A bridal couple is not responsible for finding lodging for every guest when planning their wedding. However, out of town guests may not be familiar with local motel options and locations. Providing a listing of conveniently located hotels is a thoughtful gesture and can increase the number of people who will attend your ceremony. Provide several hotel options if at all possible. A retired couple might enjoy a quiet bed and breakfast within easy walking distance of historic or shopping districts. A family with young children might need places to burn off some exuberance and excitement in the early morning without disturbing other guests. By offering several locations with different price points and amenities, you will allow your guests to choose the lodging which best fits their wallets and their lifestyles.
The Kansas Bed and Breakfast Association offers a listing of all its members located across the state. The search feature is easy to navigate and will provide pictures, phone numbers and addresses for many locations in both eastern and western Kansas. Web site links are offered when available and most links have a listing of accommodation highlights. Major hotel and motel chains all offer websites and internet reservations. Country Inns and Suites has a large selection of Kansas locations throughout the state. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce has a local directory link on its website to put you in touch with a city-by-city listing of its members. Lodging companies are usually members of these types of organizations and a local employee of the Chamber can provide guidance.
For brides and grooms planning a wedding in or around the larger cities of eastern Kansas, finding a broad selection of accommodations should not be a problem. It becomes a different story when you head out into western Kansas. Towns grow farther apart and so do the options for wedding accommodations. When planning a wedding for a venue in the more rural parts of Kansas, consider your guests. If the closest motel is 60 miles away and will require an hour on a two-lane county highway, an afternoon wedding will allow guests to attend the reception without facing a deer dodging drive in the dark as an added bonus. Guests with an urban background won't be familiar with the lack of landmarks and road signs to guide them back to their hotel. One friend of mine held her dream wedding on her parent's farm, far from any type of lodging, and then offered the reception in the lobby of a chain hotel in a neighboring town several hours later. This allowed the couple to marry in the barn her grandfather built with his own hands and offer guests a knock out reception without travel worries. Some creative planning and an honest assessment of the travel challenges of your guests will go a long way in resolving these types of issues.
Urban or rural, once you have found possible rooms for your guests, you will need to find a way to communicate this information to the people who need it. Many modern couples are offering personal websites where guests can find the phone numbers of the accommodations you recommend, gift registries and other pertinent wedding information. A separate insert in the wedding invitation, listing the name, address, and contact information for area lodging is also acceptable. Inform guests if you have reserved a block of rooms at a special rate for the wedding and provide any special details they will need to give to the reservation desk when booking their rooms.
While it is not the bride and groom's responsibility to find the perfect room for every guest, it is a thoughtful couple who considers the comfort of out of town friends and family. These guests want to celebrate and honor your wedding with you. By giving some consideration to where these special people will stay, you will demonstrate the value you place on their attendance.
