Planning the Perfect Wedding Guest Accommodation
So, you, your best friend/sister/cousin/*insert-loved-one-here* are getting married! Exciting times, right? Confetti, cake, questionable dance moves... and the inevitable accommodation hunt. Let's be honest, nobody really wants to spend their precious pre-wedding (and post-wedding!) moments in a generic hotel room. It's all a bit, well… bland. This is a celebration of love, not a business trip!
That's where the magic of a holiday cottage comes in. Imagine this: instead of sterile hallways and identical rooms, you're greeted by a charming, character-filled cottage, perfect for creating lasting memories with your nearest and dearest... In this blog, we offer our tips for arranging the perfect accommodation to make sure the wedding of the decade is memorable for all the right reasons!
Getting It Right
Planning a wedding is an whirlwind of excitement, emotions, decisions and endless to-do-lists. One often overlooked, but crucial element is the overnight accommodation. Just because the chosen wedding venue is meaningful to the bride and groom, doesn't mean it's going to be totally convenient for all the guests.
Here, we hope to offer you a useful guide to planning the most suitable accommodation for everyone - guests, friends and family - ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience that becomes part and parcel of the overall wonderful wedding experience.
Before diving into the planning, here's why we think that holiday cottages are the perfect choice:
So Much Better Than a Hotel Room!
- Space to Breathe - and Celebrate!: Forget cramped quarters! A holiday cottage can offer ample space for everyone to relax, get ready together (hello, bridesmaids!), and even host pre-wedding gatherings or post-wedding brunches. Think cosy living rooms for late-night chats, fully equipped kitchens for whipping up celebratory snacks, and gardens perfect for a pre-ceremony glass of fizz.
- Home-from-Home Comforts: After a long day of celebrations, you want to unwind in a space that feels like home. Cottages offer that warmth and comfort, privacy and independence that hotels simply can't replicate. Think comfy sofas, gatherings round the dining table, and the freedom to wander around in your PJs if you like!
- Creating Memories Together: Sharing a cottage with friends and family creates a unique bonding experience. You'll be laughing over shared meals, reminiscing about old times, and creating new memories that will last a lifetime. These are the moments you'll cherish long after the wedding cake has been eaten.
- Cost-Effective for Groups: Splitting the cost of a cottage amongst a group can often be more affordable than booking multiple hotel rooms. Plus, you'll save on restaurant bills by having the option to cook your own meals.
- Unique and Picturesque: Often located in picturesque settings, cottages can offer a charming backdrop for photos and add a touch of magic to the whole wedding experience. Imagine those pre-wedding photos of the bridal party getting ready together - Instagram gold!
- Flexibility and Freedom: Cottages offer more flexibility than hotels. You can come and go as you please, cook your own meals, and generally feel more in control of your stay. No strict breakfast times or check-out times that don't fit your own time-table.
Planning Your Wedding Accommodation - A Step-by-Step Guide
- Guest numbers: If you're the one planning the wedding, start with an estimated guest count and work out how many families, couples and singles will be likely to need accommodation the night/s before and/or after the wedding.
- Budget: Determine an approximate budget for the accommodation, as this will help you to put together some appropriate suggestions. Not everyone will be happy to pay £200 per night per person at the wedding venue or at a nearby manor house - but some may!
- Special requirements: Work out whether you have any guests who have mobility issues; families with young children; or guests who're planning to bring their dog/s with them. Remember to take everyone's needs into consideration so they have a comfortable, stress-free stay. Whilst some guests may be happy with camping/glamping within walking distance of the venue, others may need their creature comforts.
- Consider Location: Choose accommodation that's conveniently located within a short drive of the wedding venue and other useful local amenities. If some of your guests have special requirements, they may need to compromise a little on the location in order to get their required facilities.
- Think About Facilities: Make a list of the essentials. Do the cottages need a large kitchen? En-suite bathrooms? King-size or super-king beds? Wheelchair accessibility? Flat access? A garden? To be pet-friendly?
- Search Early: Especially for busy wedding weekends, cottages that are near to the popular wedding venues can get booked up quickly. Start your search early to secure the perfect place for your group. Remember that you or your guests may need to pay a deposit at the time of booking to guarantee the dates.
- Negotiate a Group Rate: If you or your guests are going to be booking several cottages at the same time, it's well worth asking if the owners can offer you a special rate. Failing that, you may find they'll offer a few extras, such as welcome gifts to make the guests' stay even more memorable!
- Communication is Key: Make sure you have a designated contact person at your chosen accommodation who will handle all the guest enquiries and bookings (much easier at an owner-managed holiday cottage than in a hotel chain). Communicate with your group too. Get everyone involved in the decision-making process and make sure everyone is happy with the choice.
- Consider Transportation: Even if the accommodation is near to the wedding venue, you may need to help your guests to arrange lifts to and from the wedding venue. Either find the details of a couple of local taxi companies that you can pre-arrange for set pick-up and drop-off times, or perhaps hire a mini bus or coach service. Alternatively, you may have some guests who are happy to give lifts to others. Ideally this will be co-ordinated before the event to avoid stress on the day!
Start Planning Your East Kent Wedding Accommodation Today
So there you have it... We heartily recommend you ditch the drab hotel and embrace the charm of a holiday cottage for your up-coming wedding celebration!
If you're considering Hawthorn Farm Cottages, you can browse our selection of beautiful cottages and start planning an unforgettable pre- and post-wedding experience! Our website has a great search function to help you find the perfect cottages for your group. Go to our Wedding Accommodation Page for more information. Or feel free to give us a call to discuss your ideas and requirements.