How do we book hotel blocks for wedding guests in Marrakech?

Hotel blocks can save your guests money and simplify logistics, but they need to be handled strategically. I have helped coordinate accommodation for weddings ranging from 30 to 200 guests, and the approach varies significantly depending on your venue location and guest count. Start with your wedding venue if it has accommodation. This is your core block and the most important one. Guests staying on-site can walk to the wedding and back, which eliminates transport logistics entirely. Beldi Country Club has 40 rooms in suites and bungalows, ranging from 150 to 350 euros per night. Jnane Tamsna has 24 rooms at 180 to 280 euros per night. If your venue is a riad, it might only have 5 to 8 rooms, but those go to your closest family and bridal party. Once your venue block is filled, identify 2 to 3 nearby hotels or riads at different price points for overflow guests. This is where the three-tier strategy I mentioned in the accommodation question comes in. Always contact hotels directly, not through booking.com or Expedia. When you call the reservations desk and explain you are booking for a wedding group, most hotels assign a group coordinator who can offer 10 to 20% off rack rates for blocks of 10 or more rooms. Online platforms do not offer group discounts. For Medina weddings, book 2 to 3 nearby riads for that boutique Moroccan charm. Prices run 80 to 150 euros per night per room. The advantage of riads is the intimate atmosphere and central location for exploring the city. The downside is that riads rarely have more than 10 to 15 rooms each, so you may need to split across multiple properties. Give guests clear directions with pin drops on Google Maps because Medina riads can be notoriously difficult to find. For Palmeraie weddings, negotiate overflow at nearby luxury hotels. The Four Seasons Marrakech and Fairmont Royal Palm are both in the Palmeraie and offer 200 to 400 euros per night for wedding group rates. These properties have large pools, spas, and restaurants, which gives guests plenty to do during free time on the multi-day celebration. Create a dedicated page on your wedding website with accommodation options at three price tiers so guests can choose based on their own budget. Include photos, prices, distance from the venue, and a direct booking link or contact email for each option. I always recommend listing a brief description of each property so guests who have never been to Marrakech can make an informed choice. Timing matters. Book your blocks 10 to 12 months ahead, especially for peak season (April, May, October). Marrakech hotels fill fast during these months, and group blocks compete with regular tourism demand. Most hotels will hold a block with a 30-day release clause, meaning any unsold rooms return to the hotel's general inventory 30 days before the wedding date. This protects you from paying for empty rooms, but it also means your guests need to book within that window. Send accommodation information to guests as soon as you have it and follow up at the 45-day mark with a reminder. One caveat I see couples miss. Negotiate the release clause terms carefully. Some hotels set the release at 60 or even 90 days, which is too early. Push for 30 days. Also confirm whether the group rate is available for guests who book after the release date, because late-booking guests should still get a fair price even if the formal block has expired.