Welcoming Your Out Of Town Wedding Guests With Open Arms

Getting married is a big life event, and having people come from out of town to attend your wedding from other states or even another country is a great honor. It's important to make your out-of-town attendees feel welcome and as comfortable as possible. Even though you'll have plenty of your own details to stress and worry about, it's still a good idea to do a few simple things to ensure that your special guests enjoy their experience. Here are a few things you can do to welcome your out-of-town wedding guests with open arms.

Hotel Suggestions

Rather than let your guests pick a local hotel out at random, do a little homework to find out which hotels in your area can provide your guests with the best accommodations. If you have a large group coming together, ask about special rates or even lower rates for wedding party members. Look for places to stay where there's plenty of good amenities including complimentary breakfast, a swimming pool, and one that offers a hospitality room so you can all gather together and enjoy each other's company without using someone's room. Inform your guests of the hotels' contact information well in advance so they can make reservations with plenty of time to spare.

Get Organized

Thanks to the Internet, you can now create your very own wedding website. The site should include a full itinerary of the rehearsal dinner time and location, wedding time and location, as well as information about the reception. You should also include links to local places your guests can visit if they plan to stay a bit longer after the wedding. Include maps, directions, and all contact information for places guests might be interested in visiting. This will make things easier on you since everything will all be there in one central location and you won't have to field countless questions or dig for the info. later. It's also quite handy for guests to get all the information they need at the click of a mouse.

Offer Thanks

Traveling for a wedding can be expensive for your guests, so it's truly a meaningful gesture that they've decided to attend. Say thank you by creating special gift baskets that include things like coffee, cookies, and breakfast treats. Include a personalized, signed thank you note letting everyone know how much it means that they've come this far to be at your wedding. If you like, place the thank you gift in your guests' hotel room before they arrive so they receive it as a nice surprise. Saying thank you can go a long way and will leave a lasting impression that will help make your wedding memorable for your guests as well as yourself and your new spouse.