Post # 1
Member
1185 posts
Bumble bee
Hi everyone-
I am trying to figure out how much of a transportation budget we should set. I have been to weddings before where there was a limo or shuttle for all guests to the hotel where everyone was staying. It was actually fantastic and allowed us to party it up without having to worry about designated drivers. I’ve also been to weddings where transportation was only provided for the wedding party or the couple themselves. What is your opinion? Should transportation from reception to hotel be provided?
Post # 2
Member
9144 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
loveisbrewing: What’s the scenario? If you’ve chosen a venue that’s really hard to find or get to, providing transportation would be considerate. If it’s an easy 15 or 20 minute drive from hotel to venue, nobody should expect you to make arrangements for that.
Post # 3
Member
5152 posts
Bee Keeper
loveisbrewing: Personally, I love when transportation is provided so everyone can drink and not have to worry about getting home. Do I think it’s necessary? No, not really. However, out of the past 6 or 7 weddings I attended, only 1 did not provide transportation. We chose to do it for our own wedding as we have a lot of partier friends and didn’t want to worry about drunk driving.
That said, it’s also NOT that expensive. Look into renting a school bus or other alternative, cheaper options. Some hotels even have a free shuttle you can use if you stay there. I think our total for our bus was $600.
Post # 4
Member
1185 posts
Bumble bee
Daisy_Mae: Its about a 20 min drive from ceremony/reception to hotel
Post # 5
Member
2176 posts
Buzzing bee
I wouldn’t say you have to provide transportation but as you noted it does make the party a lot more fun if no one has to drive…. I would say if it is in your budget I would defintiely do it but I wouldn’t take out a loan for it.
If I had to decided between say an extra candy bar or transportation, I bet that most people would have more fun with the transportation and not miss the candy bar (especially if they didn’t know it was an option)
I also agree with PP transportation becomes more of an issue when you have a lot of out of town guests, a long distance or a difficult drive (ie dark windy roads in the woods vs a city reception where people could call a taxi)
Post # 6
Member
13728 posts
Honey Beekeeper
It is not necessary, but it’s a nice option.
Post # 7
Member
47430 posts
Honey Beekeeper
loveisbrewing: I have never been to a wedding where transportation was provided for the guests. Yes, I am sure it would be nice.
But, I think couples have to be very careful that they do not take on the responsibility for every minute of their guests’ lives. People can take taxis or have a designated driver. You don’t have to get blotto to have a good time at a wedding.
Post # 8
Member
3716 posts
Sugar bee
loveisbrewing: I have been to all types of weddings. I strongly believe that if you have an open bar, you must provide a way for guests to get home safely. This can be through a shuttle or having your wedding in a location where cabs/public transportation are readily available. I had my wedding at a nightclub on top of a metro station in a cool part of town. People could easily get home, so no shuttle was needed.
My best friend got married in a vineyard 30 minutes away from any hotel and had no transportation. The wedding was ruined for us because we couldn’t drink. All of this alcohol went to waste.
Post # 9
Member
4810 posts
Honey bee
loveisbrewing: We had a few local guests with their own transportation. Aside from them, we provided transportation for everyone else, even those who rented cars at the airport. Our guests were glad we did, they never had to worry about directions, and could enjoy their champagne!
I think your guests will be very appreciative of transportation.
Post # 10
Member
1185 posts
Bumble bee
Pollywog: I agree with you, and I think since we are planning on hosting an open bar, we will provide transportation from the reception to the hotel. The hotel has a free shuttle but only til 6:30, so people would be able to take it one way to the wedding venue in the afternoon. I don’t think its necessary to provide transportation for local guests, because having everyone individually driven home would really add up but I’ll provide numbers for taxi services on the wedding website.
Post # 11
Member
3898 posts
Honey bee
It’a nive bonus bu not your responsibility to provide anyone transportation. They are adults, they will transport themselves.
Post # 12
Member
1056 posts
Bumble bee
I guess it is a bonus… but people should be responsible enough to drive themself.. they are adults. We are having a open bar but I would hope people are responsible enough
Post # 13
Member
9541 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
After open bar, providing transportion is my favorite thing, as a guest. And the receptions are often more fun and last longer because you don’t need as many designated drivers. You don’t need to arrange transportation for every, individual person, but it’s really really nice to have a shuttle to the main hotel.
Post # 14
Member
7566 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
We are getting a shuttle between the venue and the hotel, and we are encouraging our local guests to taxi to the hotel and catch the shuttle with the out-of-towner’s; since most of our local guests live in the city itself and taxis are cheaper than parking near the venue, almost all of our guests will be on our shuttles. We are doing an open bar and charged per-head, not per drink, so I hope the booze is flowing freely. Ha ha I told people since they are not driving, I want them to make me feel like I am getting my money’s worth on the open bar!! bottoms up!!
Post # 15
Member
3716 posts
Sugar bee
loveisbrewing: Absolutely you do not need to provide a shuttle for local guests! I meant to a hotel :-).
Because 2/3s of our guests were local, we didn’t have a hotel block. Instead, we provided numbers for taxis and let people know that the metro stop was across the street. People got tanked and many could walk home, which was awesome.