Out of Town Guests

Although you are certainly not obligated to do so, it is a nice touch to offer activities, gatherings, and other forms of hospitality to out-of-town guests who are not part of the wedding party.

• Indicate in your master guest list which guests will be traveling from out of town.
• If out-of-town guests are staying in private homes, their hosts should be invited to any events or parties as well. Thus, be sure to provide the party hosts with the names and addresses of those who are providing accommodations.
• Send thank-you gifts or flowers to the party hosts, plus your words of appreciation. Also, thank the people who provided accommodations in their homes for your out-of-town wedding guests with thank-you gifts and notes.
• The best times for entertaining out-of-town guests may include during the rehearsal dinner, on the day of an evening wedding, or at a post-wedding brunch.

Lodging for Out-of-Town Guests

Out-of-town guests are expected to pay for their own lodging, unless they are members of the wedding party. It’s thoughtful to help out-of-town guests find places to stay:

• Reserve a block of rooms in a hotel. If a minimum number of rooms is booked, your guests may get discount room rates.
• Accept any offer from friends to put up out-of-town guests at their homes. Make sure that all involved are comfortable with the arrangement and that the hosts and the guests are a good match. Remember to give thank-you gifts to those who provide lodging.