| With families and friends scattered far and wide | | | | asked to pitch in to help assemble programs, pick |
| these days, you are likely to end up with quite a | | | | up tuxes, and retrieve other incoming guests |
| few guests who are traveling in from out of | | | | from the airport. |
| town. Often times these visitors will want to | | | | For those guests whom you will not be putting to |
| come a few days before the wedding, which may | | | | work, it is a good idea to give them some ideas |
| leave you wondering how to entertain them while | | | | for activities that they may enjoy. You will be far |
| finalizing your wedding plans. These are some tips | | | | too busy in the last moments before your |
| about hosting out of town wedding guests. | | | | wedding to play tour guide, so your best bet is to |
| First of all, do not agree to have company stay | | | | spend some time well before your wedding |
| at your house if it will increase your stress level. | | | | putting together a list of suggestions for your |
| You will have enough to do without feeling like | | | | guests. Things to include might be: information on |
| you have to clean your house and cook gourmet | | | | local museums, shopping and restaurants, walking |
| meals for guests. Of course, if the guests are the | | | | tours, and anything else special to your area, |
| sort who will clean the house for you and do all | | | | whether it is wine tasting in Napa Valley or taking |
| the cooking, by all means, invite them to stay! | | | | a whale watching boat tour off of Cape Cod. This |
| Otherwise, help them out by booking a block of | | | | is your chance to share with your friends and |
| rooms at a nearby hotel so that all of your | | | | family whatever you love best about the place |
| wedding guests can get the best rate. For | | | | that you live. |
| bridesmaids and groomsmen, it is ideal if you can | | | | An easy way to convey your ideas for activities |
| find a friend with a guest room so that they do | | | | is to post it on your wedding website. This will |
| not have to pay for a hotel room on top of the | | | | give everyone ample time to decide on which |
| other expenses that come with being in a | | | | things most interest them, as well as to pack |
| wedding. | | | | accordingly. It would be a nice touch to have a |
| When it is your immediate family coming in a few | | | | paper copy printed out for guests to pick up |
| days before your wedding, the best way to | | | | when they check in to their hotel, so they have a |
| occupy them is to put them to work! Most | | | | handy list to which they can refer. |
| relatives will be thrilled to be useful, and there are | | | | Finally, think about having a pre-wedding get |
| many last minute tasks and errands that they can | | | | together for the guests who arrive early. More |
| help to take off of the bride and groom's plate. | | | | and more couples are opting to host an informal |
| Do you need someone to go pick up your | | | | party that includes all of the out of town guests |
| wedding dress, veil, and jewelry? Great, Aunt | | | | rather than a formal rehearsal dinner for the |
| Susie can do it so you can get ready for the | | | | wedding party only. This allows you to spend |
| rehearsal. Do you want to have your wedding ring | | | | more time with your guests, and it gives them |
| and other jewelry freshly cleaned so it sparkles at | | | | something fun to do while they await the main |
| your ceremony? Send your mom to do it while | | | | event. |
| you get your manicure. Other family can be | | | | |