GUEST INFORMATION & ACCOMODATIONS
Your wedding day might feel like it’s all about you and you fiancé, and, to a great extent, that’s true. Because your wedding guests are an integral and important part of the day, however, you’ll want to make sure they’re feeling the love, as well.
KEEPING GUEST INFORMED
A successful wedding is like a well-directed and much-rehearsed play. Every actor knows what’s expected at any given time during the performance. To assure that your guests know what’s expected, don’t leave anything to chance, whether it concerns guest’s attire, who’s invited, directions to locations, and more.
What are guest to wear? Most guests will dress appropriately without any direction from you. However, if your wedding is formal or very themed, you might want to note that in your invitation. You could use the wording “black tie optional,” or “black tie invited,” to let guests know that tuxedos and long dresses are appropriate. That wording, however, allows for those who don’t own or want to rent a tux the opportunity to wear a nice suit, instead. On the other hand, if your reception is very casual or themed, such as a picnic or beach theme, you might suggest somewhere in your invitation that guests are encouraged to dress comfortably.
Exactly who is invited? Clearly state who is invited to various parts of the wedding. If children are welcome at the ceremony, but the reception is adults only, be sure that’s stated on your invitation or reception card. If it’s a smaller, more intimate wedding, you may also wish to clarify who may bring guests. You may run the risk of offending some invitees, but it’s better to manage expectations upfront than create issues later.
Are there recommended activities between the ceremony and reception? Sometimes, for reasons you can’t avoid, there may be a delay between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception. If this is the case, it’s nice to provide guests, especially those from out of town, with some suggestions for filling that time. You could suggest a coffee shop that’s near the reception site, a bookstore, mall, park, local historical site, museum, or any other pleasant, convenient and accessible site.
What are the directions? Include directions to the ceremony, and from the ceremony to the reception. If guests are coming into town from different directions, you should provide driving instructions from various highways or interstates.
Is parking an issue? Make sure guests have an idea of available parking areas near your ceremony and reception sites. You might note, for instance, that the hotel includes an attached parking garage, or that street parking is available in an area behind the church. Parking can be of particular concern in urban areas, so be sure to ease any anticipated concerns of your guests.
What’s there to do in your Area? Some out-of-town guests may extend their visit by a day or two. A thoughtful gesture would be to provide them with some suggestions for interesting places to visit while whey are here. You might suggest an area historical site, a shopping opportunity, some good restaurants or antiquing opportunities to make their trip more rewarding.
Think about other possible opportunities to clarify information for guests. If your prefer for some reason that guests do not bring gifts to the reception, for instance, make that clear, along with suggestions for an alternative drop-off site. If you know that a particular guest or guests may have trouble getting up steps to your ceremony site, you might include a note that a side entrance is available. Be thoughtful, and anticipate what your guests might need or wish to know.
KEEPING GUEST INFORMED
A successful wedding is like a well-directed and much-rehearsed play. Every actor knows what’s expected at any given time during the performance. To assure that your guests know what’s expected, don’t leave anything to chance, whether it concerns guest’s attire, who’s invited, directions to locations, and more.
What are guest to wear? Most guests will dress appropriately without any direction from you. However, if your wedding is formal or very themed, you might want to note that in your invitation. You could use the wording “black tie optional,” or “black tie invited,” to let guests know that tuxedos and long dresses are appropriate. That wording, however, allows for those who don’t own or want to rent a tux the opportunity to wear a nice suit, instead. On the other hand, if your reception is very casual or themed, such as a picnic or beach theme, you might suggest somewhere in your invitation that guests are encouraged to dress comfortably.
Exactly who is invited? Clearly state who is invited to various parts of the wedding. If children are welcome at the ceremony, but the reception is adults only, be sure that’s stated on your invitation or reception card. If it’s a smaller, more intimate wedding, you may also wish to clarify who may bring guests. You may run the risk of offending some invitees, but it’s better to manage expectations upfront than create issues later.
Are there recommended activities between the ceremony and reception? Sometimes, for reasons you can’t avoid, there may be a delay between the end of the ceremony and the beginning of the reception. If this is the case, it’s nice to provide guests, especially those from out of town, with some suggestions for filling that time. You could suggest a coffee shop that’s near the reception site, a bookstore, mall, park, local historical site, museum, or any other pleasant, convenient and accessible site.
