How To: Hotel Blocks
When hosting a wedding where guests must drive or fly in, offering hotel blocks is a thoughtful and practical touch. A hotel block is a set of rooms reserved in advance with a specific hotel at a discounted group rate—often around $100 less than typical online or direct-booking prices. Hotel blocks simplify travel for guests by guaranteeing room availability near the venue, keeping wedding guests together in one location, and often providing easy coordination for shuttles or welcome events. They also reduce stress for the couple and their families by centralizing accommodation details and giving guests a clear booking deadline and rate. So with that, here are 6 tips for booking your hotel block!
Ask for a courtesy block! This leaves you free from financial risk. Hotels will typically reserve a set number of rooms, usually around 10–20, and any unbooked rooms will simply be released back into inventory after the cutoff date. By contrast, contracted or attrition blocks make you responsible for unsold rooms and their associated charges.
Book early (8–12 months) to lock in the best rate and secure your preferred dates. Popular tourist destinations, such as Savannah or Los Angeles, fill up quickly, so plan ahead to avoid limited availability. You’ll also avoid last-minute price increases by booking these locations well in advance.
Offer different price points. We typically recommend one mid-tier option along with either a budget-friendly choice or a nicer, more upscale alternative, depending on what you know about your family’s and friends’ financial situations. That way, everyone has a reasonable option that fits their household budget.
Pick hotels close to the venue (within a 10–15 minute walk) or arrange shuttle service so getting to your wedding is easy and comfortable for everyone. Staying nearby or providing reliable transportation also lets your guests enjoy the bar without you worrying about drunk driving or high ride-share costs late at night.
Double check the fine print: is the room block courtesy or subject to attrition? what are the cut-off dates? can you add rooms later if needed? is there a two-night minimum for stays? is parking included or available at a discounted rate? These are all important details to review before signing any contract so you can clearly communicate this necessary information to your guests.
Place the link on your wedding website right away, and include the cut-off date in bold. We also suggest adding this information to your Save the Dates and invitations, and sending text reminders a week before the cut-off date so guests don’t miss the deadline.
