Find wedding friendly hotels

In the not-so-distant past, it was normal for a person to grow up around the corner from grandparents, aunts, uncles and numerous cousins. He or she would attend a local school, seek work in the area and even settle down with their school sweetheart. Weddings would take place nearby and the reception would be held at a favourite family restaurant within a short commute of friends and family alike.

While this certainly still exists today, it's much more likely that your friends and family will be living further afield. With this in mind, as you plan each aspect of your wedding experience, take a moment to recognise the special effort made by those guests who will be flying in or coming a long way by train or car to celebrate with you. Here are some ideas to help you plan the perfect 'thank-you', without breaking the bank.

The first thing to consider is reserving rooms at a local hotel for your out-of-town guests. Imagine the disappointment when your wedding guests try to reserve a hotel room a few months before the wedding, only to discover that all the rooms in town cost hundreds a night – or even worse – that there are no vacancies because of a large conference, concert, or major sporting event.