4 ways to make wedding travel easier for out-of-town guests

Depending on the location of your wedding (local or destination), travel options need to be plentiful and affordable for in and out-of-town wedding guests to easily make their way. Even a local wedding can mean crossing state lines for some folks. (Your “local wedding” may still a “destination wedding” for some.) We do live in the digital age, after all. Because of social media, many of our friendships last longer and extend across the miles! So let’s get down to business and make traveling to your wedding easier on your out-of-town guests.

1) Provide the Essential Details

Before even tackling travel guidance, you should always start out with an itinerary! Let your guests know the list of events before they get there, so they’re prepared and packed for all of them. Make sure to include all the essential Ws: who (your friends, your family, and you!) where (the event takes place), when (it’s happening), why (the wedding weekend!). There are plenty of details you need to address and they can all live on your wedding website.

2) Create A Guest-Friendly Travel Guide

Because some of your guests may come from out of town, they could plan on turning your wedding weekend into a getaway or part of a vacation—especially if they’re taking time off. Maybe they’ve never visited the area before. Do a little bit of research (or a brainstorming session if you are familiar with the city) and set them up with sight-seeing options. What museums are of high interest? Is there a breakfast spot near the hotel they should try? Is your favorite sports team playing nearby? You want your guests to be as excited about the journey as you are about them coming to visit! Provide wedding guests with options and create an easily-accessible document, just like Glöbies Mark and Christian did.

3) Provide Guidance on Flights and Hotels

While it isn’t your responsibility to foot the bill for flights and hotels for your guests (though you may have chosen to do so, especially if it’s a small, intimate, destination wedding), helping them know all the options and find the best deal could ensure they get there. Hotels typically offer a discounted price for a block of rooms for an event. Just make sure to contact the hotels early in the planning process and make the discounts and deadline clear to your guests. (“The Hilton has offered us a discounted rate of $129/night, but make sure to book before April 3rd to get our wedding rate! Tell them you’re with the McGee party.”)

The same logic goes for flights. Look how real-life couple Broen and Kristin handled this for their guests. Inquire about frequent-flyer deals, special discounts, and group rates for those who may be flying in from the same place. Ditto car rentals. If your wedding (and all of the events) are on-location, consider car service or volunteering your little brother to pick up guests from the airport and transport them to the hotel. He won’t mind, right?

4) Add Guest Goodies to a Wedding Welcome Bag

They’re tired from traveling and paid for a hotel room for your big day. Welcome them to the festivities with a goodie basket or bag in their hotel room. Whether it’s a basket with local chocolates and a bottle of wine, your favorite chips, or just a vase of flowers, any gesture makes a difference. It lets your guests know you appreciate their effort to join you for your special day! Plus, it’s old etiquette and your future Grandmother-In-Law will be pleased. ;)

Where is your upcoming wedding? Will most of the guests be from out of town? Let us know in the comments!