Your loved ones are traveling to your wedding destination to be with you during one of the most important moments of your life. Why not give them a trip worth every mile?
When a wedding requires flights and several days, the weekend itself is already a trip for your guests. With a little extra planning, your wedding weekend can be the best one of the year for everyone.
Here are a few steps to help you turn your destination wedding into a trip everyone can enjoy, with simple tips like booking a wedding hotel block to get group rates and keep everyone together. You can also plan additional activities to share and enjoy as if it were a vacation.
Choose a Hotel for the Entire Weekend
Whether it's a vacation or a destination wedding, where you stay matters most. You can bring your guests together in one place to save them the hassle of searching for accommodations. You can also get better rates and keep everyone close by, so you can share and make the most of every moment without forgoing comfort.
When choosing, look for options near the ceremony venue that are also convenient for the rest of the weekend's plans. Once you've found one, you can book a block of rooms at a group rate for your guests. Room Blocks by Engine is a good option because it lets you compare proposals from hotels near your venue side by side.
Plan the Weekend Around Guest Arrivals
Now comes the fun part: planning the events. Before you set the schedule, ask each guest when they're arriving and leaving. With that list, you'll know which airport most guests will use and what time is best for the first event.
If several guests are flying from the same city, inquire about a group reservation. Many airlines offer group bookings for ten or more passengers on the same flight, but read the terms and conditions before anyone commits.
If the group falls below the minimum, the airline may cancel the reservation and retain the deposit, so this option works best for the wedding party traveling together.
Plan Group Activities Around the Wedding Day
If your wedding is on Saturday, you can plan activities for Friday with those arriving early and for Sunday with those staying longer. Need ideas? Here are a few options:
- Friday afternoon. Welcome drinks near the hotel to help everyone mingle and warm up for the big day.
- Saturday morning. You can organize an early breakfast or leave it open so guests can explore on their own.
- Sunday mid-morning. A relaxed brunch gives everyone a chance to say goodbye before heading to the airport.
To prevent your guests from bombarding you with questions, set up a website that compiles all the important information about the event and the trip. Here's the information you can't leave out.
- A local map with all the important locations marked.
- The name of the room block and its reservation deadline.
- RSVP for each event.
- The activity schedule, with clear directions and departure times.
- The dress code for each event.
- Information regarding shared transportation.
- Contact numbers for questions or emergencies.
Make the Wedding the Highlight of the Trip
A destination wedding takes a little more preparation than a traditional one, but it also has a major advantage: you can turn it into a dream trip with your loved ones. Follow these tips to make it happen and make your wedding the perfect excuse to enjoy the best weekend of the year.
Have you picked your destination yet? Then start browsing hotel options on Room Blocks by Engine to find the ones that work best for the guests on your trip-ahem, sorry-at your wedding.
This story was published in partnership with Roomblocks.
