[Spinky]

I would like to pick your brains about wedding transport please!

I am getting married in church followed by a reception about 5 miles away (about a 20 minute drive). Is it reasonable to assume that guests make their own way to the reception venue? Most of my family will drive. I will put some info in the invites with cab numbers and approximate price etc. It works out at about £16 for a cab - so around a fiver each if people can share. I will also inform the local cab companies of the wedding. I did look at hiring a route master but at £600 for a 6 miles trip I thought that was just a bit much!

My question is really about the bridal party (of which there are quite a few!). We don't have the budget to offer a 'wedding car' for the bridal party from the church to the venue. Do you girls think that black people carriers would be ok? there is a company who do an 12 seater which could be good - is this acceptable? I suppose I would need to give the driver a sign 'bridal party and ushers only'??? Or is this rude??!!

My other worry is making sure that everybody leaves the church on time and gets to the venue! - there will be about 120 people at the church! Mind you - there will be an hour and a half reception with drinks before the wedding breakfast so I guess that this would be ok.

Isn't it funny the tiny things you stress over!

Thanks, Spinky

[Gilvaniel]

I would think that once you and your hubby have left the church, people will naturally tend to follow you to the reception. You've got an hour and a half, I would think that will be fine.

It's perfectly reasonable to expect people to make their own way between the venues. It's only 5 miles. It might be reasonable to ask one of the ushers to be responsible for making sure no-one gets left at the Church, and makeing sure that those without transport, are put in touch with those with cars, but this is a nice to have, and certainly not your responsibility. I wouldn't expect to go to a Wedding, and reception without making some arrangement to get between the two.

Black people carriers will be fine. They'll look very smart I would think. Again, I wouldn't think most people would expect to be transported, so I don't know as you need to make a sign. Not unless you have family who are likely to take the pee. Your other option is to have the Bridal Car take more than one trip. If you had 2 cars, then they could go back for Bridesmaids and Ushers, after they've got the first groups to the reception. Although 20 mins drive might be a bit far for that. However, unless it's a particularly complicated, inner city route - 5 miles, at 30 miles per hour takes 10 mins surely. Maybe a bit more, for faffing, and traffic lights, but not 20? Unless I'm missing something really, really obvious (It happens a lot).

Stop worrying about it. It'll be fine. We've got a similar distance, and I'm not paying for vast numbers of cars, or buses.

Ah - London, may have worked out why 20 mins. Sorry, ignore that.

This post has been edited by Gilvaniel: 07 November 2009 - 10:57 AM

[mrsz2be]

It's the norm I thought for guests to make their own way to the reception. I'm getting married about 20 mins away from my reception venue and nobody has even mentioned it.

It was on the invites where the wedding is taking place.

As for vehicles then whatever is easiest to get everyone there, I almost had people carriers before I found a company near me who has given me a great deal on cars. I'm sure if you ask they may put ribbons on for you. xx