Welcome Bags

[cheeks605]

With the doorhangers - did you have to run a "prototype" by your em for approval? That's what I was told...just wondering if everyone else who has used them did that.

 

[friendofgusgus]

I actually just piled up all the stuff for our gift bags and packed it away this weekend, so I've just been thinking about this.

One thing that I found most helpful was to try and buy one item at a time when you see a good deal. All of my stuff from the Disney store was bought at sale time and I got most of it super cheap! Also remember that most candy has a sell-by date that is months and months after it is made (especially non-chocolate candy) so you can buy it in advance.

One thing that surprised me was now much I was able to get at local discount and closeout stores. Since they buy lots of small lots from lots of places, they often get Disney stuff from other sources. For instance I got Goofy Candy Game Pieces (they have a tic-tac-toe board on the back of the box and 2 different color candies inside), Pirates of the Caribbean Chocolate Cannonballs and Mickey Mouse microwave popcorn all at a local closeout type place very inexpensively! I also bought Disney playing cards at the Disney outlet in Kissimmee for 99 cents each on my last trip to WDW and bought wedding-themed stuff on sale at Hallmark.

For folks in the Northeast, I had great luck at the Christmas Tree Shops and Ocean State Job Lot.

Also, try AVON for sunscreen at a good price. I was able to get sunscreen wipes that also have bug repellant in them so that I could include a few in each bag without going broke buying a bottle for everyone. (It IS the thought that counts... )

Our bags will include:
Mickey microwave popcorn - 1 bag
1 box POTC Chocolate Cannonballs
1 box Goofy Game Pieces Candy
5 individual bags Disney conversation hearts
1 Folding Umbrella per person (bought at the dollar store - personalized with a silver metallic sharpie!)
Wedding sachet from Hallmark - one per female guest
Pop-Up Candy from the Disney store - one per guest (Tink for girls, Incredibles for boys)
Feathered cinderella pen from the Disney store
Cinderella lip balms - bought from Avon
Motrin packets
Shout wipes
Disney band-aids - we bought Pooh, Princess & Incredibles and mixed them up for 4 in each bag
Combo sunscreen/bug wipes from Avon
1 Deck Disney playing cards


This might not be everything, but that's what I can remember.
We'll buy water when we get down there, but I'm not personalizing the labels - the umbrellas and the outside of the bags was enough!

I got our totes from eBay from a seller called 1stopwholesale. I bought the Taylor Layne canvas tote bags in lots of 12 - you get three with pink trim, three with royal blue trim and three with teal trim. I especially like that they have a zipper across the top so we donlt have to be as careful about them always standing up.

Also, we personalized some too - our moms got tissues that say "Because I'm the Mom, that's why!" and my MOH got a baseball cap that says MOH. My MOH's daughter also got Cinderella crayons and a coloring book, some Disney cubees (again, on sale and clearance at the Disney store), and her dad, who is a doctor, got a Doc clip-on.

Sorry for the ramble, but hopefully this will help someone!

Jennifer
Intimate Wedding 12/11/06
WP

 

[ItGirl753]

Thanks, Friend of Gus Gus! I have been thinking about the sunscreen thing. I think wipes would be better since most people, especially ones with kids, will remember to pack sunscreen! Plus, people are picky about what kind they use, especially on kids.

I have already talked to my Avon girl. I am going to order lipbalms when they are on sale for Christmas (I always buy the calendar ones and so it would have our year on it at least) and I am going to buy small hand lotions when they have cute ones for Valentine's Day. They are usually cutesy and have lovey things on them.

I am trying to scoop up good deals here, but I will save the food till we get to Florida, especially chocolate since it melts! I do not want to drive all the way to Florida. I am thinking of shipping my items to my cousin in Jacksonville, then flying there and renting a car...unless she wants to bring the stuff to Orlando and meet me! She might.

