Wedding Blog
OK, I’m not actually in Afar (a region in Ethiopia) but I am in Ethiopia. Although my work trips are crazy, I do tend to find a lot of down time. Unlike being at home, I don’t have errands to run after work. I don’t have to clean or cook dinner. And if I go to the gym, it’s about 30 seconds of a walk from my hotel room. I’m usually in my room by 6PM and I’m online until about 9:30PM. I’m not necessarily actively doing work in the evenings, more just making myself available to answer questions from my co-workers back in Seattle and emailing with Mr. Joey.
So this leaves a lot of time to get wedding details out of the way. What details, you ask? Well, this evening I have been emailing hotels where we are interested in holding blocks of rooms. We’re hoping to find a hotel that is close to the reception site, is accessible to downtown either by shuttle or public transport, and one that provides interesting amenities. My favorite amenity so far is from a hotel that lets guests borrow bikes. I heard that the Hotel Monaco gives guests goldfish as pets during their stay. Another hotel I emailed does a complementary wine and cheese happy hour.
I haven’t received responses back yet but I just emailed 6 hours ago and it is now midnight in Seattle. What we can’t decide is whether to hold blocks at more than one hotel. I know some of our guests will be on a tight budget and want something as affordable as possible, while some guests will prefer location and will be willing to spend more.
What are you looking for in a hotel for your out-of-town guests? Are you holding blocks at more than one hotel?
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I am holding rooms at 3 hotels all with 20 miles of our ceremony and reception site!!!!
We were also thinking about doing a few hotels with different price points, but our favorite hotel gave our guests such a good rate that we didn’t have to look for a less expensive option! Hopefully the hotel you like will give you a good rate!
I would say that 95% of our invite list is local, so we are not going to find a hotel block. But I’ve listed like 6-8 recommended hotels (including one super cheap one) on our website for people to find on their own. Most of the out-of-towners have families or friends nearby.
I would definitely book at more than one price point — my parents’ friends view OOT weddings as mini-vacations and are willing to drop that kind of money on hotel rooms. My friends are on stricter budgets, especially when factoring in airfare, presents, showers, and attire; although they would probably stay in the hotel suggested for my parents’ friends, I want to offer them something more economical.
We only blocked out rooms at one hotel, but the woman I worked with was able to give me rooms at different price points ranging from about $150-$70/night. I also listed the numbers and websites (when available) of 3 different hotels in the area. The problem is with our wedding being somewhat rural there aren’t many choices.
since our guest list was small we only blocked rooms @ one place. we figured those who want to spend more money for a nicer place will know to find their own spot (which to my knowledge no one did).
we actually toured the hotel before blocking rooms at and found it to be the best bang for our guests’ buck - brand new, fab beds, modern decor, flat screen TVs, and a nice little bar down at the lobby and it was less than $100. we negotiated for breakfast to be included for our guests too, but the place screwed up and didn’t give most of our guests their free breakfast voucher.
Most of the hotels in the area didn’t offer much of a discount. We had WAY more luck looking on VRBO and making a google spreadsheet for our guests to reference.
We blocked rooms at three different hotels with three different price points. My husband and I LOVE Hotel Vintage Park in Seattle. Great location for tourists, and owned by Kimpton, who also owns Hotel Monaco. Great company!
I was planning on blocking rooms at just one hotel and offering to pay half the booking price. That way everyone could afford it (but I’m having a very small wedding!)
Snaps to you Miss J for planning from another country!!
I’m blocking rooms at 4 different locations! I wanted to give our guests options 
It’s in Boston so everything is relatively close and even walkable. I hope it helps the guests decide.
This was a huge point of contention with us, because our families’ concepts of what a reasonable hotel room looks and costs like are unrelated.
Ultimately, we supplied constantly updated lists of room rates and availability in town, links to deal sites (the department of tourism ran a HUGE promotional two months before the wedding) and other aggregators (the Wedding Channel one uses Sabre, the same system a professional travel agent would use), and encouraged people to get together and rent houses instead.
The point is, we knew we’d never be able to please everyone, OR we’d have my family in the cheap motel, our friends in the midrange hotel, and his family in the upscale inn. That just seemed too tacky and awkward. So we decided it was every man for himself, and no one complained.
Well, okay, the complainy aunt complained, but that’s what she does.
I had to stop and say that I love a good pun! Keep them coming!
We blocked rooms at more than one hotel. We originally wanted to give our guests different pricepoints to choose from, but they all ended up being pretty similar in price.
And I got SO much wedding planning done while I was traveling for work too.
We blocked rooms at two hotels. One is cheaper than the other, the cheaper one is farther away but provides a shuttle and the more expensive on is closer but no shuttle.
I’d be thrilled to have a free wine/cheese happy hour as a guest. =D
Two hotels, at two prices. (A $50 difference and about five minutes on foot separate them from each other and our reception site.)
I’m holding blocks at two hotels. One is close to our reception site and one is closer to the attractions. We live in Central Florida and I know that many people would like to stay near Disney World. One guest is planning on staying at both hotels… the reception hotel until the wedding and then the attraction hotel for a couple of days afterwards.
I’ve put my FH in charge of hotel blocks, but we’re trying to look for two or three in two price ranges (one extra-affordable and one affordable!) minimum. Location is also key, since most of our guests are not at all comfortable driving in Atlanta. They all think driving here is much worse than it is!
we are really fortunate and have 3 hotels right across the street from our location. we might have to hold blocks of rooms in two hotels so our guests have the opportunity to choose which one they like more.
we’re staying in waikiki, so hotels are aplenty! while our first choice was setting up a block at our reception venue, it was just too expensive, even at the discounted rate. we’re setting up room blocks at 3 hotels with varying price ranges and different hotel rewards programs.
I placed blocks of rooms on hold at hotels located at our new harbor in Maryland. I really wanted people to be located close to the wedding / reception. This way they will be in walking distance to the water, restaurants, museums, etc. I really want my guess to stay at nice hotels and be located by somethings that are fun!
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Mrs. Joey, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 28, Project Administrator for Public Health NGO
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, High School History Teacher
Engagement Date: June 24, 2008
Wedding Date: August 2009
Venue: Eastside Catholic Chapel and Lake Union Cafe
About Me: I'm a Seattle girl through and through except for the fact that I don't drink coffee. I love my job most of the time because I get to travel and work with brilliant people who are trying to prevent Malaria. I love DIY projects of all sorts, cooking, and watching sports. I'd wear anything at Anthropologie and could spend all day on Etsy. I love to travel but shouldn't because I always get myself into unbelievable situations!
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