Etiquette for a Party Bus

Knottie1456507824

Hey everyone,
I am getting married in Las Vegas in October. It's just a short ceremony downtown with about 25 people and then a party bus is picking everyone up from the ceremony and driving up the strip for 2 hours. My fiance and I are paying for the party bus 100%, but we are thinking about asking our guests to chip in maybe $10 per person for the alcohol. What do you think? Is that tacky? Thanks in advance.

ILoveBeachMusic

Yup, tacky. This will be the equivalent to your reception for your guests. You don't ask people to bring alcohol or food or anything else to the reception.

SaintPaulGal

Definitely not okay.  This is your wedding event so the costs are on you.  (And even if this was okay, would it really be worth chasing everybody down for ten bucks anyway?)

Side note: I hope you are going to be feeding these guests something as well as providing alcohol.

[Deleted User]

That sounds like the party bus is essentially the "reception."  So yes, I think you need to pay for the alcohol and not ask people to chip in. 

whoabethers

Knottie1456507824 said:

Hey everyone,
I am getting married in Las Vegas in October. It's just a short ceremony downtown with about 25 people and then a party bus is picking everyone up from the ceremony and driving up the strip for 2 hours. My fiance and I are paying for the party bus 100%, but we are thinking about asking our guests to chip in maybe $10 per person for the alcohol. What do you think? Is that tacky? Thanks in advance.

Definitely don't ask for money from them. They're your guests!

PrettyGirlLost

Yep, tacky.  Pay for the bus and drinks yourselves.  You also need food on the bus.  Two hours is a long time to just be boozing on an empty stomach.

AddieCake

Don't ask guests to pay for drinks at a reception. Not a reception in a park, a fancy ballroom, a barn, or even on a party bus. It's just wrong.

Jen4948

If your party bus is your hospitality to your wedding guests after your wedding, then it's your reception. And yes, it's tacky and rude to ask your guests to pay for their own drinks at your wedding reception.

SP29

And even if there was a separate reception after the party bus, it would still be rude to ask guests to chip in for alcohol on the bus. The bus is still part of your wedding. You must host your guests for the entire event. The other option is to not provide alcohol.

photokitty

I'm confused. You're getting married and then riding around on a party bus for 2 hours? When is the reception? What will people eat? 2 hours on a bus with 25 people sounds like a flash back to high school hell. And how is each person going to drink $10 worth of alcohol purchased at state minimum pricing in 2 hours on a moving vehicle. Sounds like a vomit session waiting to happen.

Jen4948

photokitty said:

I'm confused. You're getting married and then riding around on a party bus for 2 hours? When is the reception? What will people eat? 2 hours on a bus with 25 people sounds like a flash back to high school hell. And how is each person going to drink $10 worth of alcohol purchased at state minimum pricing in 2 hours on a moving vehicle. Sounds like a vomit session waiting to happen.

Stuck in box

The party bus IS the reception.

Knottie1456507824

Yes, the party bus IS the reception. Based on everyone's feedback I can see that it is a good idea for us to also pay for the alcohol. I have only been to 2 weddings in my entire life and they were traditional weddings paid for by the parents. I honestly don't even know where to start when it comes to the etiquette of a wedding, that's why I asked for advice and I thank you!                                                                                                                                             So yes, the party bus is the reception, unfortunately the party buses do not allow food. My original idea was to have a party bus with booze and pizza.  photokitty said:

I'm confused. You're getting married and then riding around on a party bus for 2 hours? When is the reception? What will people eat? 2 hours on a bus with 25 people sounds like a flash back to high school hell. And how is each person going to drink $10 worth of alcohol purchased at state minimum pricing in 2 hours on a moving vehicle. Sounds like a vomit session waiting to happen.

Like I said before, food is not allowed on the bus so I am thinking we will make our stop at a pizza place, with the pizzas ordered ahead of time. The bus will be making a few stops for people to get out and take pictures and stuff. Still sound tacky?
        

Jen4948

If you have enough for everyone to eat and drink, give everyone enough time to eat and drink it, and pay for it yourself, it wouldn't be tacky.

ILoveBeachMusic

I personally wouldn't enjoy riding around drinking for two hours; however, I know others might think that would be fun. Yes stopping at the pizza place where you can eat pre-ordered/prepaided for pizzas is fine. Seriously, though, no food on the bus? I think that is just a disaster waiting to happen.

PrettyGirlLost

It sounds like the bus is going to be shuttling them up and down the Strip for two hours, making stops wherever they want.

ILoveBeachMusic

PrettyGirlLost said:

It sounds like the bus is going to be shuttling them up and down the Strip for two hours, making stops wherever they want.

