Hotel Rates - How much would YOU be willing to spend?

spudshirley · April 2013

Hi everyone! We are having our wedding at Nanina's in the Park in Belleville. They recommended 2 hotels. One was a Courtyard Marriot, which we were not impressed with. The other was a Renaissance that was wonderful, but it is $169 a night! We feel that this is way too much to ask guests to spend, especially when many will be out of state and will have to stay at a hotel.

What rate do you find acceptable? How much would you be willing to spend as a guest?

JoanE2012 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_hotel-rates-how-much-would-you-be-willing-to-spend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:c8abbcd5-f089-46a6-ac98-f9e9bf70a81cPost:b7b39451-2851-436b-b048-b3ba6feaa321">Hotel Rates - How much would YOU be willing to spend?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi everyone! We are having our wedding at Nanina's in the Park in Belleville. They recommended 2 hotels. One was a Courtyard Marriot, which we were not impressed with. The other was a Renaissance that was wonderful, but it is $169 a night! We feel that this is way too much to ask guests to spend, especially when many will be out of state and will have to stay at a hotel. What rate do you find acceptable? How much would you be willing to spend as a guest?
Posted by spudshirley[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>We managed to get our hotel room block for $99/night. Personally, I like being at or under the $129-$139 price point. I wouldn't be screaming at $169 though, especially if it's only one night. Do they include breakfast? That's always a plus.

</div>

bereasonable2 · April 2013

If I'm going to a friend's wedding out of town, they'd have to be pretty good friends of mine. I'd spend a good chunk of change and not complain. $169 is not bad at all... unless your friends are cheap or aren't very close friends.

jcg98 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_hotel-rates-how-much-would-you-be-willing-to-spend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:c8abbcd5-f089-46a6-ac98-f9e9bf70a81cPost:ea4377fd-7d13-4995-9045-0104e203679d">Re: Hotel Rates - How much would YOU be willing to spend?</a>:
[QUOTE]If I'm going to a friend's wedding out of town, they'd have to be pretty good friends of mine. I'd spend a good chunk of change and not complain<strong>.$169 is not bad at all... unless your friends are cheap or aren't very close friends. </strong>
Posted by bereasonable2[/QUOTE]

<div>That's pretty unfair. $169 maybe not be "bad at all" for some people, and for others it might price them out of attending (particularly if they are factoring other travel costs, attire, gift...it adds up.)</div><div>
</div><div>OP - if you go with the Renaissance, just be prepared that some people might make their own accommodations if they find the price too steep (which may only be an issue for you if you guarantee a certain number of rooms.) Also, if those were the only two hotels recommended by your venue, you may want to check others out on your own before deciding.</div>

bereasonable2 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_hotel-rates-how-much-would-you-be-willing-to-spend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:c8abbcd5-f089-46a6-ac98-f9e9bf70a81cPost:7dfa6e24-b1c8-49ee-b6f9-22f6088ddbe3">Re: Hotel Rates - How much would YOU be willing to spend?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Hotel Rates - How much would YOU be willing to spend? : That's pretty unfair. $169 maybe not be "bad at all" for some people, and for others it might price them out of attending (particularly if they are factoring other travel costs, attire, gift...it adds up.) OP - if you go with the Renaissance, just be prepared that some people might make their own accommodations if they find the price too steep (which may only be an issue for you if you guarantee a certain number of rooms.) Also, if those were the only two hotels recommended by your venue, you may want to check others out on your own before deciding.
Posted by jcg98[/QUOTE]

<div>Why is that not fair? If it's too expensive or too much money to spend for a GOOD friend, then there's no problem. Have them shack up 5 to a room like back in college then. LOL</div>

Aliadee1984 · April 2013

We blocked at two hotels- for some of our family members 169 would be a stretch, and for others maybe not. So we blocked off a less expensive further away hotel with shuttle, and less rooms at the closer more expensive hotel.

Shan1214 · April 2013

Seems a bit steep because $169 turns into $190 with the taxes, etc.

jcg98 · April 2013

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_hotel-rates-how-much-would-you-be-willing-to-spend?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:c8abbcd5-f089-46a6-ac98-f9e9bf70a81cPost:4c3a2d06-ac32-4a93-a763-033b138d43a3">Re: Hotel Rates - How much would YOU be willing to spend?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Hotel Rates - How much would YOU be willing to spend? : Why is that not fair? If it's too expensive or too much money to spend for a GOOD friend, then there's no problem. Have them shack up 5 to a room like back in college then. LOL
Posted by bereasonable2[/QUOTE]

<div>It's not fair to be called cheap if one cannot afford that price. In fact it's pretty offensive. Have you ever been not able to afford things? It sucks. It doesn't make you cheap.</div>

flojo973 · April 2013

I don't think that's too expensive but I might be biased because my two hotels are $195 and $250. I was really concerned about this but about 95% of the guests have booked at the hotels. You'll just need to be prepared if people can't come because of the price.

I was originally quoted higher than that, but everything is negotiable. I would call back and see if they can get the price down for you.

jcg98 · April 2013

Again, I don't think it's so much that people won't come, but rather a few might look around for their own accommodations in their price range. And that is only an issue if OP guarantees a certain number of rooms based on her guest list.

SewInLoveWithDMB · April 2013

It's not unreasonable, but it is high. There might be guests who may not be able to afford it - in addition to travel costs and a gift. As stated above, it doesn't make them cheap. It just makes them not able to afford it. Big difference.

