hotel blocks

is this driving anyone else nutso?!?!?!?!

I am not overly thrilled with any choices-- shuttles only offered for a minimum room bookings; room prices; hotel bars; breakfasts. No hotel is giving me the best of all of the above.

NOW, stupid me, I just realized that my ceremony starts at 1:30 but hotels don't have check ins until 2 at the earliest.
The hotels can not guarantee me an early check in. So now what do I do about this??? I want shuttles picking up guests at hotel at 12:30. I don't want my guests schlepping their luggage to my hall, plus their cars will be at hall now

any suggestions???

Did you check out Viana? I know for Sand Castle the shuttle is free and we only had to have 8 rooms. The bar stays open until late too. As far as breakfast goes I am having little packages sent to everyones room with 2 bagels and cream cheese and butter. Each room has a Keurig so none of my guests have to race down for breakfast and they can just chill from a late night of drinking. LOL

Also...regarding the early check in. They might not be able to check in but I am pretty sure that they WILL hold their luggae espcially if they are guests of that night. I don't see why any hotel would have a problem with that.

Viana has shuttle after 8 rooms, otherwise it's $435. Considering the price is $159 for a sunday in february, and I may have to pay for shuttle in the end, is just ridiculous to me! I don't know how to guarantee rooms. I know we will use at least 4 definitely.
Yea, I guess they should be able to hold luggage at least. Just sux if my guests wanted to get ready there

This may seem strange but... have you considered not doing one?

Despite a guest list that is 60 % out of town, we're not likely doing a hotel block.

Very simply put, we know a lot of our family and friends will stay at their family's house due to affordability. Of those who don't have family in town, and we know will rely on hotels - we're putting together a list.

We're making sure we mention hotels both by our ceremony, and those by us (where we live) Then giving everything from affordable decent hotels to luxury. We're including a '$' to '$$$' scale to let people know rough prices.

They are adults. We expect them to figure it out.

I booked at the Viana, but my decision wasn't too hard since there are a million hotels in the Woodbury area. I did the max number of rooms with no obligation and got a shuttle through my limo company at a great price. Most of our guests are from LI, but I still wanted people to have the option of being able to party and not worry about driving home. Have you talked to your venue by any chance about the hotel? The person who you are working with at your venue I'm sure has had this issue once before so see if he/she could make a suggestion?

I don't agree with the idea that everyone is an adult and they'll figure it out themselves though. I've been invited and left to fend for myself before and it was a big headache. These people will be taking time out of their schedule and I'm assuming they will be giving you a large amount of money. The least you can do is have a suggested hotel at a discount rate for them. But that's just my opinion.

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Posted by Butterflyfaye


This may seem strange but... have you considered not doing one?

Despite a guest list that is 60 % out of town, we're not likely doing a hotel block.

Very simply put, we know a lot of our family and friends will stay at their family's house due to affordability. Of those who don't have family in town, and we know will rely on hotels - we're putting together a list.

We're making sure we mention hotels both by our ceremony, and those by us (where we live) Then giving everything from affordable decent hotels to luxury. We're including a '$' to '$$$' scale to let people know rough prices.

They are adults. We expect them to figure it out.

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They can definitely figure it out, and it is very nice that you're giving them options. The price guide is a great idea. However, blocking hotel rooms usually means a reduced rate for your guests and usually some other perks like a shuttle or free room for you and FH!

Are there any marriotts nearby? I've never had a bad experience with a marriott. I'm booked at the marriott in Farmingdale. The bar is open until 2, they give a shuttle if 10 rooms book (I know they will), a free room if 15 rooms book (they probably will), and the group rates were great.

This is also been a torn in my side. I've called soooo many hotels and limo companies. It's so frustrating! I want to get the best price for our OOO guests, but I also want to get the most bang for our buck.

I found one hotel that offers breakfast and a shuttle, but is more expensive. The other hotels are cheaper, but don't offer breakfast or shuttle. FH and I don't have the funds to pay for a shuttle or a breakfast on Sunday.

