When are my guests going to book their hotel rooms?

flobear100

I am getting super frustrated and just wanted to vent a little bit.

At the beginning of each month I contact our two hotels that we have blocks for to see if we need to add any rooms. We have 10 rooms at one hotel and 15 at another hotel blocked and, oh, about 60 people coming in from out of town. We have until June 1 to save these rooms and then we have to either release them or be responsible for paying for them.

I did just send out our invitations last week...but I did send out Save the Dates which had all of the hotel information there. The ONLY people to book so far? My MOH, my parents, future MIL & FIL, a friend of the FMIL & FFIL and our bridal suite.

We have a month left! That plus we bought enough items for the welcome bags for 50 people (thinking 2 people per room) and now I'm thinking we way over did it.

Am I stressing over nothing? Am I all alone in this fear? I don't know what to do!

flobear100

And yes, after my post last week about stressing, I do feel much better. I just started getting stressed about this since I received my numbers from the hotels and it makes me feel out of control.

ajmom2two

You still have a month before the rooms have to be booked or released so I wouldnt stress about it too much.  When did you send out your save the dates?  I bet a lot of people will book for sure when they get their invitation in the next week or two. 

flobear100

Thanks AJ.

The Save the Dates went out in November/December. Everything is up on the wedding website, but I think people keep forgetting that is there too.

I am hoping that people book in the next two weeks since they are getting their invitations now. My Mom thinks that people think they will get a better deal than $129 a night in Chicago and once they realize that they can't, will book. At least I hope so...but if they don't, they'll have to figure out their own hotel accomodation right?

My Mom also tells me, "this one is not your problem...breathe"...she's helpful

ajmom2two

I bet a lot of the people were thinking they would wait until closer to book and then kind of spaced it but will do it now that they got their invitation.  I totally understand though, I stress about everything!  

LADY324

Pretty much no one booked their hotel rooms early besides our family.  I am sure people will start to book since you sent out the invites.  Did you have a date on the hotel card saying when they had to book by?

Our hotel insert has a July 6th date and then they know that the rooms will be released.  It is up to the guests to book on time.  I stressed this on our wedding website b/c our hotel is booked so if they release that block of rooms it's no longer my problem. 

bridetobe71412

Same as LADY.

All of my guests are OOT so I'm concerned about this as well, but your mom is right! The room blocks are really not your problem. It's an accommodation that you're providing to be helpful to your guests and it's up to them to take advantage of the accommodation. If they don't, they'll have to figure something else out (or not come).

mbody

I think you're working yourself up over nothing. They still have a month to book.

Personally, I'd have the hotel release the rooms in the block if you're going to be responsible for paying them if they don't fill by a certain date. If you put on the invite, "For the special room block rate, please make a reservation by such and such date" and they don't, then they're SOL. Not your problem.

flobear100

Everything is on our website. The special direct link to book the hotels, the phone number, the rates, the location, the due date, everything.

We didn't do special hotel cards since most of the people (with very few exceptions) are like me and use the internet for everything, and know to go to the website (and I think we mentioned something about going to the website for details anyway within our invitation).

I think I'm starting to run out of things I am in control over to stress about and decided to pick this *lol*

Thank you ladies...you are such a wonderful bunch

butterflyjumper1

I wouldn't freak out - most of my friends have said they are holding off on booking rooms just because they don't plan in advance, haha.  We have a fair amount of guests who have booked, just because our hotel is amazing and such a good deal, and people were getting excited about it.  I am sure that people will start planning soon. I usually don't start worrying about booking hotels for wedding until about a month before hand....and I consider myself quite a planner. I am sure your guests will book - there is still plenty of time. and like others said, if the rooms get released, that is not your problem at all. You did your best to let them know of the deadline and there is nothing else you can do.

Carla1019

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_july-2012-weddings_when-are-my-guests-going-to-book-their-hotel-rooms?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:066005ef-215f-48b1-8655-328b41e07c52Discussion:8451cf21-1c40-4285-8a3f-99bb0aa8dc85Post:fa32fe37-1033-4eca-af39-53b04d64f068">Re: When are my guests going to book their hotel rooms?</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks AJ. The Save the Dates went out in November/December. Everything is up on the wedding website, but I think people keep forgetting that is there too. I am hoping that people book in the next two weeks since they are getting their invitations now. <strong>My Mom thinks that people think they will get a better deal than $129 a night in Chicago and once they realize that they can't,</strong> will book. At least I hope so...but if they don't, they'll have to figure out their own hotel accomodation right? My Mom also tells me, "this one is not your problem...breathe"...she's helpful :)
Posted by flobear100[/QUOTE]

Trust me, no matter how great the deal is people will still wait til the last minute. I was able to get our rooms down to $75 a night (normally $140) and people still haven't booked their rooms. Some haven't booked their flights yet. I'm not worried about it anymore. If you must release the rooms then so be it.

michelle11988

I wouldn't freak out.  I called my hotel to see how it was doing to make sure before I send invites out I didn't need to book another hotel.  Not one single person has booked a room yet, so I wouldn't worry.  I think a lot of my guests will do it when they get invites in the next few weeks.

singing_lyn

Tell me about it. I've given people that information over and over and not one single person has booked a room yet. Not like it's a major deal up here, because it's not likely the hotel will get booked solid in the middle of nowhere, but it's a pain.