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June 2021

Room blocks

Dj Tanner, on July 16, 2020 at 6:29 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 15

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I keep going back and forth between deciding to do a room block at a hotel or book a few rooms just in case for my guests. Has anyone had a bad experience with booking rooms or doing room blocks?My sister asked me if I was doing a room block and said she wanted to book a room, which I don’t understand why because my wedding will be over around 1030 and she doesn’t live very far from the venue. She doesn’t drink much and she will be with my niece who is 5. She’s also the type of person that will more than likely back out and say that she wants to drive home instead and then I will be stuck paying for a room that she doesn’t want which I’m 95% positive will happen. Should I leave it up to my guests to figure out their own arrangements, or is it my responsibility to have something just in case?

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15 Comments

Master July 2019
Hannah Online · on July 16, 2020 at 6:32 PM
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I booked a courtesy room block, which meant that I had zero financial obligations for anyone's room but my own. The guests still got the block discount. If you have to put any money down or have any financial obligation, I wouldn't.
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Super May 2021
Stacey · on July 16, 2020 at 6:34 PM
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I think those make most sense in places where there are limited choices in terms of hotels, or when you have a lot of guests coming who all know each other and would want to stay in the same place. I debated doing a room block for quite awhile, but decided not to, because there’s tons of local hotel choices that I don’t think will sell out, and most of our out of town guests are family/friends who don’t really know each other and therefore it doesn’t matter if they are all spread out at different places. We are definitely providing our recommendations, but not officially blocking rooms off.
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Devoted August 2022
Sinaya · on July 16, 2020 at 6:42 PM
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I plan to do a courtesy room block so I won’t be financial responsible for any rooms that are not booked. It’s a good idea if you have other people who may be traveling far to attend the wedding. They get a discount on the room.
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June 2021
Dj Tanner · on July 16, 2020 at 6:49 PM
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Yeah, this is what I’m gonna have to try to find it seems. So far I’ve only called one hotel to request the courtesy block. They said that they do “courtesy blocks“ however they don’t actually block the rooms, but they will offer a discount to my guests. So I was kind of just like well what good does that do if all the rooms become taken. Hopefully I can find a place that does regular courtesy blocks close to the venue. My venue has an inn on site which would be perfect seeing as how it’s open bar, but they don’t offer any sort of room block or discount or anything and its pretty pricey.
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Devoted August 2022
Sinaya · on July 16, 2020 at 7:33 PM
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Yeah that's what a courtesy block is; it's a discount on the rooms without actually blocking the rooms off. That's why you wouldn't be responsible for any costs. There are hotels that do room blocks where they do block a certain amount of rooms off for you, but you are responsible for paying for any rooms that don't get booked. So unless you know for sure people will book those rooms I wouldn't go that route. That's why people usually do the courtesy block. It's up to your guests to book in advance and take advantage of the discount, and you won't pay anything if it doesn't get used.
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June 2021
Dj Tanner · on July 16, 2020 at 7:45 PM
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Ah ok. I guess I was a little confused on the whole courtesy block deal.
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Super November 2019
Mrs. S · on July 16, 2020 at 7:55 PM
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I’d book a courtesy room block where there is no fee for unbooked rooms like pp were explaining. People like to have a place to stay for lots of reasons. They’ll get a discount but you won’t pay anything. Even if they’re not traveling they might just enjoy a peaceful weekend away from home.
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June 2021
Dj Tanner · on July 16, 2020 at 8:02 PM
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Yeah, I think I’m definitely going to do that at this point. I guess I was just thinking more so of if all of the rooms become unavailable by the time people try to book them or if someone decides last minute once they’re at my wedding that they want to find a place to stay ie if they’re a little too buzzed to drive. But I guess worst case scenario they can always stay at the inn that my venue has, its just pretty pricey.
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Expert May 2021
Michelle · on July 16, 2020 at 8:47 PM
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We have a full hold on the hotel rooms for 4 nights. The rooms are fully blocked. They are not offering a discount to my guests. All guests are responsible for booking their rooms, and paying for them. And of course anyone that stays longer than 4 days should book right away (due to covid) my wedding has 9 hours of travelling requiring 2-3 plane changes. I couldn’t imagine adding extra stress of actually booking rooms for people! All guest are 100% responsible to make sure their rooms are booked. I know there will be people that will wait until the last minute, and will probably be very disappointed when there are no rooms available for longer than 4 nights. But I can’t be the hotel booking police sooooo.....ya lol
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Expert October 2019
Kimberly · on July 16, 2020 at 9:01 PM
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I did a room block...the hotel did charge extra for the block as apposed to guests booking on there own. My suggestion is to give your guests a list of hotel options near your venue and let them book on their own. They'll get a better price that way.
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Super February 2021
Kerin · on July 16, 2020 at 10:42 PM
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I actually had a really easy, smooth, great experience blocking rooms. I used wedding wires room blocking page, sent information requests to 3 hotels, 1 responded right away with exactly the kind of info I needed and we nailed it down within a few days, with no money out of our pocket. They gave us a deadline for guests to reserve, which we are using to gauge when to send our invitations (making sure everyone has a full month to decide to book a room). I highly recommend it.
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Devoted July 2021
Jeni · on July 16, 2020 at 11:32 PM
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If someone waits until the last minute to get a room they won't get the discount. Regular room blocks, courtsey room blocks, and discount codes all have deadline dates.

Also, there are hotels that do courtsey blocks that actually set aside rooms for your guests. I would look at the major chains. It's usually no more than 10 rooms, and they'll add more rooms if all of the set aside rooms get booked, based on availability. It's possible that the added rooms will cost more than the main discount but cheaper than full price. Then after the cut-off date, the hotel releases those rooms for general public at the regular rate.
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Expert August 2021
Ingrid · on July 16, 2020 at 11:58 PM
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I looked into a room block at multiple hotels and the terms and conditions of them were crazy and unrealistic for a wedding room block. They wanted us to be liable for any damages that happen in a guests room. Any I wasn't even paying for their rooms. They said they treated all room blocks like they do for conventions. All I was trying to do was stear business to their establishment. Since they wouldn't back down on their terms I said not doing it! I will give a list of hotels close to the venue and each first can decide where they want to stay
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June 2021
Dj Tanner · on July 17, 2020 at 12:18 AM
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Oh wow thus sounds awesome! I’m gonna check it out Thanks!
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VIP August 2020
· on July 17, 2020 at 12:43 AM
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I used Kleinfeld Hotel Blocks and had a similarly pleasant experience.
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