Out of Town Guest Etiquette

Are you having a lot of out of town guests?  There are some things you can do for them to make their stay enjoyable.

1.      Give ample notice

Let your guests know in advance of your wedding date and location.  Save the Date cards are a great way to let everyone know so that they can start pricing flights.

2.      Set a hotel block

In your wedding invitation, let your guests know that you have a reserved block at a hotel.  Price compare with local hotels.  You can make more than one hotel block.  Hotels will usually give you a discounted rate, but your guests must book their room(s) by a certain date.

3.      Design a website

There are so many options out there for wedding websites!  Some are even free!  Make a page on your website for guest information.  Check out my wedding website page as a basic example: 

4.      Create goodie bags

Include some local goodies, a map of the area, an itinerary of weekend events, and a list of things to do.  For my wedding, I gave our guests an RC Cola and a Moonpie in a cute little gift bag since that is local to East TN.  I also included a water bottle, some snacks, and a little thank you note.  I bought brown bags with handles at Hobby Lobby for $1.00/pair, punched holes in the top, and strung ribbon in my wedding colors.  Your hotel front desk will distribute these bags to your guests as they check in.

5.      Don’t forget the kids!

Include fun places to go for kids, if they are invited.  A fun family activity is always a nice gesture for out of town folks.  Give options and prices so the parents know what to expect from a budget standpoint.

 

Remember, your out of town guests are coming in to see you get married.  Interact with them at the wedding, invite them to the rehearsal dinner, and make sure that they have a good time!  They are sacrificing a weekend to come and celebrate, so make them feel important too.  Your wedding is about you, but you also need to be gracious hosts!

 

For more tips, check out Here Comes the Bride's advice