Destination Wedding: Unique welcome bags and invitations?

My fiance and I are getting married in Bermuda during a Carnival cruise next year. We plan to make welcome bags for our guests but I would like some creative things to include. I feel like everyone does the same thing (bottled water, snacks, sunscreen, flip flops, etc). Any ideas for welcome bags that would associate the Bermuda (or atleast tropical) theme as well as be useful during the trip?

We're also looking for unique ideas for our invitations. I saw the passport invitations before which I think are really cool but I'm definitely open to other ideas. Does anyone out there have a template for passport invitations? I can't seem to find one and I definitely want to make them myself instead of paying a fortune to order from somewhere.

Thanks for the help.

if you don't find a passport template let me know and I will see if myself or my graphics partner can put one together for you.

For the gift bag there have been a few threads with some great non traditional ideas I will look for them and post back.

You may want to check out the Best Destination Wedding forum http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/. This is where I got ideas for contents for my Welcome Bags (for the cruisers). The things that were most used were the insulated mugs, the canvas bag itself, waterproof pouch to use on the beach, retractable lanyard/id holder for room card, concentrated room spray, and dramamine.

Pics of my welcome bag & contents…

There are also tons of ideas for passport invites on the best destination wedding forum. I considered doing the passport invites, but decided to go with the Pocketfold Invitations instead. Below are pics of my invites. I ordered the supplies from Cards and Pockets and printed/assembled the invites at home.

My invites

What a small world too...I am from Saratoga!!!!

We are also being married while cruising. We are getting married at the St Thomas port of call in February 2011. So excited.

I am also looking for unique ideas for cabin gift bags. I have a list and a few ideas....but and looking for something different. If i can figure out how to post...I will share what I am thinking about putting together! :)

ShortnSweet - Those look great! Out of curiosity, did you make each person their own bag or have 1 bag per stateroom? I was thinking about doing just 1 per stateroom but including 2 of everything in it. I noticed your bags contained highlighters. Maybe its a weird question but I have seen numerous people include these in their OOT bags and I cant for the life of me think what the purpose would be.

Sdanielle - Thats so funny. Its nice to see more local brides doing something different. I just would have never been happy if we decided to get married here and have a cookie cutter wedding. BORING! Out of curiosity, what cruise line are you using? We considered St. Thomas but couldn't find a cruise that ported there for more than a day. We decided to go with Bermuda because we would be able to be there for 3 days and get to really enjoy and experience the island. Good luck with everything. I'm sure St. Thomas will be incredible.

ShortnSweet - Those look great! Out of curiosity, did you make each person their own bag or have 1 bag per stateroom? I was thinking about doing just 1 per stateroom but including 2 of everything in it. I noticed your bags contained highlighters. Maybe its a weird question but I have seen numerous people include these in their OOT bags and I cant for the life of me think what the purpose would be.

 

Sdanielle - Thats so funny. Its nice to see more local brides doing something different. I just would have never been happy if we decided to get married here and have a cookie cutter wedding. BORING! Out of curiosity, what cruise line are you using? We considered St. Thomas but couldn't find a cruise that ported there for more than a day. We decided to go with Bermuda because we would be able to be there for 3 days and get to really enjoy and experience the island. Good luck with everything. I'm sure St. Thomas will be incredible.

Thanks. I did one bag per couple (doubled some of the items in the bag) and one bag for each single person. For example, my parents got one bag and my two friends that shared a room each got their own bag. The highlighters were so they could highlight different activities that they were interested in doing on the ship's daily itinerary. One of my friends used hers religiously.

I didnt even think of that. Great idea. As for the OOT bags, I think we will probably do the same thing. Makes the most sense. Maybe its ridiculous but next to actually getting married and doing it in Bermuda, the thing I am most excited about are the OOT bags.

We are sailing Carnival Glory with 45+ friends and guests (20+ cabins booked!).

We are doing one OOT bag per cabin (bags we are ordering is attached...They are great and totally reusable...even when we get home!!...I can't find the link to the online store....will post when I do!!!).

We are stuffing them with all the port of call info, what do do, adult drink coupons, suntan lotion and tons of little trial size stuff (asprin, motion sickness pills, small package of cleaning wipes for bathroom etc., room spray, hand sant., aloe gel, after sun lotion, things to do notepad and a couple pens....etc.) I am also adding a Thank you note as well as the wedding ceremony details. (We made reservations for the whole group at the speciality steakhouse on the ship...we are covering everone's $30 speciality charge).

Oh.....the other thing we are going to add is a list of all guests in our group and their cabin numbers....so they know where everyone is.

We have some kids coming along (niece, nephew etc.)...they will get their own bags stuffed with fun kids stuff (flip flops, suntan lotion, games etc)

:) Shannon

Shortnsweet,

The retractable lanyards are a great idea!!!! Did you find those online??? I havent seen any around here!!!

Shan:)

here is a link to custom lanyards

and one other site

one is less expensive but the other offers more variety i think i cant remember its been awhile

Thank you!!!! This is my first cruise...do the room keys (I assume they are swipe cards)...have holes in them so lanyards clip right to them? Or do I have to order clear lanyard holders to hold the swipe keys???

