In preparation for our Save the Dates to be mailed out, I've been working on our wedding website. Its not finished yet (so you'll have to wait to see it) but the reason brides have been making websites is really for the convenience of the wedding guests. Its important to just take a moment to recognize the special effort made by those guests who will be arriving by planes, trains, and automobiles in the days preceding the main event. The wedding website holds all sorts of information - like directions to the ceremony and reception, registry information, weather, local attractions, and really importantly, information about hotel accommodations.
You can start making your guests feel appreciated even before they arrive in town by reserving a block of rooms at a local hotel (or two). A hotel room block is a group of hotel rooms that have been temporarily held for the convenience of wedding guest. Many hotels offer reduced group rates, and since you know the area better than out-of-towners, booking accommodations in advance is an all-around great idea. A room block is arranged by a contract between the engaged couple and the hotel then guests book and pay for the rooms themselves. Unreserved rooms are released back to the public after a specified date, such as one month prior to the wedding. Hotel blocks are also nice because then guests stay in one location, making it easier for them to socialize and making transportation and other issues easier.
We are wanting our wedding to feel kind of like a family reunion and so we are encouraging family and friends to come into down a couple days before the wedding - lets all have some fun together! Its important to us that our guests have a great all around experience in Yakima, not just at the wedding. So, I just recently called and arranged our hotel blocks and we decided the Hilton Garden Inn! The Hilton hotel is right downtown Yakima, close to wine tasting, restaurants, and shopping. They gave us discounted rates per night and have reserved 10 room blocks (but will add more rooms if/when all 10 rooms are booked). I feel really good about the hotel, the area of Yakima it is in, the discounted per night rate, and the Hilton offers personalized websites so that guests can book their rooms directly through that site. We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to be able to come!
Want to know what else is fantastic about the Hilton Garden Inn? Their customer service. I have spoken to two different ladies and they both were so helpful, easy to work with, and friendly! So if you're undecided about where you want your guests to stay the weekend of the wedding - do yourself a favor and call Alysia Cantu, their Group Sales Manager. She is fantastic to work with!
Want to know what else is fantastic about the Hilton Garden Inn? Their customer service. I have spoken to two different ladies and they both were so helpful, easy to work with, and friendly! So if you're undecided about where you want your guests to stay the weekend of the wedding - do yourself a favor and call Alysia Cantu, their Group Sales Manager. She is fantastic to work with!
Another way to make guest feel really appreciated is to have Welcome Bags. The front desk may distribute OOT Welcome bags to guests in the room block. Welcome gifts are a wonderful way to extend a special thank-you to those guests who have traveled long distances to join you on your big day, and there are lots of options to choose from beyond the standard fruit basket. With a little extra time and energy, you'll not only be able to help your guests find comfortable lodging, but pull together a present that brings a smile to your travelers' faces (without placing a sizable dent in your wallet). Whether you opt for humorous, helpful, or just plain delicious, you will ensure that your friends and family remember the wonderful time they had at your wedding, not the stress and aggravation of the preceding journey.
Here is my list of things to include in our Welcome Bags :
1. A Welcome note. Include important phone numbers and addresses.
2. Water bottles.
3. A map (they’re often free). Also, directions from the hotel to the venue and information on shuttles.
4. Mints and snacks.
5. Decent coffee (or tea). The Starbucks Via coffee comes in small packets of 3 and there’s also a pack of 48 for $34.95 on their website.
6. A weekend timeline if OOT guests are invited to rehearsal dinner and/or other wedding events.
7. Advil or Tylenol (for the morning after the wedding)
Other cute additions I thought of -
1. A bottle of wine from a local winery
2. A couple little bottles of 5 hour energy
3. Homemade treats - like a couple cookies or brownies
4. Coupons/gift certificates for restaurants or spas within walking distance of the hotel.
5. Shout wipes and a list of local dry cleaners (accidents happen!)
6. A list of local shopping malls (for the guest who forgot some article of clothing)
Did you reserve hotel blocks? Did you make OOT Welcome bags?
