Hotel room blocking q

how long before the wedding should I block hotel rooms? I have guests comming in from Poland(hopefully) but I don't know if the will actually come, if they can get a visa and afford the plane tixs. How exactly does room blocking work? I also don't know the exact amount of time those guest will need rooms for. Please help.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

Since you're wedding is in the summer, I would say the earlier the better. I would look at the number of OOT guests you have and just guesstimate how many rooms you may need. We had the majority of our guests come from OOT and only a handfull stayed at the hotel.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

If I block the rooms and they don't get used what happens? Do I have to pay up front for the rooms being blocked? How does blocking work?

Re: Hotel room blocking q

I booked my hotel rooms in August 2005 for a September 2006 wedding.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

I just blocked my hotel rooms last week for my guests and my wedding is on Nov. 25, 2006. I think you can block it anytime you want, I don't think that there is a time that is has to be done by. I blocked the rooms for the one night, however I did block off 5 rooms for 4 nights because I know at least 5 couples will be coming up Wednesday before the wedding (since Thursday is Thanksgiving they are going to spend the holiday with us).

Re: Hotel room blocking q

I just blocked rooms at a hotel for my oot guests...we blocked 10 rooms and we are sending a card with the invitations saying that rooms have been blocked at this hotel and it will cost this much for the night.
The bride and the groom are not responsible for the rooms, your guests are...unless you have already told them your paying for it?

I believe if you block 10 rooms you are only responsible for half....and if you only block 5 rooms but they stay two nights that counts as 10 rooms.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

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Posted by uawojcik

If I block the rooms and they don't get used what happens? Do I have to pay up front for the rooms being blocked? How does blocking work?

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It depends on the hotel. When we were looking, the Uniondale Marriott said I had to gaurantee a certain amount of rooms and whatever wasn't used, I'd be responsible for. We obviously didn't use them. I would definately ask if you have to gaurantee a set amount and what happens if you don't meet that. We ulitmately booked at the Melville Marriott and I did not have to gaurantee any # of rooms. If they weren't booked by the cut-off date the hotel gave us, (usually 4 weeks prior to the wedding), they were just released back to the hotel.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

Most of the hotels won't make you financially responsible..

also you can't technically 'book/block' until 1 year before..
Their computer systems don't go that far in advance (at least the 4 i called)
The sales lady I used at my hotel gave me the contract -all the docs are done I just can't get a code to book until 1 year to the date... so 4/28/06 ill get my code for 4/28/07, but all the rates are already set and guarenteed for the blocks.. so best to do is asap so you get the 06 rate for your guests...

HTH

Re: Hotel room blocking q

Everything depends on the hotel pretty much (I know that's a generic answer).

The hotel I used, lets you block up to a certain amount of rooms with no penalty. Above that number, you are responsible for any unbooked rooms that you have blocked. They usually have you block 12-18 mos in advance.

HTH! Good luck!

Re: Hotel room blocking q

Thanks everone. This helps. Now i just have to figure out where, how many rooms and for how long.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

Our wedding is the same weekend, but this year...I got LUCKY in January and they still had room at 2 hotels...but even the hotel people were shocked to see the availability. Start searching in late summer/fall and then see what their 'rules' are...you'd hate to wait until next march and have no luck.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

I blocked rooms in April for my September wedding.

I was not charged anything and did not have to give a credit card. My guests were given the discounted rate up until 1 month before the wedding. Any of the blocked rooms that were not reserved by that date were released back to the general public.

Be careful about hotels where you have to guarantee with a credit card. You don't want to get stuck with charges for any unreserved rooms.

Re: Hotel room blocking q

Book now -- I just found out (from the Fairfield Marriott at least) that hotels may only allot a certain number of groups to block off rooms for one particular date. It should do you no harm to book now, just make sure that you are not held financially responsible for any unbooked rooms (ie - Fox Hollow Inn WILL hold you responsible for 1/2 of the rooms that are blocked but not booked.)

Re: Hotel room blocking q

I would book now. There are a lot of brides getting married 7/7/07. I already blocked rooms off at 2 hotels because my wedding is a holiday weekend.