So my wedding was a Saturday and husband and I decided to arrive Wednesday morning to set up welcome bags and divide all items for welcome party and wedding. It was all full hands once we got there with our 5 luggages!
After we were all done we were ready to go to enjoy our stay and welcome our guest starting the next day.
Thursday we were getting a large portion of our family and a few friends so we woke up early and enjoyed breakfast followed by a couples massage we got curtesy of the hotel. Right after this our guest started arriving. We found ourselves hosting everyone during most of the day. We met almost everyone at the lobby to welcome them and then took the to the bar for drinks and this went on through most of Thursday and Friday. It was great because everyone felt so welcome and they could tell how appreciative we were to have them there.
Thursday during dinner we claimed a section of the buffet (all inclusive hotel) that had multiple tables that sits 10 people each so we decided this would be our area from now on. We got to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner always with multiple of our guest (if not all) since everyone was always sitting at the same spot. Although we emphasized that everyone should do their own thing they just all wanted to spend time together and do activities as a group which we loved. Our guest was divided by 4 groups (his family, mine family, his friends and my friends) by the end of the trip it was all one big group. Everyone hanging out together at the pool, the bars, the beach, the clubs even after the wedding ended that we left for our honeymoon.
I never being to a destination wedding so I didn’t know what to expect exactly. I wanted to have a more intimate time with everyone, I wanted to hangout with friends and family and have fun not just one day but I didn’t think it would like this. It honestly succeeded my expectations. I knew we would have time to spend it with everyone but never to the extend we did.
Welcome bags:
This was a hit! People found it very useful specially the young crowd that doesn’t really pack much of emergency kits. I made sure to add everything enough for 2 or more since most room would be for 2 people.
I had personalized welcome bags and included the following:
- Hangover kit (Advil, Tylenol, Alka-Seltzer, Emergency-C, Tums, Bandaids, Antibacterial wipes)
- Tequila bottles (little ones)
- Tajin (little ones)
- Tabasco (little ones)
- Hand sanitizer (little ones)
- Personalized mints
- Tissues
- Itinerary
- Personalized door sign
- Map of the hotel
- Brochure of things to do while in Mexico (I got this at the airport - was not plan but very helpful)
Events:
I didn’t want to overwhelm people with a lot of events. I wanted them all to take this as a vacation. I wasn’t planning on people wanting to do a lot with us so a lot of the things we did was spontaneous.
On the itinerary card I included:
- Friday: Welcome party at 8 pm. This was at the beach, an all white party. I made sure to send invites out for this since it was an all white party, I included this and the invitation at the website and when I spoke to everyone I made sure to remind them. This party was soooo fun! We all had a blast and it was a perfect way to start the wedding festivities. I kept the decor simple, high top tables with flowers arrangement in a half cut coconut. Some appetizers and open bar. I had a lounge area for the older people to sit and a shoe valet to leave your shoes at since the party was at the sand.
- Saturday: Wedding day with pick up and drop off information. Our wedding wasn’t at the hotel and I provided transportation for everyone so I made sure everyone knew the time and place for this.
I did not have a rehearsal dinner plan since we had the welcome party. We had our rehearsal Friday afternoon and then headed to the buffet for dinner. It looked like a rehearsal dinner because everyone met there all dress in white ready to head to the beach for the party. We all left the restaurant and walked to the party at 8 pm. Not planned but it was great!
Wedding:
Like I mention I made sure I had transportation for everyone. I had bathroom baskets for both man and woman and it was so handy! Our big day was very windy so the ladies and gentlemen took advantage of hair spray, hair brushes, bobby-pins and so on. I also included some medication in case need it, mint, gum, toothpick, some body spray, and a lot more. I also had sandals to make sure they all danced all night long and this was another big hit! The ladies loved them and we had none left.
Our guest had a blast! They noticed all the little things we did to accommodate them. They did not only enjoyed the wedding but the entire weekend. Some have told me is their best trip yet and others the best weekend of their life. All the hard work paid off. I would do it all over again!
