Making Guests Feel at Home: Taking Care of Out-of-Town Guests
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Guests who travel out of town for a wedding attend because they truly want to share your special day with you. To thank your out-of-town guests for their good wishes, keep the following hospitable ideas in mind.
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Wedding Itinerary
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After you receive responses to your invitation, send out a wedding itinerary to out-of-town guests. The itinerary can be as formal, casual, or funny as you want it to be. The main point of the itinerary is to help guests have a better understanding of what their weekend will hold - and to get them excited about the upcoming event. When creating the itinerary make sure to include the following things:
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Schedule of Events -
Keeping guests informed of all wedding activities will keep them at ease. Be sure to include the times and places of all specially planned activities.
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Free Time -
Let guests know about any free time they’ll have - and how they can fill it.
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Dress Code -
Specify what type of clothing to pack for each activity they might participate in.
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Mapping it Out -
Include a map. If guests are unfamiliar with the area, also include a simple travel guide filled with information about the city and tourist hotspots.
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In-town Accommodations
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Your packet should also include suggestions on where to stay. It’s a good idea to offer a range of options to your guests, from budget hotels to more deluxe accommodations. You may even want to contact a local hotel or two beforehand, and block off a select amount of rooms at a discounted rate. This way, your guests will be able to stay in the same hotel - and enjoy a good deal.
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In-town Transportation
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Some guests may choose to rent cars - others may not. Include rental car information and the numbers of taxi services (if there is taxi service in your area). You may also want to consider hiring a car, bus, or limo service to shuttle your guests to and from the wedding location. Or, organize in town guests to help with transportation needs.
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Care Package
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Create welcome packages for all your guests and leave them in their hotel rooms or at the check-in desk. After a long trip, fresh fruit or homemade cookies are a wonderful welcome. Remember to attach a personal note thanking your guests for making the trip, and include another copy of the itinerary complete with the phone numbers of the bride, groom, and other family members.
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One-on-One Time
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Most of all, remember to spend some quality time with any out-of-town guests. Make sure to pull them aside and thank them for making the effort to celebrate your special day.
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