What are the directions? Include directions to the ceremony, and from the ceremony to the reception. If guests are coming into town from different directions, you should provide driving instructions from various highways or interstates.
Is parking an issue? Make sure guests have an idea of available parking areas near your ceremony and reception sites. You might note, for instance, that the hotel includes an attached parking garage, or that street parking is available in an area behind the church. Parking can be of particular concern in urban areas, so be sure to ease any anticipated concerns of your guests.
What’s there to do in your Area? Some out-of-town guests may extend their visit by a day or two. A thoughtful gesture would be to provide them with some suggestions for interesting places to visit while whey are here. You might suggest an area historical site, a shopping opportunity, some good restaurants or antiquing opportunities to make their trip more rewarding.
Think about other possible opportunities to clarify information for guests. If your prefer for some reason that guests do not bring gifts to the reception, for instance, make that clear, along with suggestions for an alternative drop-off site. If you know that a particular guest or guests may have trouble getting up steps to your ceremony site, you might include a note that a side entrance is available. Be thoughtful, and anticipate what your guests might need or wish to know.
GUEST ACCOMODATIONS
Most weddings include at least a few guests from out of town, so you’ll need to address the matter of guest accommodations. Your area offers a variety of lodging options, from full-service hotels to historic bed and breakfast. Many offer wedding packages that may include special services and reduced rates for the bride and groom, the wedding party, and blocks of rooms for out-of-town guests. You may also wish to inquire about transportation packages associated with your reservations.
If your reception is in a hotel or resort that includes guest rooms, it makes sense to recommend that your guests stay there. Once you have an idea of how many guests you anticipate, you can reserve a block of rooms with the hotel. The rooms will be held at a special rate until a set date, by which guests must make their reservations. Stay in touch with the hotel as your guests are reserving their rooms so that you’ll know whether you might have to increase or decrease the number of rooms in your block.
Be sure to also ask about options for breakfast the following morning. Some places will provide a special buffet or other accommodations for wedding guests.
If your reception is not in a place that includes lodging, you’ll want to provide guests with some recommendations for places that are close to where the reception is held. Since guests may have varying budget constraints, try to offer suggestions of varying costs. Just be sure that all the places you suggest are reputable, clean and comfortable. If you can, visit each place and ask to see some of the guest rooms. A place that is proud of the quality of its facilities will be happy to accommodate you.
Let guests know your recommendations well in advance of your wedding date, so they have to decide where to stay and make reservations. Be sure to inform them of any hotel policies that might affect them, such as arrival and check-out times, smoking policies and so forth. Your guests will great appreciate your gestures of caring and gratitude.
Most weddings include at least a few guests from out of town, so you’ll need to address the matter of guest accommodations. Your area offers a variety of lodging options, from full-service hotels to historic bed and breakfast. Many offer wedding packages that may include special services and reduced rates for the bride and groom, the wedding party, and blocks of rooms for out-of-town guests. You may also wish to inquire about transportation packages associated with your reservations.
If your reception is in a hotel or resort that includes guest rooms, it makes sense to recommend that your guests stay there. Once you have an idea of how many guests you anticipate, you can reserve a block of rooms with the hotel. The rooms will be held at a special rate until a set date, by which guests must make their reservations. Stay in touch with the hotel as your guests are reserving their rooms so that you’ll know whether you might have to increase or decrease the number of rooms in your block.
Be sure to also ask about options for breakfast the following morning. Some places will provide a special buffet or other accommodations for wedding guests.
If your reception is not in a place that includes lodging, you’ll want to provide guests with some recommendations for places that are close to where the reception is held. Since guests may have varying budget constraints, try to offer suggestions of varying costs. Just be sure that all the places you suggest are reputable, clean and comfortable. If you can, visit each place and ask to see some of the guest rooms. A place that is proud of the quality of its facilities will be happy to accommodate you.
Let guests know your recommendations well in advance of your wedding date, so they have to decide where to stay and make reservations. Be sure to inform them of any hotel policies that might affect them, such as arrival and check-out times, smoking policies and so forth. Your guests will great appreciate your gestures of caring and gratitude.