After a long engagement, I will finally be getting married this year. There’s a lot to consider when planning a wedding. Luckily, I’ve had a long time to think about it! One of the major choices is obviously the venue. No matter what you do, some of your guests are probably going to have to travel. It’s possible that some might go home at the end of the day, but a lot of the time most will stay the night. If that’s what you think will happen, should you book some hotel rooms? It can make things a lot more convenient. The other option is to book a whole property. Consider some of the things below to make the right choice.
Combining Wedding Venue and Accommodation
When you search for somewhere for your guests to stay, it needs to be convenient. No one wants to have to go miles to go to bed after the reception. Plus, there might be a lot of drinking so many people won’t be able to drive. The most convenient thing to do is have everyone stay where you host the reception. It could be a hotel or another venue that allows for both weddings and staying overnight. When the party is over, all everyone has to do is stumble to bed. Before you settle on a final venue, consider whether your guests are going to be staying overnight.
House, Hotel or Something Else?
Hotels are often the most convenient wedding venue if your guests need accommodation. You can have the wedding reception and rooms all in one, and perhaps the ceremony too. However, they aren’t the only option you can consider. One of the other things you can think about is large holiday homes. Some venues are suitable for a civil ceremony, your reception, and putting everyone up for the night. It’s almost like renting a small hotel. If you need a few more bedrooms, you could look at nearby hotels, B&Bs or neighbouring properties.
Who Pays?
One of the big questions when it comes to hotel accommodation is who is going to foot the bill. Like a lot of issues to do with paying for a wedding, it can be complicated. Some people decide to pay for rooms for their guests. Attending a wedding can be expensive, and it might mean the difference between someone being able to come or not. However, others decide to leave it up to their guests. If they can’t afford to stay, they can usually leave to go home as the reception begins to wind down.
Negotiating Prices
Talking of paying, you want to make sure you can get a good price. As you arrange your wedding, you can become an expert negotiator! It’s important to try and haggle the price so that you can save where you can. You might be able to get a discount or to get some freebies thrown in. If you don’t ask, you have no chance of getting what you want.
If you want wedding accommodation for all your guests, you need to start looking as soon as possible. Don’t leave it until the last minute if you have a particular date in mind.