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Should we reserve block hotel rooms?

hanson2Bhanson2B member
10 Comments
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
I need some advice on reserving block hotel rooms.

First of all, I'm not sure about how the etiquette goes with the hotels.  Will they be upset if we reserve 10 rooms and only one ends up getting used?  How does that all work?

Also, most of our guests are coming from about an hour away.  Our reception will probably end a little earlier than most because our ceremony is starting early, so I'm guessing most people would take the option to drive the hour home  (we live in a rural area, so driving an hour to get somewhere is not really a big deal).  But I still want hotel rooms to be available if people want them.

I should probably let you know that because of our rural area, there are no "nice" hotels around.  Just Comfort Inn and stuff.  I don't think anyone is going to make a weekend of it.  And with it being a rural area, I'm sure that nobody would go to a hotel around here and hear them say "Sorry, we're full tonight."  There are several hotels and, well, not many people around "these here parts."

I have already listed the hotels and their contact info on my wedding website, so that people can make reservations early if they'll need them.  But should I reserve a block of rooms too?  We'll have about 175 guests and probably...hmm... maybe 50 percent of them will be traveling from just about an hour away; maybe 10 percent will be from father than that... and the other 40 percent are nearby.
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Re: Should we reserve block hotel rooms?

  • PsyDet 2155PsyDet 2155
    500 Comments
    I think it would still be considerate to reserve a block of hotel rooms in case people DO decide to spend the night after a long day of dancing :)
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  • ehathewaehathewa
    1000 Comments
    Comfort Inns aren't bad.  Reserve a block for the convenience of your guests.  The hotel releases the rooms a month before the wedding (usually), so they won't be mad if they don't get used.  I think 15-20 rooms would be plenty. 
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  • twilight.rosetwilight.rose member
    1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    First of all, I'm not sure about how the etiquette goes with the hotels.  Will they be upset if we reserve 10 rooms and only one ends up getting used?  How does that all work?
    This will differ from hotel to hotel. Ours held the block for 60 days from the time we reserved it (our accommodations card contained the reserve-by date), then the rooms just went back on the market. We were not charged in any way for rooms that didn't get booked by our guests.

    I have already listed the hotels and their contact info on my wedding website, so that people can make reservations early if they'll need them.  But should I reserve a block of rooms too? 
    Reserving a block of rooms is simply a courtesy to your guests, should they decide to utilize it. Nobody is required to stay in the block. Your guests can certainly drive home, choose other accommodations, etc. If I were you, I would reserve a block at one of the hotels, and put that information on your wedding website as well. Our guests appreciated knowing that there was a block with a discounted rate if they wanted to go that route, even though not all of them stayed at that particular hotel.
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  • psuxray07psuxray07 member
    500 Comments
    We blocked a Comfort Inn for our guests.  How they did it for us - was blocked a certain number of rooms, and they're releasing the unused rooms 2 weeks before the wedding.  They also said anyone who cancels after this release date does not get a refund.

    It would be nice of you to do that just so they have the option, but do tell them their timeline on when the hotel will release the block.

    On our website, we listed the hotel we blocked, all the info (price, type of rooms, date to book by, etc) And also listed the amenities (indoor pool, free continental breakfast, free internet...).  Hope this helps :)
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  • hanson2Bhanson2B member
    10 Comments
    Thanks everyone!  I will do that :)
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  • TheCranberryTheCranberry member
    1000 Comments
    You may also be able to save your guests money by blocking the rooms - many hotels give a discounted rate. 
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  • scpalmtree06scpalmtree06 member
    100 Comments
    We have four hotel room blocks going for our guests, and all have the same policies as already posted, in that un-reserved rooms will just go into the general pool of available rooms as the date gets closer.  And they offer group rates.
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  • ARod22ARod22
    100 Comments
    The hotel will probably ask you to make the most accurate guess you can about how many rooms are needed, so they don't loose business over you.  However, they typically have a cut off date about a month or so before the wedding, so that if rooms that you reserved haven't been booked, they go back to teh hotel and they can be given to anybody.
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  • marissa_clairemarissa_claire member
    1000 Comments
    Just call a hotel and chat!  They've done this before, they all have policies.

    Ours gave us a discounted rate and they said they will release rooms to the public thirty days before the event, so people have until then to reserve a room.  And if people miss that date, tough luck!
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