OOT Bags - worth it?

kmac821

Hi ladies! I was wondering if you guys are doing welcome bags/gifts for OOT guests, and if so what are you buying for them? I just asked the hotel to provide a list/count for me so I could get an idea, but I feel like this is just another expense that isn't totally necessary.

What are you guys doing? And if you aren't, what made you come to that decision? I don't want to be a cheapskate, but I've also never been to a wedding that has those bags. Maybe only for bridal party/grandparents/close relatives?

bridalgal50

We are going to do it for wedding party/family and close friends.  It will include a wedding weekend schedule, local maps w/ places of interest & restaurants -not to mention the location of the ceremony and reception! Map will also include our house-which is 2 blocks from the hotel-and a contact phone number for anyone with questions. Goodies in the bag will include 2 bottles of water and some local treats to nibble on.

[Deleted User]

I'm doing them but only for those in our room block.  We're doing a bunch of local snacks and goodies in a reusable "Virginia is for Lovers" shopping tote.  Instead of putting bottles of water, we are going to include the reusable water bottles with a filter built into the mouthpiece.  We'll also include some individual packets of Tylenol, as well as some local sight-seeing info.
ETA: To save some money on the snacks, we are ordering directly through the vendor sites instead of paying the marked up prices at retailers.

kmacisaac

Ive been to several OOT weddings over the past few years and Ive always really appreciated welcoem bags as a guest, and I've always eaten the snacks and drank the water! I think a couple bottles of water, some candy and cookies or nuts is all you need. Ive seen people do 2 homemade cookies and water, plus candy, and its really all you need! It's one of those things where it really is just the thought that counts. If you have a membership to like a Costco or B.J.'s type place, I bet you can do them for like $50.

em01092

We're doing a welcome card with directions, along with chocolate covered pretzels. I got some cute bags from Hobby Lobby for about $3, the cards from VP for about $15, and the pretzels and chocolate for about $15, so about $35 ish for 20 goodie bags, plus probably left over pretzels. 

cgielow

we aren't doing them, primarily because we can't afford the added expense. i've never been to a wedding w/ them....they aren't as much of a thing in our area as in others i think. i think they are a nice touch but it was an added expense that we could justify eliminating.

theladyherself

We cut them also.  They were in the original budget, but in the end we'd rather serve our guests a duet plate with chicken and salmon.  We did create a tri-fold brochure with VP with the wedding weekend timeline.  It's designed with the same pattern as the invitations and other wedding paper.  Since our colors are black and white, the invitation were mailed in black envelopes and these tri-folds will be presented in a black envelope also.  The hotel staff will present them to each adult guest.

rlavach

We're not doing them. We do have a few OOT guests, but they all found their own accomodations either at a family member's home or at a hotel. We didn't do a hotel block, so no OOT bags.

futuremrsdavies

I had to cut them because they are not in the budget....

chickenbut143

We decided to cut them also, only b/c the wedding is in a place where 95% of the guests are OOT.  We'd literally be doing them for everyone...and it's just not in the budget. 

faerylvr27

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_april-2012-weddings_oot-bags-worth-it?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:05427f07-4ba2-44d6-9271-99a7af1ee5c0Discussion:8ffed6bf-5321-4a03-a9ce-e92f6c4d1abcPost:405a464d-2a87-4894-92fc-eb0e52e70009">Re: OOT Bags - worth it?</a>:
[QUOTE]we aren't doing them, primarily because we can't afford the added expense. i've never been to a wedding w/ them....they aren't as much of a thing in our area as in others i think. i think they are a nice touch but it was an added expense that we could justify eliminating.
Posted by cgielow[/QUOTE]

I thought about it, but as you said, it's a nice touch, but an added expense that could be eliminated. I don't know if this counts as a treat for my out of towners, but I'm having the hotel keep their bar open until 2am for an after party, as well as providing round trip shuttle service for them. I think that's enough.

Sp2012

I'm so glad I checked back on this thread, I was feeling guilty for nixing the OOT bags. 

They could work in our budget still, but just the work of assembling & delivering was more than we wanted to get into.  Like others, since we are having a DW we would do it for everyone, but it would mean potentially having to find where our guests are staying to distribute, and we have a few guests who are staying over an hour's drive away.  We are having a welcome dinner as well as a after wedding brunch, so I think in terms of hosting events we are covered.  We'll have some edible favors & lei's for each guest as well.

cmcraige

We're doing them for guests in our hotel block, and will be putting in local snacks, a map, 2 bottles of water, and maybe a weekend timeline...