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Taking Care of Out-of-Towners

Chances are there will be guests coming to your wedding that live hours away. While you are not obligated to pay for any of their extra expenses, it’s nice to help as much as you can with travel arrangements and to make their stay as comfortable as possible. Here are a few ideas for the thoughtful bride:

• Research hotels in your area. Find two with good reputations and different price ranges. If you know there will be many guests needing overnight accommodations, then reserve a block of rooms at each and send the hotel information with your invitations. By reserving the rooms in bulk, you might also get your guests a less expensive rate. 

• Send out a wedding newsletter early on. Create a newsletter letting them know the date of your wedding, as well as any other travel information that may be helpful. By informing them as early as possible, your guests can find cheaper airfare. Create a newsletter letting them know the date of your wedding, as well as any other travel information that may be helpful. By informing them as early as possible, your guests can find cheaper airfare. 

• Provide them with rental car information for those traveling by air. If you can afford it, arrange to have a car service pick them up at the airport. It’s a nice way to welcome them.

• Provide them with transportation to and from the wedding. This is a really nice gesture for your out-of-town guests that don’t know their way around your city or town. It is also good for any elderly guests that might have trouble driving. A mini-bus or van can be rented for the day and you can ask a friend to be the chauffer.

• Place gift baskets in their room before they arrive. Include food, candy, any local "delicacies", bottle of wine or mineral water, tourist information, map and a special thank you from the bride and groom. Include food, candy, any local "delicacies", bottle of wine or mineral water, tourist information, map and a special thank you from the bride and groom. 

• Consider inviting them to the rehearsal dinner. Another popular idea is having an out-of-town brunch the day after your wedding, before you go on your honeymoon.

Next:Thank-you notes