Photographer | Madi Robison
Brides, we are taking these wedding planning festivities step-by-step. The invites are sent and most likely you have some guests that are attending from out of town. While it is not your responsibility to cover lodging and transportation, is curtsy to arrange accommodations for those loved ones. Read along to learn all about lodging, transportation, and ways to shower your loved ones as they have come to celebrate your sweet day.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Out of town guests will need a place to stay as they arrive for your wedding weekend. The bride and groom will work to coordinate room blocks at hotels, depending on the amount of out of town guests. Hotel blocks are a set of hotel rooms that have been set aside for a group or event at an agreed-upon rate. Wait to book these hotel blocks until the majority of guests have RSVP’d so you know how many rooms are necessary. Give guests about 2 options of hotels. One can be more luxurious, while the other can be more price-conscious. Some guests may be making a trip out of the wedding weekend, while others may just be able to come out for the wedding day. Try to find these accommodations within 30 minutes of your wedding venue. Remember to block these hotel rooms far enough in advance for more open availability!
LET’S RIDE
Transportation can gear towards two different groups of people. Rides should be considered for out-of-town guests. This can look a few different ways depending on what lodging accommodations have been made. When guests arrive at the airport and do not plan on renting a car, have a loved one pick them up from the airport. This can show how much they are appreciated and cared for. If your wedding is at a resort, where the guests are staying, look into shuttle services that they may provide to the guests from the stay site of the resort to the venue site. Another group of people that may require transportation is your bridal party, and this is where it gets fun! Are you doing pictures between your ceremony and reception? Or, do you just want to celebrate with your closest friends before the reception? Consider a form of transportation that can fit the whole party. Getting married waterfront? Take some boats out with your bridal party! This provides for a very fun entrance as the reception begins. If you are going by road, a party bus or limousine is always a classic hit!
LOVE ON YOUR GUESTS
One thing we want to stress to our brides and grooms is that while out-of-town guests came to celebrate you, you need to let them know how much they are appreciated. As guests arrive in town, greet them with welcome bags. Some sweet things to include in these are treats from the local bakery that you and your groom find yourselves at way too often. If your wedding is in a sunny destination, include some sunscreen or fun sunglasses they can sport. Out-of-town guests may have more downtime than they know what to do with. Prepare a little “travel guide” with you and your groom’s favorite restaurant spots, a fun activity, and the hottest spots in the downtown area. One last way you can love on your guests is additional celebration dinners. This can look like a welcome dinner, opening your rehearsal dinner to out-of-town guests, or a post-wedding brunch before you and your hubby head off on your honeymoon.
Photographer | Mike Olbinski
There is no greater joy than to celebrate love with all of those that you love. Include all of your lodging and transportation accommodations on your wedding website. This can limit the last-minute questions you get from wedding guests. Are you interested in utilizing hotel blocks but want a little more about the Dos and Don’ts? Read up on one of our past blogs that addresses all things hotel blocks!
