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I went to an outdoor summer wedding last year in Burlington, VT on a very small, private ‘island’ that was accessed by a dirt road through a swampy-esque area. The reception, held under a large tent in a grassy area at the center of the island, was fun and elegant all at the same time with down-home BBQ served up buffet style on beautiful china and a kickin’ Zydeco band. It was this wedding that inspired Mr Corn and I to have a clambake.
Since it was August in VT on an island near a marsh, the bride and groom set out baskets of bug repellent wipes. I remember looking at the wipes and thinking she had gone completely overboard with planning, until about 8:30pm when every chigger, gnat and no-see-um in the surrounding 12 counties showed up to feast at the wedding…on us… at which point I was VERY glad for her attention to detail.
A couple of months ago, I saw an ad for the Don’t Bug Me Patch in Real Simple magazine:
According to the blurb in the magazine, ‘Vitamin B1 and aloe are released through the pores to deter bugs. It’s nontoxic and waterproof, so there’s no need to reapply after a dip’.
I contacted the company for a sample and it came the other day. It should be applied a couple of hours prior to the event, and I am not sure my guests will go for it since it is a non-traditional concept…but do you think it would be a good idea to put some of these in the out-of-town bags and then have wipes available on-site?
If you are having an outdoor wedding, are you doing anything to combat the wildlife?
If I was a guest, I would appreciate it! Good thinking!
Way to be prepared for them. They will thank you.
We are having the Burt’s Bees kind repellent available and my ab fab bug juice…
http://www.rei.com/product/686229
3m insect repellent. It is what I use working in wetlands when I juice up. Low DEET formula (34%) due to the protein capsulate formula and long lasting.
We are getting married on a beach adjacent to a tropical jungle so may need to go the DEET route.
Miss Corn,
That’s very considerate of you to think of providing those for your guests. Certainly include some in the OOT bags with a little note explaining they are non-toxic and that they need to be applied X number of hours before the event. Also include regular bugspray (try your healthfood store for alternatives - we use Kiss my Face) at the reception site.
What a great find, thanks for sharing!
I would just go with the wipes unless they’re not too expensive, in which case the OOT bags too would be cute! We’re having our wedding in Costa Rica where there is sun and bugs and so the OOT bags have both sunblock wipes and OFF deepwoods wipes.
I’d provide a few bug repellant options at the reception — some non-toxic, some child-friendly, some DEET-free, some unscented, some Avon SSS… whatever is popular now. People have an idea of what they think works for them, so might as well have some of each. Wouldn’t bother putting repellant in the OOT bags (unless they really need it pre-reception), because guests will not likely bring the repellant to the reception when they need it. The minus with the wipes is that it gets on the palms of your hands and then you need a trashcan to collect the waste. Spray is economical and easily shared (tho aerosol is not best for environment?).
definitely a good idea - i’ve been to weddings where guests were devoured and it definitely puts a damper on the festiviies. i’d also put a bottle in each restroom along with some of those patches…. i’m sure your guests will really appreciate it. 
Great idea, and your guests will be thankful! Has anyone used this over the course of the 36 hours it claims to be effective for? I will absolutely use this on my honeymoon if it really lasts that long!
I third the Avon Skin So Soft recommendation. I would hesitate to give out the patches unless I had personal experience with them. And people with sensitive skin might be hesitate about using something with an adhesive; I know I would be.
I was at a wedding last August where there were individual bug repellant wipes. They worked well. They were left in the restrooms and also scattered over the round dinner tables. We definitely appreciated them!
What a great idea! If I were a guest I would definitely appreciate it. I get bit up alive. And the wipes are more discrete than spraying, not to mention more environmentally friendly.
I think it is a great idea to have both!
Personally, I wouldn’t use the wipes or a spray because they always smell. I’d probably try the patch out though. I also like that it is natural. I’m sure this would be appealing to some of your guests.
Great idea! As a guest, I would definitely appreciate the thought and attention to detail.
Girls in strappy summer dresses with strappy sandals will APPRECIATE the bug-juice in any form. A friend and I were devoured by mosquitoes a couple summers ago at a wedding along the New England coast…. From my knees down to my toes I looked like I had a tropical disease for weeks. Being from dry near-bug-free Los Angeles I would never have thought of preparing for bugs.
Good ideas on the site, but a lot of these product mentions are starting to read like planted endorsements in the form of a cute story. Please do not commercialize this site. It will tank like the Titantic.
in my welcome bags, i included sunscreen wipes and bug repellent wipes. in the bathroom baskets, i included OFF bug spray and antitich cream.
Anything that enables your guests to enjoy the evening without being eaten alive is probably a great idea! Aside from sprays and wipes, you might be able to work citronella candles into the decor somewhere. Also, some companies can come out and spray the area before you set things up, which can greatly reduce the little critters flying around. I was at an event where they did this, and it was very helpful.
I’d go with wipes or spray over the patch, unless you try the patch and really think it works. I think if I encountered it for the first time in an OOT basket, I would be skeptical about whether it would work.
Also, your in-town guests wouldn’t get patches then, would they? They’d need the wipes or spray at the reception itself.
Hi Marilyn,
I can honestly tell you that from my end, the post about the Bug stuff was literally thought up when I saw the article in my Real Simple magazine. It is not a product placement with a cute story (although I am pleased you think my story is cute :))…I just thought it sounded like a great product and I figured I would share. I would like to think that is the intent of all the bees who post about products on the site. To me it is like talking to a friend about something I have seen recently.
Thanks,
Miss Corn
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Mrs. Corn, Newport, RI Age and Occupation in '07: 31, HR for public accounting firm Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Consultant for public accounting firm Engagement Date: October 7, 2006 Wedding Date: September, 2007 Blogging Since: June 1, 2007 Venue: North Lawn of Fort Adams State Park About Me: I am a lazy scrapbooker who loves the instant gratification of making cards and I am very easily distracted by all things shiny. In honor of my childhood nights spent hibachi BBQing on the beach with my family, we are hosting a traditional New England Clambake for our reception.
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