So far I have a list of ideas, but I have only bought one thing. Bath and Body had this great shower cream on sale -- in their Breathe line. It is nicer than the gels, and I love those too! They were on sale for $5 each, and we bought them on the last day of the sale! The girl didn't know when it was ending. And I used coupons, so we drove around to three stores. The next day they were back up to $12.50. I'll have a few more to buy. Just bought enough for the women. I think that'll be the most expensive thing I buy, unless I decide on t-shirts or something.

 

[ItGirl753]

Well I talked to my Avon girl. The SkinSoSoft sunscreen/inect repellent wipes are on sale for $5.99/8 right now. They are regularly $12. And they are only SPF 15, which is good for me but not for DBF.

I went online searching for the brand BF uses. He uses CrocBloc wipes SPF30. I found them $45.90 for a box of 50.

I like the wipes because they're easy to take along and they're not messy, but they are more expensive than I thought. It is just one, throw-away wipe! It might be cheaper to buy bottles, which have multiple uses, or I may just forget the sunblock totally.

 

[happylalagirl]

Hi guys. Just figured I'd post a pic of our bags because I absolutely LOVE how they turned out!!! I also went to AC Moore and Michael's tonight and bought door hangers and foam stick-on crowns and castles. I also bought a silver and gold paint marker to write the names since we have SOOOOO many people coming to the wedding. Just figured it would be cheaper and still look nice. Anyway, here's a link to the pic.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoVi...&sort_order=0&albumsperpage=&navfolderid=2006

 

[JennyandMike03]

I can't see the pic of your bags HappyLaLaGirl.

 

[lpizzuro123]

I can't get picture either.

I have a question about the door hangers. I have not mentioned these to my boyfriend yet but I know he will say something about security. Has anybody had someone that did not want a door hanger because of this. He is all for keeping name quiet and room numbers and so on. Is this like advertising who you are? Also, what name do you put on the hanger (bride and groom - guest in room)?


Linda

 

[Cinderella16]

Hi guys. Just figured I'd post a pic of our bags because I absolutely LOVE how they turned out!!! I also went to AC Moore and Michael's tonight and bought door hangers and foam stick-on crowns and castles. I also bought a silver and gold paint marker to write the names since we have SOOOOO many people coming to the wedding. Just figured it would be cheaper and still look nice. Anyway, here's a link to the pic.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/PhotoView.jsp?UAUTOLOGIN_ID=78597980905&collid=78597980905.758710310405.1156305779312&photoid=768710310405&folderid=0&view=1&page=1&sort_order=0&albumsperpage=&navfolderid=2006

I can't see the pictures either. I would really love to see how it turned out.

 

[happylalagirl]

Try this link...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLa...post_signin=Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Ux=1

 

[Cinderella16]

wow those are great! i love how they sparkle!!! where did u get them done?

 

[dannirose]

Try this link...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLa...post_signin=Slideshow.jsp?mode=fromshare&Ux=1

They are gorgeous!

 

[happylalagirl]

I had them done through a promo company I found online... hang on... let me see if I still have the website...

Ok - here it is: http://www.coolpromoproducts.com/store/cat/18

that should bring you directly to the backpacks section. Then you can just upload your pic - I got mine from Silvia on the boards here (I believe she just had her wedding recently) - and the wording you would like. I asked for a sample and they sent one for free. Jim is the gentleman I worked with and he was fabulous. We had our first draft to look at (thru e-mail) within about 10 days. I had the bags in my hand about 2 weeks after that. They are a fabulous company!! I ordered 70 bags and we are VERY impressed with them. It was well worth the money to have a high quality product to give as gifts to our guests and to have a couple to keep for ourselves.

 

[ItGirl753]

HappyLaLa, they look great! What wording did you use?

 

[JennyandMike03]

HappyLalagirl, those bags are too cute!

