I really liked the idea of doing gift bags for OOT guests staying at the hotel - but the closer we get, the less time and $$ I have to put into them!!
Is this something i definitely should do, or are people even going to notice? Anyone else NOT doing the OOT gift bags at the hotel?
eelharas4700
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
i am doing them, but i dont think you have to. i think its just another nice gesture on your part. i dont think that guests ever expect them. dont feel obligated. you have a million other things going on.
Pinkiegirll07
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
My honest opinion is that you should do them. For me, I feel like since people are going to have to fly here, put themselves up in a hotel room for a couple of days and give us a gift for the wedding, the least my FH and I can do is give our OOT guests a little goodie bag to show we are so appreciative that they came. JMHO!
nifheim
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
i was going to do them then realized i still have to pay for teh wedding and we haven't saved for the honeymoon. So if you have the extra cash then go for it if not then don't worry about it. Honestly no one really expects it - it is just something a little nice when you do it.
deirdre730
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
I didn't do them, and I do not regret not doing them. Many of the people that stayed at the hotel were friends and family that lived in the area and we were just partying after the wedding. The people that were OOT were fine. They had breakfast in the am (we paid for it) and all was well. I do not think they are necessary!!!
JennyJim
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
I am skipping out of town bags as well. Most of the guests are from the island and just staying in the hotel after the wedding. We will be providing the guests with transportation and breakfast-- that is enough. Although, I love the idea of them and they are so darn cute, you have to draw the line somewhere.
rfilipofornow
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
we're trying to decide if we'll do them too because we probably have over 100 guests coming from OOT and i just don't think i can afford it! i feel bad, but even at 2-3 a piece, that's still at least $300 more for me to spend. . .i just don't know if i can swing it! plus, living in AZ and getting to NY 2 days before the wedding, when the heck would i put them together? that's mean to do to my mommy!!! i'm still undecided though
Dalito322
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
See that's the thing, most of the people staying are fairly local - from LI, NJ or NYC - but don't want to worry about driving late at night especially if they've been drinking. We're providing transportation to and from, and my parents are throwing a bbq the next day and all are welcome if they want to come... Hhmm, I honestly would like to do it because it is a nice gesture, but we've put so much $$ into other details, it may not make the cut.
I'll give myself until after the 4th to decide. Maybe a couple beers and a hot dog will do the trick.
kns11
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
Posted by nifheim
i was going to do them then realized i still have to pay for teh wedding and we haven't saved for the honeymoon. So if you have the extra cash then go for it if not then don't worry about it. Honestly no one really expects it - it is just something a little nice when you do it.
Very well put. I went to 2 out of town weddings and neither one had OOT bags. I even flew in early for one of the weddings and helped the BP with my friends shower.
Pencils
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
Of course you don't HAVE to. It's a nice thing if you can. But I bet half the people who receive them have no idea what they are, so will not notice if they're not there. If you don't have the time, money, or the energy, don't bother. No one's going to whisper about your wedding later saying 'Can you believe she didn't make OOT baskets??' No, they're just going to talk about how great your wedding was.
I'll let you in on a secret. After worrying about the things for months...I didn't make programs. Just did not have the time or the energy, even though I had the paper and they were half-designed. You know what? No one noticed! Also didn't have menus. Or favors. And so far, I've had nothing but raves about our wedding. No one's complaining about the lack of a coaster with our faces on it.
Do what you want. You'll have a lovely wedding. Don't get pressured into all the hype and the unnecessary items.
drpepper318
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
Posted by Pencils
Of course you don't HAVE to. It's a nice thing if you can. But I bet half the people who receive them have no idea what they are, so will not notice if they're not there. If you don't have the time, money, or the energy, don't bother. No one's going to whisper about your wedding later saying 'Can you believe she didn't make OOT baskets??' No, they're just going to talk about how great your wedding was.
I'll let you in on a secret. After worrying about the things for months...I didn't make programs. Just did not have the time or the energy, even though I had the paper and they were half-designed. You know what? No one noticed! Also didn't have menus. Or favors. And so far, I've had nothing but raves about our wedding. No one's complaining about the lack of a coaster with our faces on it.
Do what you want. You'll have a lovely wedding. Don't get pressured into all the hype and the unnecessary items.
Wow this post made me feel so much better about so many things! Thank you!
HeatherRose
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
i had planned on doing them, but now were well over budget, and I don't even know how were going to afford Hm so, were skipping this now, and I can't say were doing breakfast or transportation either. We just can't swing it. I'm a little sad about it, I found a great site to get the bags less the $1 a piece, but filling them is costly when you have a lot to do. HTH
Christys0925
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
I am not doing them. We wanted to but financially we just cannot afford it with all the other expenses.
joan_db
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
Do we really have to do OTT gift bags? We have about 100 OOT-ers so we plan a have get together dinner on Saturday (instead of rehearsal dinner), and we're paying $55 per person. On Monday, whoever is staying, they are still invited for breakfast and will cost us (well our parents) $20 per head. So, I don't think we need to give a gift bag...and beside I'm sure whatever we give to them it will go to trash or junk closet (thats what happen to ours).
Michi9506
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
im not doing them...i way too broke from this wedding already
diva7531
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
No one will notice!!! You absolutely do NOT have to do them! I am only doing them based on how much money we have when the time comes. And then I will prob want to use it on the HM
lilangel
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
You DONT have to. I am not even sure if I will be doing them due to the time constraint as well as the money. If you do feel like you are strapped for cash you ca always fill them up with items from the dollar store. Water, juices, snacks stuff like that.
GettinHutched
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
I am in the same boat! I really wanted to do them...but I am so overwhelmed...and we are paying for a shuttle for them. I might do something super simple- just a couple of little things like a bottle of water, a bag of chips, mints...that's it. Nothing too fancy.
PattyK
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
I'm not doing OOT Gift bags, since most of my guests are local. What I am doing for those guests that are coming from a distance is making wine boxes and putting a bottle of wine from a long island vineyard in the box.
GettinHutched
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Re: OOT Gift Bags - is it wrong NOT to have them?
Posted by Pencils
Do what you want. You'll have a lovely wedding. Don't get pressured into all the hype and the unnecessary items.
OMG! THANK YOU!! It is hype isn't it after all? how come it never sinks in though?
