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Wedding Etiquette Forum
BiaPage2
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Hotel Room Blocks / Early Check In!
Hi! I was wondering if anyone else had ever run into an issue with needing early check in at their hotels.
Our ceremony starts at 2:30 so we have a shuttle/party bus to come around 2 to bring guests from the hotel to the venue - thus we would need a 1pm check in time (possibly earlier). I understand that most hotels check is is around 3pm and I totally understand why (getting rooms cleaned getting other guests from the night before checked out, etc.) However, our ceremony and everything is outside in late October hence the slightly earlier start.
Has any other brides run into this situation with needing an earlier check in? How was it resolved?
Our ceremony starts at 2:30 so we have a shuttle/party bus to come around 2 to bring guests from the hotel to the venue - thus we would need a 1pm check in time (possibly earlier). I understand that most hotels check is is around 3pm and I totally understand why (getting rooms cleaned getting other guests from the night before checked out, etc.) However, our ceremony and everything is outside in late October hence the slightly earlier start.
Has any other brides run into this situation with needing an earlier check in? How was it resolved?
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Re: Hotel Room Blocks / Early Check In!
Otherwise they are at the mercy of the hotel. I wouldn't sweat it though. Most guests figure out how to make it work.
ETA - I've never heard of a hotel guaranteeing an early check=in. We will be happy to let anyone check-in if there is a room available, but that is all you can do.
What you can do is ask the hotel if you can pay for a hospitality suite or conference room in which guests can leave their personal belongings. Depending on the amount of rooms you have booked, there may be a slight chance, and for a fee, you could arrange for your block to be prepared prior to the typical hotel cleaning scenario. I'm surprised a shuttle service is being allowed to transport what is technically non-checked in guests.
If I were a guest for your wedding, I would assume I would need to arrive the day prior to the wedding.
Where is your wedding being held that you can have an entirely outdoor event in late October? What is your back up plan?
ETA. I just saw that your wedding is in northern New Jersey. I am going to (hopefully) assume that when you say "everything is outside", you mean the event is outside, but in a tent with space heaters.
Put a note on your website or insert with the shuttle info that it leaves before the hotel check-in. Your guests will make their own arrangements as long as you provide all the relevant information.
I figured I was at the mercy of the hotel but wanted to see if anyone had run into this themselves or had any creative solutions or had a pleasant experience working with their hotels in some way or another.
Yes my wedding is in Northern NJ; the tent is heated should it be a cold day; the venue is also in a rural location so amplified music has to end at 9pm - which also contributes to the earlier start.
http://www.crossedkeys.com/
The venue does 50+ outdoor weddings a year dealing with all kinds of weather and having this earlier start time so I'm sure I'm not the only one who's had to make such an arrangement - so maybe my venue will have some advice for me as well.
Thanks again everyone
QFT. Also, OP, I would guess most of your guests travelling will check in the night before. Honestly, I can't imagine trying to check in early Saturday for a wedding where I have to leave at 2pm. You have a hotel block, people can make their own plans.