Anyone HOPING Guests Book Shorter Stays?

lol..question is self explanatory I guess. I just see so much about everyone being offended by guests/families who come in then leave after the wedding! With us, thats exactly what we're HOPING for. We're even emphasizing the 3 nt packages to the guests with only short blurbs here and there about booking longer. lol Our TA asked what packages she should gather info on..I just said 3 and 5 nt and if someone wants to book longer than that, she can get the info for them then.

 

Are we the only ones who don't want folks hanging around all week?

 

Maybe I should have prefaced this by saying, our resort is smaller, and it's also a bit "out of the way". Theres very little chance of completely avoiding an entire group of people while we're trying to "honeymoon" and FH is NOT wanting to switch resorts (he thinks it will disturb the flow of his good time to have to pack up and move. male logic). I'm the type that if people are around, and I know Im the REASON they are there in the first place, I'll feel bad if I don't hang out with them.

I was happy most of our guests only stayed 3 nights. 2 couples stayed 4 nights, so it was perfect to have a small group on one day & then be by ourselves.

We specifically told people that we would be arriving a week early and would love it if our guests came early as well. We also let them know that we would still be there the following week, but that it was our honeymoon and were changing hotels. People tended to respect that.

You are definately not alone! I have done the same thing as Malisa, and let everyone know that we are arriving 5 days early and that everyone is welcome to join us at that time. It's also on our wedding website, and our travel agent as been given the same advice. Honestly, you can't tell people not to stay later and to just go home. But what you can say is "I'm so happy you guys are able to come out and celebrate our happiness. Please don't be offended if we are a little incognito after the wedding." Or something along those lines. Trust me, no one is going to expect you to hang out with them after. And you can even plan a day after the wedding brunch to send everyone off with your thanks, gratitude, and farewell. There was an article about this in the last months Knot magazine. You should check out Wedding Dresses - Wedding Cakes - Wedding Planning - Unique Wedding Ideas - By TheKnot.com for the article. It was pretty good and helpful for me

 

Good luck!

Amber

lol, no you're not alone on this; it is your honeymoon afterall!! So, I'm guessing you're not able to switch resorts for your honeymoon then (just in case)??

 

You may get a couple of people who stick around, but honestly, the week leading up to our wedding our group met up now and then but for the most part, everyone did their own thing. Maybe you'll bump into them more on a small resort, but it's they're vacation too - they probably don't want to spend every waking moment with you either (no offense! lol).

 

Anyways, keep on pushing those 3-night packages, I guess that's pretty much the most you can do!!

I wouldn't mind switching, but he would.

And believe me, y'all know how I am by now- I've had NO problem telling people that they can't depend on us for much as far as company after the wedding. lol I just don't want the guilt. It's just, we have some of ..those guests. You know the ones I mean. Like, his step sister who, when we FIRST started discussing potentially just going to Mexico to ELOPE invited herself and her husband along! I sh*t you not, completely serious. Even when we said that we thought we would forgo getting married in Mexico and just go do a nice honeymoon..same thing. She kept talking about "let us know, and we'll see about getting some time off so that we can join you guys. It would be fun!". HUH?

Billy used to drop hints about what she's like, but to be honest, I thought he was exaggerating because he isn't the most social person in the world and their personalities just conflicted. NOPE...no exaggeration. She really is that pushy. She sent me like 8 text msgs last week to invite herself and her kids down to our house for the day. I just had surgery a month ago, and granted..I feel fine-but she wouldn't know that! lol And at what point when someone makes their excuses and puts you off a couple of times, do you NOT get the hint that they just don't feel up to company? I like her, I do. But it's summer and my four are home all day-that's enough. Add her four and you get pandemonium! I'm NOT up for that.

Overall, I'm not worried about it...I'm making it known as best as I can and will keep stressing the "3 nt packages" thing since it will mean time off work for most people. I was wondering if it was just me that was so anti-social and ungrateful that I wanted people to come all that way and then LEAVE as soon as possible. hahahaha!

You're not alone. When we booked with our travel agent she suggested not even giving our guests the option to stay longer than 3 nights. I think a couple of guests have asked her about booking longer stays and we told her it would be ok. But for the most part we definitely want everyone gone ASAP.

Totally - I am even hoping some of our invitees don't come at all!!! My FI thinks it is an awesome idea that everyone will be there but I don't want to be a babysitter for our guests for the time we are away...

My TA is only telling my guests about 3 and 4 night packages. We're getting there Thursday, the wedding is Saturday. I'm hoping that EVERYONE else is gone by Monday. I never thought anyone would want to stay a week and I will not be encouraging that!

Yup, we're in the same boat-in on Thursday, wedding Saturday. And definitely hoping for departures on Monday. lol