It can pose difficulties for the wedding party if you do not book directly, at the party rate, depending on the circumstances. If the wedding (or convention, or retreat, etc.) is being held at the same hotel, your wedding (or convention, retreat, etc.) hosts negotiated a price with the hotel not only for the rooms, but for the facilities, bar service, assembly halls, decorating, catering, and so on. One way the hotel keeps the overall cost down to the organizers is to subsidize the whole affair with a "special" room rate that is somewhat higher than it needs to be. In many cases, if the event is poorly attended, or the guests/participants book rooms elsewhere, the organizers (the wedding family, in this case) are billed a surcharge, because they've guaranteed the hotel a minimum occupancy, and blocked rooms. This is not always the case, but it is sometimes the case--even if the room-block has expired because the event is nearing. If your host specifically asked you to book your room at the wedding rate, then yes indeed, it could be seen as quite rude (and could be considered rather unethical) to partake in the festivities without helping to pay your share, via the room rate. Rather like bringing a bag lunch to a restaurant to dine with your friends, while requiring those friends to pay your minimum-service-fee. If you can't afford to attend the wedding as invited, then you should just mail your gift and stay home. At this point, perhaps you should inquire with the hosts as to whether they've met the occupancy requirements of their agreement with the hotel. If so, at least you can sleep a little more comfortably. But if not, then I don't think you should book via priceline or hotwire, but rather do as your host requested.