 

[allisonswonderland]

I really will try to post a pic but I have the flu - they just came in and they are AWESOME!!! I got such a deal - one of my swimmers' parents has a t shirts shop and they were going to get them for me at almost cost but then the company was having a sale half off cost so I got that plu shipping - I needed 35 but had to get 50 if I wanted the 1/2 off anyway they were 8.81 a piece w/ 1 color logo the bags are really big w/ zipper navy and natural canvas the company printed the logo
which is a pink seahorse starfish and shell - they have to be I think they are
and
says thank you for being a part of our fairytale (In an arch- over the seahorse)
Allison and Josh
November 10, 2006

I think they are 14 high and 18 long 1 pocket on each side- the look awesome - when I get better I will try to post-

 

[ItGirl753]

Happylalagirl, I blew up your pic so I could see it better.
Allisonswonderland, I can't wait to see yours!
So the price of the bag includes the printing?

 

[Codie]

Where did you find the door hangers? I've been wanting to do this but I can only find companies that want to sell me 1,000! That's slightly more than our guest count!

LOL I actually had a secretary in my office make them. She had made them for a cruise for her family and I thought it was a neat idea. I think she went to AC Moore like one of the other brides suggested she did. It was great...I gave her the names that I wanted on the hanger and she would put first names on one side and last names on the other or whatever I requested. As I got room confirmations I would give her new ones to do. She charged me $3 a piece...which while a little pricey was perfect for me and I loved them...she gave me an extra one with extra letters and decorations in case anyone showed up unexpectedly. I'd be happy to ask her if she wanted more if you want them...I could mail them to you free of charge. She didn't demand a minimum

 

[Codie]

Thanks, Friend of Gus Gus! I have been thinking about the sunscreen thing. I think wipes would be better since most people, especially ones with kids, will remember to pack sunscreen! Plus, people are picky about what kind they use, especially on kids.

I have already talked to my Avon girl. I am going to order lipbalms when they are on sale for Christmas (I always buy the calendar ones and so it would have our year on it at least) and I am going to buy small hand lotions when they have cute ones for Valentine's Day. They are usually cutesy and have lovey things on them.

I am trying to scoop up good deals here, but I will save the food till we get to Florida, especially chocolate since it melts! I do not want to drive all the way to Florida. I am thinking of shipping my items to my cousin in Jacksonville, then flying there and renting a car...unless she wants to bring the stuff to Orlando and meet me! She might.

So far I have a list of ideas, but I have only bought one thing. Bath and Body had this great shower cream on sale -- in their Breathe line. It is nicer than the gels, and I love those too! They were on sale for $5 each, and we bought them on the last day of the sale! The girl didn't know when it was ending. And I used coupons, so we drove around to three stores. The next day they were back up to $12.50. I'll have a few more to buy. Just bought enough for the women. I think that'll be the most expensive thing I buy, unless I decide on t-shirts or something.

Your post reminded me of things! First...I did get the annual sale at Bath and Body works...they had delicious smelling nice soaps for like $0.75 each...so I think each of my guests got one of those...second...if you are going to ship, you might as well ship straight to your hotel I had thought originally I could ship stuff to my WP. But from talking to him, it sounds like they have zero storage space...so don't count on that.

 

[Codie]

I can't get picture either.

I have a question about the door hangers. I have not mentioned these to my boyfriend yet but I know he will say something about security. Has anybody had someone that did not want a door hanger because of this. He is all for keeping name quiet and room numbers and so on. Is this like advertising who you are? Also, what name do you put on the hanger (bride and groom - guest in room)?


Linda

for the most part i used first names. NO one is obligated to put it on the door. one side was just a fun one and the other one said DND. Most of them didn't indicate anything that could single out their identity. It IS advertising that you are there for a super special event but i could see how it could cause someone to be a little nervous

 

[lpizzuro123]

Thanks for your reply. I guess this is something we will have to think about. I love the idea and will add it to my list of items to go over. I do want to do welcome bags though and have gotten some great ideas in this thread. I would like to make it a bag that they can use again.

Linda