I actually spoke to my Grandmother and she told me to go with the hotel with the shuttle and not to stress about it, even if it was more expensive. So that is want we will probably end up doing.

It's always nice to give your OOO guests an option. We are also going to do OOO Bags to say Thank You for everyone going the extra mile and traveling to be apart of our wedding.

thank you, ladies!!!! It just sux that our wedding is a sunday, so it's kinda hard to gauge who would stay on a sunday night. Our OOT mostly stay with family. Very few will need hotel out of necessity. I spoke with Camelot and got a great deal for a shuttle. Considering Viana is the only one out of our 6 narrowed down choices that offer shuttle, we can't guarantee that minimum 8 rooms and if we don't get the shuttle, I have no rationale for $159 a night, plus it's not super close to SC anyway. Best Western is closest to my hall out of my choices and rooms are only $119 a night. (Plus with both my brother having hotels for $139 on a Saturday for their weddings, I feel super rude having it $20 more on a sunday) The hotel is looking into options for me-they will hold luggage though for the guests.
I def want a block bc I can't imagine making my guests feel as annoyed as I am. Plus the whole point for a shuttle is so no one drinks and drives. Safety first! Yea, they're adults, doesn't mean I should not be considerate.
I want to do OOT bags too! soo cute-even if they are all local.
FH suggested we just get a room for the night before and drop off our crap early on. Plus, if anyone needs, they can use our room to get ready in.
This is annoying, but thank u all for ur advice, feedback and letting me know I'm not the only one!

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Posted by FutureMrsSweeney

This is also been a torn in my side. I've called soooo many hotels and limo companies. It's so frustrating! I want to get the best price for our OOO guests, but I also want to get the most bang for our buck.

I found one hotel that offers breakfast and a shuttle, but is more expensive. The other hotels are cheaper, but don't offer breakfast or shuttle. FH and I don't have the funds to pay for a shuttle or a breakfast on Sunday.

I actually spoke to my Grandmother and she told me to go with the hotel with the shuttle and not to stress about it, even if it was more expensive. So that is want we will probably end up doing.

It's always nice to give your OOO guests an option. We are also going to do OOO Bags to say Thank You for everyone going the extra mile and traveling to be apart of our wedding.

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Do you mind sharing what hotel this was?

I am having the same problem with my ceremony starting at 2:30 and check-in starting at 3. What my guests will do is (if they plan on attending the ceremony) go to the ceremony, and since I have a large gap between ceremony and reception, check in before the reception and freshen up. Also, you can have the cute hotel bags for them that include things they can use to do that! For example, some breath mints, a bottle of water, maybe even some hairspray.

Bottom line, I think it is important to stay calm. Your guests will figure it out, and if they want to see you get married badly enough, they will make it happen!!

I haven't even started this yet! I imagine it will be difficult because you really don't know who is going to end up staying with family.
When I travelled OOT for a wedding a shuttle would have been awesome and hotel blocks are really appreciated because these people didn't do one and we weren't sure if the hotel was in an inconvenient or not so nice area.
I am not really any help because I haven't looked into it, but I agree to just don't go too nuts and do the best you can!

We have booked with Viana and the Hyatt Garden City to give a price range for our Floral Park wedding. Hyatt does not have a shuttle, but we will work with our limo company Camelot if we have a lot of people book there. I am considering a third, cheaper option but may just provide alternative suggestions.
Viana seemed really nice to work with(Kim is our contact) and if all goes well with a tour, we will use them for our wedding night!

Thanks, girls! We may just pay for an extra room, that way if anyone needs a space to get ready, they can use that empty room. Plus my MoH is coming from Bahamas, so if they stay there, i am sure she would people get ready in their room if needed as well.

Thanks, girls! We may just pay for an extra room, that way if anyone needs a space to get ready, they can use that empty room. Plus my MoH is coming from Bahamas, so if they stay there, i am sure she would people get ready in their room if needed as well.