- When Mom Takes
Over: iVillage... [article] - How to Handle a
Guestzilla [article] - Low-Smoking Zone:
Curbing Cigarettes... [q&a] - Bridesmaid
Responsibilties [article] - Inviting the mother
of his children [q&a]
Pop quiz! It's a frantic two days before your wedding when your out-of-town guests arrive. You:
a. Pick them up from the airport, armed with fresh flowers and several chilled bottles of Evian.
b. Put 'em to work -- you can always use a hand with those last-minute favors.
c. Scream! The last thing you need is more people to take care of.
The answer, of course, is none of the above. Sure they've traveled from near and far, and you want them to have a good time, but you're busy! Never fear. Ensuring that your out-of-towners are comfortable can be as easy as assembling nice little baskets and arranging for one to be waiting in each guest's hotel room. If you take care of them ahead of time, they won't have to distract you with little questions -- and you'll have more time to concentrate on the big day.
Things you might want to include:
- A map of the area.
- Snacks: Chocolate, fruit, water and any local specialties, such as saltwater taffy from Cape May.
- Contact numbers for you, your fiance, the church and the reception site, or your wedding coordinator (if you don't have a wedding coordinator, consider asking someone close to you, such as the maid of honor, to be the "go-to" person for the day and give his or her number to your out-of-towners).
- A schedule of events including pre-wedding parties and directions to all sites.
- A gift certificate for a local coffee shop, movie theater or ice cream shop.
- A mini-medical kit including bandages, antacids, cold medicine and pain relievers.
- A travel-sized game or a deck of cards.
- Directions to the nearest gas station, grocery store and drugstore.
- A list of who's who in the wedding party and how you know them. Since many distant relatives and faraway friends probably won't know your wedding party very well (and unless you include this info in the program), reading about them will make your out-of-towners feel more involved.
- Any item that ties into the theme of the wedding, such as a beach towel for a beach wedding.
- A note thanking them for traveling so far to be a part of your day.
Good luck!