Bridal Club Magazine
Looking After Your Out-Of-Town Wedding Guests
It is most likely that you will have invited guests to your
wedding from out-of-town or overseas. While it is their choice
entirely to come to your wedding, you are not obligated to pay for
any of their extra expenses. Yet it is nice that you help as much
as you can with their travel arrangements to make their stay in the
area as comfortable as possible. Here are some suggestions to help
you be the helpful host:
Research accommodation in the area. Look
for a few selections that offer good service and price ranges to
cater to differing budgets. If you know that there will be several
guests needing to stay overnight, try to reserve a block of rooms
at each and send your guests the hotel information with their
invitations well in advance. Reserving the rooms in bulk could well
earn your guests a less expensive stay.
Set up a wedding website and/or send out a wedding
newsletter early on. Create a website and/or newsletter to
let them know the date of your wedding, as well as any other travel
information and attractions in the area that may be helpful. By
letting them as early as possible, your guests can find cheaper
airfares.
Check out rental car agencies for those traveling by
air. If your budget can allow it, arrange to have a car
service pick them up at the airport. It's a nice way to welcome
them, especially if other commitments prevent you from greeting
them yourself.
Provide them with transportation to and from the
wedding. This is the ultimate in nice gestures for your
out-of-town guests, especially if they don't know their way around
your city. This is a good idea also for elderly guests who have
trouble, or don't drive themselves. It doesn't have to be expensive
- maybe a good friend is looking for a way to really help you at
this stressful time, even if you provided petrol money. A mini-bus
or van can be rented for the day and you could ask that good friend
to be the official chauffeur.
Surprise them with a gift basket in their rooms before
they arrive. Include local food and delicious
'delicacies', confectionery, a bottle of wine or drink of their
choice if you know it, tourist information, map and a special thank
you and your fiancé that is personal to them.
Invite them for a meal. If you are having a
meal for your wedding party prior to the wedding and your guests
have arrived, consider inviting them as well. Another popular idea
is having an out-of-town brunch the day after your wedding, before
you go on your honeymoon.
Whatever you do, make some time to enjoy and appreciate your
out-of-town guests. You may not see them often and they have cared
about you both to come a long way on your special day.