OOT guests - blocking rooms 101

It seems I have alot more OOTers coming to attend the wedding than I originally expected... I have no place for these folks to stay and I have no idea what the wedding ettiquette/procedure is here in getting these guests accomodations...

What's my next step? How do I go about blocking rooms? Do I have to pay for the rooms? Do I have to pay a fee to block?

Any suggestions from those who went through it are greatly appreciated....


Thanks!!

Found this answer hope it helps.


Book 20 rooms (that way the guests can choose) at two hotels with different levels of expense. Not all have to be taken but one month before the wedding, you will need to call the hotel to add or delete any rooms still needed or not used (your guests will need to know they have a time limit to book).

You can negotiate a rate with the hotel when you block the rooms. Some hotels even give cards that have a small map to the hotel, their address and phone number as well as any other pertinent information.

You do not need your credit card to hold any rooms in most hotels (I suggest confirming that with the hotel/s first because each hotel has different rules).

You will NOT be charged for rooms not picked up. Though, if you don't reserve enough rooms, its not guaranteed to be able to add extra rooms at the last minute as guests pull a surprise show. That means, any rooms above and beyond the room block are not guaranteed. If the hotel is busy and they are sold out beyond your room block, the hotel will NOT boot anyone from their room so that you can have it regardless of whether you have a room block booked or not. Hope that made sense lol. A hotel sells their rooms regardless of whether a wedding is coming in or not. They would rather receive a guaranteed profit than rooms that MIGHT come in.

Thats why you need to confirm with the hotel and your guests. I know that you would rather not be bothered keeping track of it all but it saves an even bigger headache later.

If you want to deliver OOT bags to the rooms just let the hotel know ahead of time.

We used Hilton Garden Inn at MacArthur Airport and we did not have to pay a fee for blocking rooms. Some Hotels ask you for a credit card others do not. Hilton did not. They are very good. Very good customer service. Another reason some hotels ask for your credit cards is so that you are responsible for paying for the rooms that the guests do not book. Don't use your credit card.

~dancer and chef~
charlotte and michael