Asking guests to walk between ceremony and reception

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the midst of planning a summer wedding. Our ceremony and reception are at different venues but the two are a ten minute walk from each other (five minute drive) and both in downtown DC. My usual instinct is that when a wedding has two venues, it's incumbent upon the hosts to provide transportation but I'm not sure if that's true here.
Would it be unreasonable to ask guests to walk from one venue to the next? Or otherwise make their own way?
I have not made my mind up either way so would love advice on balance cost (of transportation) and etiquette.

I've never been to a wedding that provided transportation to guests to a reception from the ceremony. Ever. And I don't think I've ever been to a wedding on the same premises as a ceremony. Maybe provide it to elderly or if you know someone has a health issue but the vast majority can figure it out.

Then you’ve only been to some cheap a** weddings. 🤔

+1

Exactly this. OP has to be a troll, or really has not been to as many weddings as she thinks.

OP, your best bet us to ask someone who has been both innand actually part of 30+ weddings, because you have been getting some terrible information.

No transportation = cheap ass.

First of all, you both are condescending, smug little pricks. "Cheap a-- weddings?" Well, aren't you a peach.

Second of all, I come from a large family, with many weddings, as well as have been in at LEAST 8 weddings as an adult (not including flower girls as a child). And I've attended dozens more as a guest. In only 1 was transportation provided and that was a trolley to the wedding party only. All weddings were at a religious houses (church or synagogue) and party offset at a variety of types of venues.

My husband - same on his side.

So the exception may be you.

Whoa. OP is showing some true colors here. Point is, don't be cheap, OP. And don't try ot find a way to stick it to the guests. Provide transportation for everyone or no one.

I'm not OP. And, as many other people on this discussion have agreed with me, reception/ceremony in the same venue is not typical. Nor is providing transportation. And criticizing those norms as "cheap ass- weddings" is offensive and insulting. So I stand by the smug pricks comment. You folks need to get out of your bubble a bit more and realize that other people do things differently and "cheap" has nothing to do with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the midst of planning a summer wedding. Our ceremony and reception are at different venues but the two are a ten minute walk from each other (five minute drive) and both in downtown DC. My usual instinct is that when a wedding has two venues, it's incumbent upon the hosts to provide transportation but I'm not sure if that's true here.
Would it be unreasonable to ask guests to walk from one venue to the next? Or otherwise make their own way?
I have not made my mind up either way so would love advice on balance cost (of transportation) and etiquette.

I've never been to a wedding that provided transportation to guests to a reception from the ceremony. Ever. And I don't think I've ever been to a wedding on the same premises as a ceremony. Maybe provide it to elderly or if you know someone has a health issue but the vast majority can figure it out.

Then you’ve only been to some cheap a** weddings. 🤔

+1

Exactly this. OP has to be a troll, or really has not been to as many weddings as she thinks.

OP, your best bet us to ask someone who has been both innand actually part of 30+ weddings, because you have been getting some terrible information.

No transportation = cheap ass.

First of all, you both are condescending, smug little pricks. "Cheap a-- weddings?" Well, aren't you a peach.

Second of all, I come from a large family, with many weddings, as well as have been in at LEAST 8 weddings as an adult (not including flower girls as a child). And I've attended dozens more as a guest. In only 1 was transportation provided and that was a trolley to the wedding party only. All weddings were at a religious houses (church or synagogue) and party offset at a variety of types of venues.

My husband - same on his side.

So the exception may be you.

Whoa. OP is showing some true colors here. Point is, don't be cheap, OP. And don't try ot find a way to stick it to the guests. Provide transportation for everyone or no one.

I'm not OP. And, as many other people on this discussion have agreed with me, reception/ceremony in the same venue is not typical. Nor is providing transportation. And criticizing those norms as "cheap ass- weddings" is offensive and insulting. So I stand by the smug pricks comment. You folks need to get out of your bubble a bit more and realize that other people do things differently and "cheap" has nothing to do with it.

But is there decent parking??? Why is OP avoiding this simple question??

[Anonymous]

We did not provide transport between our two venues but it was suburban and had ample free parking at both. Everyone needed a car anyway.

[Anonymous]

I knew a couple who got married in a synagogue in central DC and then wanted to ride the metro to the reception venue. They provided metro tickets to all guests and then had charming photos of the bride and groom riding the metro. I thought it was kind of gimmicky. They said they were city people and wanted that vibe throughout. Got written up in the Post too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the midst of planning a summer wedding. Our ceremony and reception are at different venues but the two are a ten minute walk from each other (five minute drive) and both in downtown DC. My usual instinct is that when a wedding has two venues, it's incumbent upon the hosts to provide transportation but I'm not sure if that's true here.
Would it be unreasonable to ask guests to walk from one venue to the next? Or otherwise make their own way?
I have not made my mind up either way so would love advice on balance cost (of transportation) and etiquette.

I've never been to a wedding that provided transportation to guests to a reception from the ceremony. Ever. And I don't think I've ever been to a wedding on the same premises as a ceremony. Maybe provide it to elderly or if you know someone has a health issue but the vast majority can figure it out.

