Another great week Team! I hope you got a lot of great information figured out and maybe even ordered some stationary. Here are some deadline reminders for when to mail out your stationary. You’ll also want to put an RSVP deadline on the cards so your guests know when to send it back.
Mailer Deadlines
- Save the Date- 6-8 Months Prior
- Invitations- 6- 8 Weeks Prior
- RSVP Deadline- 2 Weeks Prior
Blocking out Hotel Rooms
This concept has changed a lot over the years… It used to be you could call a hotel and block out a group of rooms for a discounted rate thanks to your wedding. Nowadays, there are so many large events and festivals that room blocks don’t get the discount for the fanfare they once brought in. In fact, you’re almost lucky to get a block of rooms anymore… You still want to call and make the reservation. The hotel will put your name down for a block and give you a name or code for guests to use when they call in. Only if you book a certain amount of rooms under your block will you get a discount {maybe} depending on the hotel.
Wedding Party & Family Blocks
In the long run this is actually better for everyone because you won’t get stuck paying for the 3 of 10 rooms {for example} that nobody from your wedding booked. The downside is your guests won’t be in the same hallway or even the same building unless they book together. I highly recommend getting your wedding party and family in the same hotel block, asap. Assuming you need hotels at all. If you have any guests flying in, it would be courteous for you as the host to make the first call into the hotels. So that is also on your Progress Checklist this week.
Week 5 Progress Checklist
- Review the Week 4 Progress Blog Post again
- Watch the Teachable Lecture for Project Block 1
- Parking & Transportation Discussion: Anyone who needs accommodations
- Identify info you need to include in your invitations: Driving Cards, Rain Cards, Shuttle Info, Maps
- How will the wedding party arrive, in what vehicles and where will they park?
- Count all the wedding party vehicles and decide where they should park at the venue.
- Talk about Shuttles: Pros & Cons. Do you need them?
- Save the Dates: Do you need to send them?
- Schedule an Engagement Photo Shoot with your photographer {for Save the Dates}
- Use your Excel Spreadsheet to count the needed amount
- Send only to your A-List Guests at 8 to 6 Months Prior
- Wedding Invitations: Watch the 101 Slideshow
- Determine Invitation Wording
- Determine the total amount needed
- Make sure your Guest List Excel is ready for the Mail Merge
- Print Labels for Save the Dates
- Print a Mail Merged List for handwriting-addressed Invitation envelopes.
- READ: 4 Tips for Invitation Ordering & Prep
- Order a sample Invitation Suite and take it to the PO to check the postage
- Assign RSVP tracking numbers and WRITE them on the RSVP cards before stuffing invitations.
- Plan for your Invitation Roll-Out to begin at 10-8 Weeks Prior
- Driving: Decide how many signs you need and what they need to say.
- Purchase supplies and delegate sign making to someone.
- Decide how the signs will be mounted
- Protect your Engagement Ring with your homeowner’s insurance
- Block out a group of hotel rooms for guests {include info with Invitations}
- Book a room for wedding night {if not the same as P0 Getting Ready Room}