The other hotel - the one that wasn't impressive - was it under $100? You can still offer that and then let guests make their own decision.

jcg98 · April 2013

Yes, that's a good point, Sew. I've definitely received invitations with more than 1 hotel listed. It's usually pretty clear which one is the "wedding" hotel (i.e. shuttle service, day-after brunch, where the B&G will be staying) but for guests on a budget, a lower price point is appreciated.

B2Z728 · April 2013

What is the regular room rate for the hotel? I wouldn't really want to spend over $150 a night, so I might look around to see what the other hotel prices are like in the area. Like others have said, it's not unreasonable but on the high side. In the end, I might just bite it and pay the $169 if that's where all my family and friends were staying but I wouldn't be that happy with the price.

SummerGrl15 · April 2013

Just because the venue is recommending a hotel, doesn't mean you have to go with that hotel. Our venue recommended a hotel that I didn't go with. I found a different hotel in the area that I liked better and they offered a better rate. They are providing a shuttle to the venue also.

I think $169 is a tad high, but it is not unreasonable. Everyone's financial situation is different though.
Our hotel gave us a rate of $139.

mrslavis · April 2013

My wedding hotel is $169 and given this area, which is really isolated and thus expensive, I did not think it was that bad a rate. It included full breakfast, saved on wedding brunch woot woot, in the morning and had the added conveniece of people being able to walk safely from the reception and after party directly to their room. Frankly I think it is worth the $30 versus driving another ten miles down the road, potentially inhiberated. But in all honestly people have the internet and can google other arrangements too. I personally feel I have negogiated my best and am truly trying to be as helpful as possible. We have talked about being accomodating and just being overly hand holding and and places like have several hotels and buses for all guests versus provided clear directions we had to draw the line - else we were going to end up overwhelmed and wedding poor. Just our opinion though. Would love to hear how others are handling transportation. I want to be reasonably fair. Do you transport your party? What about their spouses?

Chrissy241987 · April 2013

$169 would be steep fpr me. Especially if I was traveling to begin with and the associated costs.

spudshirley · April 2013

Sorry it took me forever to respond!!

First of all, as many people are saying on here, people aren't "cheap" because they don't want to pay $169 for a hotel room. Secondly, most of the people coming are family, and I want to make it an enjoyable time for them WITHOUT putting strain on their wallets, especially when they are already flying/driving to NJ to come to our wedding. Maybe I'm a thoughtful and courteous bride, unlike others who think "well if they won't spend that then they shouldn't come", but having my family there without feeling strapped for cash and being comfortable and being able to enjoy themselves is very important to me. I don't want the hotel room price to be a burden. I had emailed the hotel telling them it was very high, but so far I've had no response back (2 days ago now).

Neither hotel offered a free breakfast - we had to pay extra for each, which was very pricey.

The first hotel that we were unimpressed with was $129. What bothered me MOST about that hotel was the fact that there were no safes in the room, but at the front desk for guests. To some people this may not seem like a huge factor. However, with out of state family who will most likely come the night before, they should have somewhere safe to place their jewelry they may wear to the wedding, as well as their gifts/cards they may be bringing with them. Not only that, but on the night of the wedding when we get back to the hotel, I personally want my own safe, in my room, to put our cards which, let's be serious, will have money in them. No way I'm bringing them to the front desk safe!

bereasonable2 · April 2013

So, pay for one night or both nights of their hotel stay. Problem solved. I don't know any grown adults that can't or won't spend a few hundred dollars on a hotel or travel to see someone they actually care about. I know I would.

I find that it's usually a case of not WANTING to spend the money as opposed to not being able to. I bet they'll book that trip to Cabo for themselves or their family without blinking.

AJuliaNJ · April 2013

Both of our blocked hotels are more than that. We're getting married in Hoboken so there are not many inexpensive options without going further out of the way. People are smart enough to figure out they can book elsewhere. We have a lot of people who have booked already at our block hotels and we have a few that found others. It's not like the block is the only place they can stay.

Dancer2873 · April 2013

It depends on the time of year. we got our hotel block at the wilshire grand in february for 129, but at a first come first serve basis so the next couple that might try to get a room might get the discount rate of 159. My fiance's sister is getting married in June and blocked the same hotel for their block and it's 179 for the night. We might share a room to lower the costs. We live closer to home but for close family and friends we will stay unless we are broke because I would rather give them a better gift than pay for a hotel when I might not even seem them. If is a far drive it all depends on the time the reception ends. For me I try to find economic ways to make it work if I wanted or needed to stay. The reason we picked the wilshire grand is because it had a lot of complimentary things for the guests and the complimentary shuttle. We hope all 15 rooms book or else we are stuck covering the rooms that are not covered, which makes me a little wary but I think it will work out. **Knock on Wood** Good Luck!

jenmcbride13 · April 2013

I had the same problem. We are having an October wedding and we have a lot of people from out of state and south Jersey that will have to stay. The place we went to first was $209 we shopped around a little and got a Double Tree within 10 minutes of our venue in Shrewsbury (we will also have to provide transprtation) and they were down to $109. I had a wedding last year in AC with no blocked rooms left on a weekend and we paid about $250 for it. That was a little high for me but it is what we wanted and we wanted to be safe and not drive.

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