Quick help please! Blocking rooms...

TKzilla

Hey y'all. I'm trying to block some hotel rooms for my wedding since nearly everyone will be traveling. Do I try to block rooms for everyone? The problem I'm having is we haven't sent out invitations yet (because I want this information to be included) so I don't know who is coming. We're guessing anywhere from 50 to 100 people. There's also the issue of FI's family possibly renting a house nearby and some of my family staying in my uncle's house... How many rooms should I try to block?

Maggie0829

I would estimate about 50-75 rooms blocked.  Definitely check with the hotel/hotels that you are wanting to work with that when you block these rooms that you are not responsible for covering the costs of any rooms not booked.  Most hotels will hold a room block for a certain amount of time before releasing the rooms to the general public.  Others will book all the rooms and any not used by your guests you will be charged for.  So definitely read the fine print with the hotel before agreeing or signing anything.

girl4182

I am also wondering about blocking rooms. How far in advance does that need to be done? 

My FMIL has been nagging me about it but I didn't think it was a priority right now since we're 8 months out. I was going to to wait until after we met with our reception venue and ask them if there was somewhere they reccommended or deal with on a regular basis that would offer a good rate.  

I found out yesterday that she took it upon her self to book a block of rooms but didn't include my out of town guests into her count. I'm not really sure what to do here. 

McRogol

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-help-please-blocking-rooms?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:29d3f4c0-c7d1-4924-9cf1-facba44486b5Post:1d2b5171-81e9-4dcf-8c89-088a6a158455">Re: Quick help please! Blocking rooms...</a>:
[QUOTE]I am also wondering about blocking rooms. How far in advance does that need to be done?  My FMIL has been nagging me about it but I didn't think it was a priority right now since we're 8 months out. I was going to to wait until after we met with our reception venue and ask them if there was somewhere they reccommended or deal with on a regular basis that would offer a good rate.   I found out yesterday that she took it upon her self to book a block of rooms but didn't include my out of town guests into her count. I'm not really sure what to do here. <div>Posted by girl4182[/QUOTE]</div><div>
</div><div>I think it really depends on where and when your wedding is...Mine is on the coast in the summer time...We booked our rooms blocks as early as possible so that hotels still had plenty of vacancy,  guests would not be forced into a 2 night minimum and we could get the best deal possible.   If you're not having your wedding in a "destination location" during summer or your wedding is off-season it's probably not as big of a deal.</div><div>
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Maggie0829

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_quick-help-please-blocking-rooms?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:29d3f4c0-c7d1-4924-9cf1-facba44486b5Post:1d2b5171-81e9-4dcf-8c89-088a6a158455">Re: Quick help please! Blocking rooms...</a>:
[QUOTE]I am also wondering about blocking rooms. How far in advance does that need to be done?  My FMIL has been nagging me about it but I didn't think it was a priority right now since we're 8 months out. I was going to to wait until after we met with our reception venue and ask them if there was somewhere they reccommended or deal with on a regular basis that would offer a good rate.   I found out yesterday that she took it upon her self to book a block of rooms but didn't include my out of town guests into her count. I'm not really sure what to do here. 
Posted by girl4182[/QUOTE]

I would look around your area for hotels that are nice and have good reviews (trip advisor is great for this).  I would probably book a block of rooms sooner rather then later because you just never know what kind of events may be going on during the same weekend as your wedding.  When H and I got married the Baltimore Orioles were playing the Red Soxs.  Needless to say there were a lot of people in town for that series so rooms were hard to come by.

Since your FMIL has already done a room block for a certain amount of peope, then you should just do your own room block for the OOT guests she didn't include.

TKzilla

So far we have 26 rooms blocked. All of them said there is no charge to me and the rooms will be released to the public thirty days before the wedding. I'm going to try to block another ten today, at least.

FWIW, we are three months out and getting married in a semi-destination area - OBX. Most of our guests are coming as couples or families, so I'm trying to get at least 35 rooms blocked. The wedding party is staying the event home with us (where we're holding the ceremony and reception).

Thanks for the input everyone!

Brittywest05

Our hotel has it set up where once we get down to the last 5 rooms they automatically add more as needed, in groups of 10. Maybe your hotel does something similar??

TKzilla

Yeah, two of the hotels set aside 10 rooms each and said we have the option to add more if needed. The last hotel set aside 6 rooms and said if they booked, they would add another four or more as necessary.

TKzilla

Nope, over the phone everyone said it wouldn't cost me anything, that any unsold rooms would be released to the public four weeks before the wedding