Three Unique Lodging Options For Weddings at The Ruins at Kellum Valley
The areas surrounding the North Georgia Mountains, (and our wedding venue!), have some of the best lodging options around. There are State and Private Parks, Bed & Breakfast Inns, Treehouses, Cabins, Spa’s, Lodges and Boutique Hotels galore!
Chances are most of your wedding guests will need at least one or two nights lodging, and there are some important things with accommodations to keep in mind. From logistics to tokens of appreciation these are are all things you may want to consider to make your out-of-town wedding guests feel welcome. We’ve highlighted three unique lodging options for your wedding guests and bridal party that are near The Ruins at Kellum Valley, along with some simple guidelines to get you started!
Very popular among our guests are cabin rentals, and one of the easiest ways to get started is to contact a cabin rental company. Blue Sky Cabin Rentals has a large inventory of cabins, from one bedrooms and up, to nightly and weekly options. Since new cabins often come on-line, it’s great to have a company that knows your dates/needs, and that will be on the look out for you! They also have staff that is familiar with the area and can give recommendations for local activities and fun things to do.
The larger hotel chains, which are within 10-12 miles of The Ruins at Kellum Valley, are a good option for hotel blocks, and kind of a fall-back option. It’s a good idea to pick 2-3 hotels and book a block of rooms at 1 or 2 of them. When you’re ready to book, you don’t have to know the final number of guests needing rooms, but you do need a pretty good estimate. A general rule is to cut your out-of-town guest list number in half and book that number of rooms. (So, if you have 40 guests needing lodging, you would book 20 rooms to start and add more rooms later.) Many hotels can block a set number of rooms without a deposit and will guarantee those rooms and rates until a specific date. Other hotels may require a deposit or offer a discounted rate to guests. Because there are so many possibilities, we suggest starting your search early and encourage your out-of-town guests to reserve their rooms as soon as possible.
At this wedding, both bride and groom were members of a vintage car club. Even guests drove their classics to the venue VROOM VROOM!
Also, it’s a good idea to brainstorm transportation options in advance. Some hotels provide shuttle service to and from the The Ruins at Kellum Valley. When you call to reserve rooms, ask about transportation services they can provide. The smaller properties, may have local vendors they work with exclusively. While most guests can probably figure out getting to and from the venue on their own, it’s nice to have a list of ride shares or taxi’s readily available. Here at The Ruins, our bartender’s have numbers on hand for guests. Even if guests have not planned on using outside transportation, it’s nice to have it available!
For an upscale hotel and our 2nd option, Valhalla Resort on the outskirts of Helen, is a nice property. They offer a gated property with three dining options, including the Sky Bar with mountain views. It’s a perfect place for late night cocktails and appetizers. Along with king suites, there are also separate villas and bungalows available.
Compiling a list of meaningful places to eat, drink and play is a great addition for your guests. While you’re focused on your big day, you’ll want your out-of-town guests to have plenty of things to do once they get into town. So, put together a list of your and your fiance’s favorite places to eat, drink and activities around the area. You could even do a little research to find out if there are any festivals, live music or special events that they might want to check out. The North Georgia Mountains are full of small towns that host events throughout the year and especially in the Spring & Fall. When you’re compiling your list, consider adding a little note about why you recommend those places. We highly suggest that you check out personally all the places on your list, after all, anyone can make a pretty web-site or look good on Facebook/Instagram!
Inviting your guests to pre-wedding and/or post-wedding get togethers is another surefire way to make them feel welcome. Do you and your fiance love the outdoors? Invite your guests to go hiking or kayaking a day or two before the wedding. Nacoochee Adventures and Unicoi Outfitters, both offer great outdoor activities, including learning to fly fish! Our trout streams are world class, and fun for all ages. Are you beer lovers who spend your weekends enjoying local breweries? Ask your guests to join you for a mid-afternoon pint. We’ve even had couple’s skip the traditional rehearsal dinner all together and open up dinner to anyone who is in town. And the party doesn’t have to end with your reception send-off. If you’re a night owl or just don’t want the party to end, ask your guests to head to a local bar for an after party. We also love the idea of wrapping up the perfect wedding weekend with a day-after brunch to spend quality time with anyone still in town and say your final goodbyes in a more casual setting.
Our #3 unique lodging option, is Lucille’s Mountain Top Inn. When we began our wedding venue, over fifteen years ago, Lucille’s was one of just a few beautiful Bed and Breakfast Inn’s in the area. And call us old fashioned, but we believe in places that have stood the test of time! They are located in the Sautee Nacoochee area of North Georgia and offer thirteen guest rooms. In addition, there is a spa on site and gourmet breakfast daily for guests.
One of the best ways to eliminate stress and limit the number of crazy calls, (yes, we all have an Aunt Louis or Uncle Bob!), is to create a comprehensive timeline of your wedding events. Whether your guests are invited to events over multiple days or just the wedding day itself, organizing everything into a visual timeline is key. For each event, you should include the following: name and address of event, date, and time. We even recommend including the wedding day information (especially ceremony time!) so your guests have every detail they need in one handy place. Not sure where to start? There are some great wedding timeline templates on Etsy to help you create beautiful printables, lickety split!
This bride themed her welcome bags around items made in Georgia!
Your out -of -town guests will be making an extra special effort to attend your wedding, so we think welcome bags are a great way to show your appreciation. The best part is that you can really get creative and don’t need to spend a lot of money making them truly special. At a minimum, you should include a little something to eat and drink to ease your guests out of their travel day. Bottled water is a must, but you could also include a local beer, a small bottle of bubbly, or another local favorite. As for snacks, make sure to give a savory and a sweet option to satisfy every craving. Then add a couple of personal details, such as a cute souvenir, a candle or handmade soap. Round out all those goodies with the information essentials: a map, the weekend itinerary, your list of local recommendations, and designated contact. Finish it all off with a personalized thank you note and wrap it all up in a cute paper bag or reusable tote. A welcome bag is a simple, thoughtful gesture that your guests will love! Just make sure to let the lodging know that they need to give each guest a bag when they check in.