Then you’ve only been to some cheap a** weddings. 🤔

+1

Exactly this. OP has to be a troll, or really has not been to as many weddings as she thinks.

OP, your best bet us to ask someone who has been both innand actually part of 30+ weddings, because you have been getting some terrible information.

No transportation = cheap ass.

First of all, you both are condescending, smug little pricks. "Cheap a-- weddings?" Well, aren't you a peach.

Second of all, I come from a large family, with many weddings, as well as have been in at LEAST 8 weddings as an adult (not including flower girls as a child). And I've attended dozens more as a guest. In only 1 was transportation provided and that was a trolley to the wedding party only. All weddings were at a religious houses (church or synagogue) and party offset at a variety of types of venues.

My husband - same on his side.

So the exception may be you.

Whoa. OP is showing some true colors here. Point is, don't be cheap, OP. And don't try ot find a way to stick it to the guests. Provide transportation for everyone or no one.

I'm not OP. And, as many other people on this discussion have agreed with me, reception/ceremony in the same venue is not typical. Nor is providing transportation. And criticizing those norms as "cheap ass- weddings" is offensive and insulting. So I stand by the smug pricks comment. You folks need to get out of your bubble a bit more and realize that other people do things differently and "cheap" has nothing to do with it.

But is there decent parking??? Why is OP avoiding this simple question??

OP never returned. Why do you think they’ll be back to answer your parking question?

[Anonymous]

You’ll get mixed opinions here. But I found that the transportation wasn’t actually all that expensive.

[Anonymous]

Op - you know your guest list. Talk to them.

[Anonymous]

Have knowledge of who needs help. Talk about how they can be helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have knowledge of who needs help. Talk about how they can be helped.

There are a couple of issues:

1.) The walk is longer than OP says it will be (pointed out by at least one other PP). People who are dressed for a wedding will find this unacceptable.

2.) Wedding attire and walking attire are very different. When is the last time you went walking any distance, and experienced people in wedding attire while out on your walk?? (ie: NOT people who stepped outside to take photos at a venue).

3.) Most people will not answer you straight, if you were to ask them a question like this - they don't want to appear rude or needy, or appear to be the "only" guest who wants transportation. Therefore, only the one or two elderly guests who are still alive will get the proper transportation. People would not ask old people, they would just give them transportation, in a situation where it is suspected (OP will not come out and say it) that the parking sucks.

4.) Everyone or no one should get transportation, especially if the parking sucks. It would be considered rude otherwise, and you will be remembered as "that bride".

Since you asked.

[Anonymous]

Summer in DC + walking = Sweaty guests
Also, what if it rains?

[Anonymous]

If you choose separate locations in DC in the summer you must provide transportation. Just from the standpoint of setting up for a fun reception, one wants to get to your reception venue hot and thirsty with hurting feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been to two weddings where this was the case, neither provided transportation, and I have to be honest that both times it rubbed me the wrong way.

Keep in mind that many of the women will be in heels, so that 10 minute walk will take longer and be uncomfortable. If it's downtown, at least there should be good rideshare availability, but in our case one of them was in a quiet part of the city so it was hard to get a ride and the other happened on the same day as a big event so there was crazy surge pricing. The second of those two required a walk through a part of the city's downtown that was a bit on the rougher side, especially if you were not familiar with the town.

If you are going to ask people to make their own way, be super clear about this in the invitation so people can plan ahead, and try to help elderly guests and those who wouldn't have Uber/Lyft.

+1. And it’s hot and muggy in DC then. We hired two trolleys for guests at our wedding =big hit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did not provide transport between our two venues but it was suburban and had ample free parking at both. Everyone needed a car anyway.

I think this is the key distinction. I grew up in upstate NY and providing transportation was not a thing. Everyone was driving and there was ample parking at every event location. Being in an urban area where there likely is not ample parking at each event location, and with guests who may be out of towners and unfamiliar with DC, I think the right thing to do is to rent some vans or some small buses to take people to and from the reception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did not provide transport between our two venues but it was suburban and had ample free parking at both. Everyone needed a car anyway.

I think this is the key distinction. I grew up in upstate NY and providing transportation was not a thing. Everyone was driving and there was ample parking at every event location. Being in an urban area where there likely is not ample parking at each event location, and with guests who may be out of towners and unfamiliar with DC, I think the right thing to do is to rent some vans or some small buses to take people to and from the reception.

+1

I think the key OP, is NOT deciding for yourself who needs what. You need to offer the transportation to everyone. It is simply not fair to expect some guests to walk, and not others. No one, regardless of age or whatever, wants to walk in heels, dressed up for a wedding - it's NOT just an old person thing. Get it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew a couple who got married in a synagogue in central DC and then wanted to ride the metro to the reception venue. They provided metro tickets to all guests and then had charming photos of the bride and groom riding the metro. I thought it was kind of gimmicky. They said they were city people and wanted that vibe throughout. Got written up in the Post too.

I love this.