Out of Town Guests

[racecargirl]

I have a lot of out of town guests coming in for my wedding. I am making baskets for each of the guests. So far this is what I am going to put in them.

Breakfast bars
Water
Area information (such as zoo, restaurants, malls) and directions

Anything else I should maybe add?

[SoontobeMrsClark07]

This is what I'm planning on putting in our out of town bags:

Welcome letter from me and Jonathan
Directions from the hotel to the church
Things to do/Brochures/Area Map
Restaurant Listing (Printed off our website)
Virginia is for Lovers sticker (available free from any VA travel site)
Small bag of chocolates (assembled myself)
Bottles of water (2)
Snacks (bag of pretzles, chips, or something like that)

All of the papers (welcome letter, directions, brochures, things to do, maps and Restaurant listing) will all be placed in either a folder or arranged nicely in a pocket folded holder. The other stuff will go in a small paper bag (in our wedding colors) that has handle.

It sounds like a lot but a lot of the stuff is free or really really cheap. If you go to any visitor center where you are you can pick up some free stuff. We're giving bottled water because there are a lot of historic places to visit and they are outside, or they can just drink it in their room. The chocolates you can buy a huge bag of hershey's kisses really cheap and give them some of those. Snacks come in those snack packs and can be purchased cheap or you can get them for usually about $.25 at the grocery store.

Hope that helps! Get creative and include things that are special to your state or specific area. I'm still planning on what to do for mine!

[Kacie_bride]

Personalized tea or coffee. I think this idea is so cute!

http://www.beau-coup.com/Pictures/perfect%20blend%20150.jpg

[countrygirl]

Umm, this may be a dumb question, but you are 'sposed to give our out of town guests somthing special too?

[brewsells]

Umm, this may be a dumb question, but you are 'sposed to give our out of town guests somthing special too?

I hope not, cuz they are just SOL.

[countrygirl]

I hope not, cuz they are just SOL.

Yeah, I am on a limited budget, and can barely afford the wedding itself. As it is, we really aren't doing much in the way of favors. I hope that they don't expect a gift basket too.

[SoontobeMrsClark07]

I have like 10 -12 couples/families who are staying the night... I can afford to make a few, I think its a nice gesture but should not be expected. I'm only really doing it because we're so close to DC and there is sooo much to see and do here and its really easy to get lost. But I wont be spending a fortune on it... Most of the stuff is free anyways.

[Twigler]

How did you guys go about reserving rooms for a hotel? Did you have to pay for them ahead of time. How early should I reserve them?

I prob won't give gift basets...besides, there is nothing around my area to do that is fun or different.

[Kacie_bride]

Umm, this may be a dumb question, but you are 'sposed to give our out of town guests somthing special too?

You do not have to. Many times people do just as a special little extra thing.


How did you guys go about reserving rooms for a hotel? Did you have to pay for them ahead of time. How early should I reserve them?

I prob won't give gift basets...besides, there is nothing around my area to do that is fun or different.

Many times you can just go to a hotel and ask to reserve a block of rooms. Tell them it is for a wedding and some hotels will offer your guests a discount if enough rooms are booked. I think I have read to do this about 4 months in advance.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Umm, this may be a dumb question, but you are 'sposed to give our out of town guests somthing special too?

When I read the post I thought "OMG am I supposed to do this?!!!!!" I am overwhelmed as it is ..... puleeeeze don't make me think that there is another thing that I must do in order to be a good hostess. I need more time!

[hummingbird521]

I didn't realize as well that proper etiquette meant having to do a gift bag. Well screwed up that as well. teehee

[racecargirl]

I don't think this is something you have to do. I am just doing it because everyone who is coming to my wedding from out of town is at least six hours away from me. I'm not paying for it either, my mom is. Some people are going to be here for more than one night too. Since I'm in Omaha, there's actually a lot to do in the area.

As far as reserving the hotel rooms I just called and told them about how many people I was expecting and they set 15 rooms back for me. Don't have to pay for them, basically at a certain date the rooms become available to anyone again.

[ikkin510]

We aren't doing the gift baskets for the out of town guest. Most of them are only from 2 hours away...tops. Plus, we live in such a small town, there isn't much to do.
As for reserving rooms, I'd say do it as soon as possible. Expecially if you know of it being a busy travel time, or your city has an event that weekend. We reserved our about 7 months in advance and the hotel only had about 13 rooms left!