October 1st wedding - need to make decision about hotel block and timing for invites

I have definitely booked rooms for a wedding before receiving the formal invitation, but I’ve never booked 6 months in advance for a wedding. I’d still only go with the block that doesn’t put you on the hook and maybe spread word to your guests that the block rate is only good through March.

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I agree with this.

Are you set on those 2 options, or are they the only options you have?? I've never heard of a hotel requiring rooms to be reserved that far in advance. They usually do the cut off at 1 month before the wedding date...so that just seems a little odd to me.

Like Sarah, I've booked rooms before getting the formal invite, but def. not that far in advance. Between the two, I'd pick the one where you aren't financially responsible and spread the word about the cut off date being that far off from the wedding. If I wasn't told, I would automatically assume I had until a month before the wedding to book.

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I know, it seems odd, right? Unfortunately, this is really the only option we have. Guests can book Airbnb's/VRBO's but there is even limited availability there.

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So odd! But then yes, I'd go with the one you aren't financially on the hook for. I feel like it's the safer move and won't stress you out about whether or not you'll have to pay the hotel.

Do you have a wedding website? You could list the hotel option that you pick, but also have a listing that just has Airbnb/Vrbo on it so guests know they have other options in case they don't book in time?

Maybe you could add a note to save-the-date cards about booking rooms by March 31st? That way, at least everyone who knows that they'll be attending no matter what can get the discounted rate. Since the majority of your guest list would be traveling, I don't think it would be unheard of to send out save-the-dates 10-12 months in advance and then the invitations 6-8 weeks (or even 10 weeks due to the traveling) in advance.

Honestly, if those are your only two options, I would forego a block entirely and just put information on accommodations on your website. We didn't do a block, because none of the local hotels had courtesy blocks available - and we didn't want to be on the hook for rooms - plus the block rates weren't great. 99.9% of our guest list had to travel (I did the math) - no one had a hard time with the fact that there wasn't a block

Go with the first, put the cut off date on the save the dates. As long as the rooms aren’t non-refundable, booking in advance isn’t a huge deal

I've only had to get a hotel once for a wedding and I reserved it when I received the save the date. Like Marianne suggested, you could put the hotel block info on the Save the date. That is what my friend did which was super nice. But that is a super early cut off date, that's so weird. Our hotel is doing 30 days out.