Planning to get married any time soon? It’s true what they say — your wedding day is one of the most important and defining moments in your life. How do you envision yours?

In a perfect world, everything will go like clockwork. At exactly 1 o’clock, the music will start to play, all the guests will arrive on-time and anxiously wait for the bride to appear. Then they’ll hold back tears as she marches down the aisle on her father’s arm.

In reality, however, it’s more likely that there will be some snags. The person delivering the flowers and decorations could be late, pushing the ceremony back an hour. The hired photographer could have written down the wrong date and not show up at all. Or even worse, your out-of-town guests won’t show up on time either because they got stuck in traffic or were unable to find the ceremony.

Because for most weddings, a good portion of the guest list includes people from out-of-town, it is critical to be as detail orientated as possible when helping them get from destination to destination.

Along with the invitation, include multi-view maps that will show guests where all the wedding-related events are taking place. You’ll need one showing directions to the wedding venue from the hotel, the bride’s parents’ home and the airport. Another showing directions from the ceremony location to the reception hall.

Be sure to include a link to a traffic Web site, such as Traffic.com, at the bottom of any map you provide, as well as your wedding Web site. The site will be a great resource for your guests as it shows the most direct route from place to place, and also provides real-time information on delays, traffic jams and detours.

Guests can pre-plan their route by accessing the site from the hotel computer or their Internet-enabled cell phone. All they have to do is enter the address where they’re staying, and of the place they’re going to, and the information they need will come back instantly. Guests can also get the information they need through the (866) MY-TRAFC (866-698-7232) traffic hotline.

After the wedding is over, Traffic.com can serve as a resource your out-of-town guests can use to find their way to local attractions, restaurants and long-lost friends’ houses. The possibilities are endless. And who knows, maybe when all is said and done, you’ll be the one getting the “Thank You” note.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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“Weddings are an exciting time for everyone. When preparing for a wedding, out of town guests can feel overwhelmed, but the happy couple can take steps to make participating in the wedding easy and affordable,” says Jenny Heger, account manager for AmericInn. “I’ve worked with couples planning weddings before and planning ahead shows your guests you care.”

Here are some thoughts to ease travel costs for out of town wedding guests:

* Hotel
Choose an affordable hotel located near the site of the wedding or reception. Guests will then have an easy time finding their way to the big event. Guests are sure to appreciate amenities included in their stay, such as pool use, a complimentary breakfast and free Internet access. A hotel is also a refuge from all the wedding activities and can be a place of relaxation. Make sure the one you choose is quiet and well managed. For example, AmericInn hotels are built with AmericInn SoundGuard construction, which reduces sounds and vibrations.

* Dining
Eating is something that can be fun when your guests travel to a new town, but as they flip through the local directory they might be overwhelmed by the large number of options. One useful item for out of town guests is a list of local restaurants that you enjoy including a general description of food and menu prices. Choose low to mid level restaurants and consider providing coupons to any local favorites. As a thank you gift, you could even provide a small gift certificate to help with the bill and show your appreciation to them for traveling to your wedding.

* Transportation
Providing out of town guests with numbers to rental companies can help save them time and frustration. Some companies give coupons for groups traveling to a celebration, so consider talking to the company prior to the event. And don’t forget about public transportation! Providing bus, cab, train and subway information can save time and money for guests.

* Activities
Traveling for a wedding is in fact a vacation, so guests might want to enjoy some other activities in your area. Why not make a list of fun and interesting activities so they can get a true sense of your hometown? Free parks and museums provide some of the best of local culture and are budget friendly.

* Keeping it Close
After coming all the way to your wedding, guests don’t want to have to travel all around town, potentially getting lost. When choosing a hotel and suggesting restaurants and activities, try to keep these locations relatively close. Sometimes a simple walk through town to a local café is the perfect option.

“Providing affordable ideas and suggestions can go a long way for many guests who are stuck with choosing whether to come to an important family event and maybe not being able to afford it. These ideas not only show you care, but ensure everyone is able to participate in your big day,” adds Heger.

For more information about AmericInn hotels, visit www.americinn.com/ara.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Related posts:

1. Preparing for Out of Town Wedding Guests
2. Make Out of Town Wedding Guests Feel at Home
3. Accommodating Out of Town Wedding Guests