May sound like a silly question....but I have no idea! ha ha I dont want to order something that doesnt hold the swipe card correctly.

:)

Thank you!!!! This is my first cruise...do the room keys (I assume they are swipe cards)...have holes in them so lanyards clip right to them? Or do I have to order clear lanyard holders to hold the swipe keys???

 

May sound like a silly question....but I have no idea! ha ha I dont want to order something that doesnt hold the swipe card correctly.

 

:)

No, the room cards don't have a hole in them. I bought clear plastic resealable ID holders for the room cards (can get at office depot, staples, or walmart) and attached them to the lanyards. No way for you to swipe the card while it's in the pouch though. Here is a pic... I printed the insert you see in the ID holder at home (I went a little DIY crazy).

They don't come with a hole in them but I have heard (and seen) the Guests Services Desk, on RCI, will punch a hole in the card. I would think the other cruise lines would as well

They don't come with a hole in them but I have heard (and seen) the Guests Services Desk, on RCI, will punch a hole in the card. I would think the other cruise lines would as well

I know if you visit the Casino on Carnival, they will punch a hole in it for you to attach to this spiral cord thingy (don't know what it's called) that clips to you so you don't forget your card in the slot machine. You could definitely tell who were frequent visitors to the Casino.

I just wanted to share a unique idea for your gift bags that I got from Martha Stewart: giving your guests postcards they can send to you about how much fun they've had. You just put a stamp on the postcard, along with your address, and ask guests to write about their vacation and send it in the mail. An excellent addition to any scrapbook/photo album, in my opinion! :)

Artemis: What a great idea. I think we may borrow it :-).

I just wanted to share a unique idea for your gift bags that I got from Martha Stewart: giving your guests postcards they can send to you about how much fun they've had. You just put a stamp on the postcard, along with your address, and ask guests to write about their vacation and send it in the mail. An excellent addition to any scrapbook/photo album, in my opinion! :)

love this idea!! I'm using postcards for my guestbook at the reception instead of getting a big guestbook for only a few people to sign. I'm going to buy ones online for each island that we're going to (2 of each postcard) and then have my guests sign the back & put them in my wedding book when we get home & we'll have the picture of the front of the postcard & next to it flip it over with the guests message.

The postcard idea is great!! I may have to steal that one!!! :) :D

The postcard idea is great!! I may have to steal that one!!! :) :D

Me too! I'm including travel size sewing kits in my bags.

You may want to check out the Best Destination Wedding forum http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/. This is where I got ideas for contents for my Welcome Bags (for the cruisers). The things that were most used were the insulated mugs, the canvas bag itself, waterproof pouch to use on the beach, retractable lanyard/id holder for room card, concentrated room spray, and dramamine.

 

Pics of my welcome bag & contents…

 

There are also tons of ideas for passport invites on the best destination wedding forum. I considered doing the passport invites, but decided to go with the Pocketfold Invitations instead. Below are pics of my invites. I ordered the supplies from Cards and Pockets and printed/assembled the invites at home.

 

My invites

Loved your OOT and invites!! Where did you get your canvas bags from?!

Loved your OOT and invites!! Where did you get your canvas bags from?!

Thanks! I got the canvas bags from vistaprint.com. If you sign up for their promotional emails, they will send you coupons. I can't remember exactly how much, but I think I paid around $7 for each bag and I ordered around 25; they get cheaper, the more you buy.

You may want to check out the Best Destination Wedding forum http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/. This is where I got ideas for contents for my Welcome Bags (for the cruisers). The things that were most used were the insulated mugs, the canvas bag itself, waterproof pouch to use on the beach, retractable lanyard/id holder for room card, concentrated room spray, and dramamine.

 

Pics of my welcome bag & contents…

 

There are also tons of ideas for passport invites on the best destination wedding forum. I considered doing the passport invites, but decided to go with the Pocketfold Invitations instead. Below are pics of my invites. I ordered the supplies from Cards and Pockets and printed/assembled the invites at home.

 

My invites

Can you let me know where you got your cute bags that say cruise survival kit on them? They are perfect for inside my bags.

Can you let me know where you got your cute bags that say cruise survival kit on them? They are perfect for inside my bags.

I think she made them herself. Looks like clipart and word-art in Word or PowerPoint. If you measure the top of your ziplocs, you can just make a topper that folds over the zipper.

if you're not a DIYer, check Etsy, I found some awesome options on there too!

Wooooow I love ur BAgs and invites Thanks for sharing

You may want to check out the Best Destination Wedding forum http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/. This is where I got ideas for contents for my Welcome Bags (for the cruisers). The things that were most used were the insulated mugs, the canvas bag itself, waterproof pouch to use on the beach, retractable lanyard/id holder for room card, concentrated room spray, and dramamine.

 

Pics of my welcome bag & contents…

 

There are also tons of ideas for passport invites on the best destination wedding forum. I considered doing the passport invites, but decided to go with the Pocketfold Invitations instead. Below are pics of my invites. I ordered the supplies from Cards and Pockets and printed/assembled the invites at home.

 

My invites

hey Ladies,

Vista Print has 10 dollars off today.....got my magnets for free just had to pay shipping!