Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Welcoming Your Guests By Cori Meloney Before you could fly coast-to-coast in a day, people tended to grow up and settle close to their families. They married the boy or girl next door, so that person’s family was close, too. Brides rarely had to think about making sure out-of-towners were comfortable. All that’s changed. Few people return to their hometowns to settle, and you and your fiance likely have relatives and college friends scattered all over the country, maybe even the world. When people care enough to clear their schedules and travel to your wedding, it’s important to make sure they feel welcome and know you appreciate the effort. Welcoming out-of-town guests can be as simple as reserving a block of hotel rooms and providing your guests with lodging, travel, dining and sightseeing information about the area. You can send this information along with your save-the-date cards or invitations, or you can send it separately after the invitations have gone out. You can also post it on your wedding website, which we highly recommend. Another option is to prepare a wedding itinerary and welcome pack for your guests that is left in their hotel rooms. Include a schedule of events; maps and directions to the wedding locations; brochures for local attractions; and addresses for restaurants, movie theaters, shopping and other kinds of recreation LODGING or nightlife. Ask the hotel whether they can hand these out when guests check in or place them in their rooms. If your budget allows, it’s nice to invite out-of-town guests arriving the night before the wedding to the rehearsal dinner. If that’s not possible, you can ask a friend or relative to host a barbecue or dinner for guests. You can also give guests the names of other wedding guests staying in their hotel (this might be especially appreciated by single folks). Another nice touch, if you can afford it, is to put welcome baskets in your guests’ rooms. You can take on a theme -- perhaps related to your wedding or the local area -- or personalize them for each guest. If you create gift baskets, be sure to include a personal note expressing your thanks for their presence. Here are some other simple ideas: arrange for transportation to and from the airport, either by hiring a car or recruiting friends and relatives to drive; put single guests in touch with each other so they can share room and carpool costs; provide childcare options for guests who might need it; create kids’ packs for your youngest guests, which will be appreciated by the kids and their travelweary parents. SoMdWeddings.com | 79