How to Have a Wedding Ceremony in a Hotel Suite

A suite in a hotel is a viable site for a small wedding ceremony.

Having your wedding ceremony in a hotel suite provides you with several options. Many hotels offer wedding packages and allow you to plan an all-inclusive wedding from the ceremony through the reception and wedding night. These packages may include limited use of a wedding planner and decorations. If these amenities are not available it requires a minimum of planning to arrange everything yourself. If you are planning a religious ceremony, check with your clergy person first, as some clergy will not perform ceremonies outside of a church setting.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric
• Candles
• Glass vases
• Flowers

Instructions

Choosing the Hotel

1. Check with hotel staff regarding occupancy limits for the suite; the number should exceed the number of guests attending the wedding. Ensure there is enough physical space for the chairs. Rent chairs from the hotel, if possible, for ease of setup and return.

2. Consider renting the suites on either side of you. Be aware that the hotel has every right to rent the room next to your wedding out for another event, which could be something as intrusive as a birthday party for 20 13-year-old girls complete with a band.

3. Check out the lighting in the room at the time of day you plan on having the ceremony to be sure it is adequate. Additionally, check out the view from the window, which may be featured in wedding photos.

4. Choose a suite with two bedrooms if you plan on dressing for the wedding at the hotel. This will provide a room for both the men and the women in the wedding party.

5. Ensure that the colors of the carpet and drapes in the room meld well with your wedding colors. Green and mauve carpet would not complement bright yellow and hot pink bridesmaid’s dresses and flowers.

Prepare the Room

1. Rent the room for the day before the wedding to allow sufficient time for decoration and room preparation. This is especially important if the wedding is early in the day.

2. Look around the room to see what you can use. Drape end tables with fabric and place floral arrangements. Drape sofa and chairs in fabric if the color is not complementary or the pattern is too busy.

3. Move any unnecessary pieces of furniture into a bedroom to maximize space. This would include items like televisions and coffee tables.

4. Arrange chairs on either side of the room. This forms an aisle for the bride to walk down.

5. Keep the decorations simple for ease of transporting them to the suite. Use flowers in glass vases or candles for decorations and place on the coffee tables. These items transport easily and can be assembled on site.

Tips & Warnings

• See if the hotel offers special rates for guests that stay at the hotel the night before or after the wedding.

• Consider renting a different suite for your wedding night if you are staying at the same hotel. This will eliminate the need to clean up the suite before you can begin to enjoy the honeymoon.

• Use either a CD player or a string quartet for music as there will likely not be a piano available.

References

• Real Simple: Holidays Entertaining: Weddings: Ceremony: How to Choose the Perfect Wedding Location
• Wedding: The Knot: Wedding Planning: Wedding Reception: Planning: Finding a Wedding Reception Location
• Weddings: Wedding Channel: Wedding Planning Ideas: Wedding Ceremony Ideas: QA: Are hotel weddings easier to plan