Wedding Etiquette: Directions & Accommodations

In a world of Google, GPS and Travelocity, it's hard to justify including additional wedding stationery for directions and accommodations.  But similarly to many other wedding traditions that are only adjusted as time goes on, these additional items can be extremely helpful to you and your guests.

DIRECTION CARDS:

Not everyone will need a direction card, but it is courteous to include it for those who are unfamiliar with the location of the wedding/reception.  Despite the fact that almost everyone has access to a smart phone or direction-retrieving device, these items are not perfect and a map between hotel and ceremony or ceremony and reception is extremely helpful for out of town guests.

We have all been there: driving to a friends house and suddenly you are asked to go straight through a dead end street... or "your destination is on the right" (in the middle of corn field??)... or construction is in the way and your GPS insists on taking the road that is now a giant hole...

Obviously, if your ceremony and reception are in the same location, or your accommodation arrangements are within sight of (or in the same building as) the ceremony/reception, you can likely skip a direction card altogether.  Otherwise, I recommend having directions and/or a map for out of town guests.

ACCOMMODATION CARDS:

Accommodation cards, like direction cards, are extremely helpful for out of town guests, but are not necessary for everyone.

Many hotels will reserve a number of rooms for you (occasionally at a lower cost) until a certain date.  Be sure to ask for such services before sending information to your guests and give them the deadline.  The last thing you want to run into a week before your wedding is your best friend from college not being able to find reservations!

Along with the hotel name and address, be sure to include:

• Hotel phone number
• Hotel website
• Registration deadline
• Discount or coverage information (should you choose to cover a portion or all of the cost of accommodations for your guests)

WORDING EXAMPLES:

Ashlee & Calvin's Wedding

July 7, 2016

Desert View ($175/night)

180 Main Street Freeport, ME

(321) 789-1012

Oaisis Inn ($257/night)

213 Main Street Gilbert, AZ

(321) 789-1011

Please reserve your rooms by June 1st

Mention our names to get the group discount price.

_____

We have chosen our favorite local inn for your stay and

they are offering special rates for our special day.

Please reserve by June 1st and reference the Whittaker/Gray wedding.

The Dearborn Inn
7755 Oakwood
Gilbert, Arizona 85233
(321) 789-1011
www.theinnatfoxhollow.com
RATES: $179 per night

I hope you found this information helpful and have a better idea as to whether or not you even need to include these papers in your stationery kit.  If you have any other questions or comments on anything that I may have missed, be sure to leave it in the comments below!