tables. The favor tag will say something like "Shake This for a Kiss", and we hope to tie it in with the table numbers that will list things that the guests can do to get a kiss from the bride and groom. We completely stole this idea from a number of other sources (can't credit them all) that suggested placing instructions for kiss-getting on the Menu cards, Place cards, or table numbers. We've had a few ideas, such as "Stand up and sing a song with the word 'love' in it, shaking your maracas to the beat." I'll post more on that later, but for now, check out the pictures!


*I bought the maracas from Windy City Novelties. Shipping was fast and service was good - packaging was nicely done too.

OOT Bags - the buying has begun

The concept of an "out of town" guest gift bag is something I love. In concept. However, when you really start looking at the costs associated with such a concept, it gets a little bit overwhelming to think about making 35, 40...or even 50 of these things for your guests, transport all of the items needed to make them to another country, and then somehow assemble and hand out each one to all of the correct rooms at the resort in a timely fashion. (Or pay the resort staff to deliver them for you...for $4 per room...hopefully to the correct rooms...) So, I had not actually decided to jump into the fray and 'do these things' until today. After reading the Best Destination Wedding forums for a bit last evening, I realized that the FI had actually stumbled across the PERFECT item for a Mexico OOT bag = a pocket-sized Spanish for Dummies book (he bought one from the dollar bins at Target the other day). So today after work, I sped to Target in hopes that they were not already sold out of these perfect items *gasp*. But, of course, I forget where I live. Here in Cheyenne, WY, who else besides crazy destination-bridal-me would have a need for 42 pocket-sized Spanish for Dummies books? No one, apparently, which is why I can happily report the first items for our OOT bags (that almost didn't happen but now have to happen) have been purchased! The question now becomes, what else do we stick in these things? And what do we stick the 'else' into?? A canvas bag? A paper bag? A reusable grocery bag? Man, sometimes I think I subconsciously try to make things more difficult for myself. :o)

OOT Bags - What are those anyway?

When one plans a destination wedding, there is some precendent that one will provide wedding guests with a lovely treat basket/bag upon arrival. This is done to thank the guests for traveling a longer-than-normal distance to attend the wedding of loved ones. So, as a future destination bride, I started looking early on to see what types of things might be included in such a helpful little bag (and tried to figure out what kind of BAG to buy...oh so complicated). In any event, those helpful (if not crazy) brides who post on the Best Destination Weddings forum have compiled a listing of everything that would be most helpful to include in such a fun bag (and by the way, OOT means "out-of-town" - hee hee). Here is a comprehensive listing of such items - I would LOVE to see some comments about what our future guests think we should include in our bags (that would help me make some decisions people!). Enjoy!

• advil, tylenol
• alka-seltzer, imodium or pepto – travel size
  aloe
  beach ball
  beach mat
  beach towel
  bookmark
• bottle opener!
  bubble bath
• bug spray
  cameras (underwater, disposable, ect.)
• candle for the room
  cd of music
  dramamine
  drink mix, powdered
• drink koozie
  fan
  first-aid kit
  flashlights – travel size
  flip-flops
  frisbees
  gift certificate (spa, excursion, etc.)
• hand sanitizer
  hangover kit
  hats or visors
• itinerary
  key card holder
  key chain
• lib balm
  lint roller – travel size
  liquor bottle – mini size (hah, it is FREE at our resort!)
• list of activities (on and off site)
  location information
  loofah
  luggage tag
  maps
• matchbook
  message in a bottle
  mints/gum
  nail file
  notepad
  pashminas
  photo albums
  picture frame
• playing cards
  pool raft
• postcards (love this idea, send it home)
  puzzle book (sudoku, crossword, ect)
  sarong
  shot glass
  shout stick or wipes
  snacks (local, candy, salty, etc.)
  socks
  spa salts
• sunscreen
  tank top/shirt with wedding logo
• tissue packet
  translator – english to xxxx common phrases
  travel cup
• welcome letter
  wet wipes
  yummy local snacks