Marla asks: “We’re lucky to have family and friends from all over whom we hope will come to our wedding. I’d like to offer them a variety of places for lodging, because I know that there are many different tastes and styles amongst them. What can you suggest?”
Dear Marla: It’s the good hostess who thinks of what will make her guests comfortable. Indeed, when it comes to lodging, there are different strokes for different folks. It’s courteous to offer a range of styles and of prices, so each of your guests will find one to their liking.
There are many choices — hotels, motels, resorts, bed-and-breakfasts, inns, retreats — and there are advantages to each. If the motel or hotel is a part of a national chain, you and your guests will know that there are standards of service they and you can expect. Today, some motels and most hotels are full-service. Your guests can expect to find somewhere to catch a bite, in room service, a game room, and an exercises facility. For guests who need to keep an eye on business while they travel to your event, many motels and hotels offer a business center. They can comfortably accommodate singles, couples and families. Connecting or adjoining rooms are particularly convenient for families with children.
With a resort, you get everything that a hotel can offer in terms of activities and amenities… and then some. A resort is a good choice if your guests are going to have a lot of “downtime” to spend between the different parts of your wedding celebration. Hotels and resorts are the most likely of the lodging choices to set aside (block) rooms for you, while smaller places may require that in order to “hold” a room, you need to put down a deposit, or pay in full, either of which may not be refundable if the reservation is canceled.
For guests who would prefer a smaller, homier atmosphere, a B&B, or an inn may be a better choice. Such lodging is cozier. Rooms at B&Bs are often individually and beautifully decorated. Because they’re are privately owned, it’s a good idea to select one based on recommendations and/or pay a visit yourself to check it out.
Check out our list of local B&Bs and hotels here. Got comments or a good wedding story? Include it in the box below, or submit your own question to “The Wedding Guru” by e-mailing judy@hvmag.com.