Block booking hotel rooms

[weddingwaiting]

Just wondering thoughts on whether it is really necessary/expected to block book hotel rooms for guests? One of DPs relatives asked if we were going to and we were a bit nonplussed as to why we would. Surely people would prefer to choose to stay somewhere in their own budget and are more than capable of looking up an air b&b or running a search on booking.com if they need accommodation?

DPs relative is American and I have since seen this as a “must do” on American wedding planning sites so I’m wondering if it’s just a thing over there?

NB. Our venue is not one that has accommodation on site, which I understand it makes sense to hold for guests to use if they want.

Most people reserve a number of rooms at a fixed price and let their guests know the availability and price so they can book them if they wish.

Okay but what if people don’t take the rooms up? Won’t you then be stuck paying for them?

No you'll have a deadline they need to book by and if they don't they'll be released back to the general public.

Speak to the hotel.
Don't pay anything.
Some hotels will allow you to reserve them and give you free cancellation within that set time frame. Don't reserve rooms at a hotel that want you to pay if you don't have guaranteed numbers - or just reserve 10 preliminarily and increase it if there's enough interest.

In the hotel I work in we will hold the bedrooms on an agreed rate up to 12 weeks before the check in date then any unsold will be released back on sale. Some hotels will give you a discount code which you can then pass on to your guest to book online.
Your venue might have an agreement with a local hotel for discounted rooms. Some might be worth asking the venue.