I agree. But I still don't think that sounds like a lot of fun - but then again I'm old!

[Deleted User]

I'm assuming they don't want food on the bus because it has the potential to make a mess...but honestly I can imagine drinks making just as much of a mess so that policy seems really strange. 

Regardless, that's not your fault. Yes, I think stopping st some point for some pizza is a great idea provided you also pay for that. As long as you are providing enough food and paying for people's drinks then it is proper etiquette.

SP29

I think if the bus will stop and let you go get food, that would be fine. But I would be sure to order ahead of time so you and your guests can get off the bus, be ready to eat, then get back on.

A party bus reception is a bit odd to me- but I'm intrigued. Would you consider stopping at a couple places? I think that could potentially be fun- food hopping. Maybe some place that does appetizers, another that is your main meal (pizza is fine), and somewhere for dessert (even if it's ice cream).

When you host a party, you (and your groom- or whoever is hosting the party), should be prepared to host everything (meaning your guests should not be opening their wallets) that you offer to your guests (or don't offer it). As the host you are required to host your guests appropriate for the time of day- something to eat and drink. If it's meal time, enough food to make a meal. While what you are planning may be considered non-traditional, as long as you are hosting your guests for the time of day, there is nothing wrong with it.

jacques27

Knottie1456507824 said:

Yes, the party bus IS the reception. Based on everyone's feedback I can see that it is a good idea for us to also pay for the alcohol. I have only been to 2 weddings in my entire life and they were traditional weddings paid for by the parents. I honestly don't even know where to start when it comes to the etiquette of a wedding, that's why I asked for advice and I thank you!                                                                                                                                             So yes, the party bus is the reception, unfortunately the party buses do not allow food. My original idea was to have a party bus with booze and pizza.  photokitty said:

I'm confused. You're getting married and then riding around on a party bus for 2 hours? When is the reception? What will people eat? 2 hours on a bus with 25 people sounds like a flash back to high school hell. And how is each person going to drink $10 worth of alcohol purchased at state minimum pricing in 2 hours on a moving vehicle. Sounds like a vomit session waiting to happen.

Like I said before, food is not allowed on the bus so I am thinking we will make our stop at a pizza place, with the pizzas ordered ahead of time. The bus will be making a few stops for people to get out and take pictures and stuff. Still sound tacky?
        

Honestly?  To me?  A little, only in the sense that it's a wedding reception and not 21st birthday bar crawl.*  The idea of having to quickly stuff down some pizza since the party bus is only rented for two hours and drinking in a moving vehicle sounds...nauseating to me.  And are all 25 people into drinking and a party bus atmosphere (parents, grandparents, etc.)

But, as long as you are fully hosting everything (your guests should not have to open their wallets for your wedding ceremony or reception) and you are providing sufficient food and drink appropriate for the time of day (i.e. not just providing enough for one slice of pizza when it is a meal time), then from an etiquette standpoint, you're fine.  The reception is a thank you to your guests for attending your ceremony and witnessing your marriage. 

Have you considered just renting out a room (or making a reservation) at a restaurant and then those that want to join you on a party bus afterward can join you (you still pay though)?  It doesn't even have to be fancy.  It can still be pizza if you want.  Order some pizza and maybe a tray or two of lasagna or spaghetti, a salad, some wine and soda - host it in their party room if they have one - people can take their time eating and mingling without feeling rushed, and then you can take your party on down the strip in your bus.


*Note: I'm not against getting your party on.  I like doing that, too, but not at the expense of making sure everyone is fed and hosted properly.  Make sure everyone is appropriately hosted first, then get your party on.

CMGragain

If you have guests at your ceremony, you MUST offer them food and drink afterwards.  Anything else is rude.  By "offering" I mean that you pay for it.

I do not understand what your guests will be doing while riding in the party bus, up and down the strip, for a couple of hours.  Please explain this to me.

The party bus must have a significant cost.  I think you would be better off hosting a nice reception at one of the many Vegas buffets.  Everyone would get plenty of food.  Alcohol is always optional.  Many people do not, or cannot drink.  Then your guests could explore the strip on their own using the convenient shuttles, or you could do the party bus AFTER your reception.  Don't be surprised if some guests don't want to go on the party bus.

spockforprez

Hey, it's a wedding in Vegas which I think has a certain party connotation and guests will understand that and accept or decline accordingly. I personally am into the super sentimental and simple type wedding but I can see how this would be a fun and wacky wedding and if my friends were the fun and wacky type, it would be a blast to help them celebrate in their own style. I would definitely give the party bus a try (with some dramamine as I get motion sickness). It doesn't sound like my thing but something I would be willing to try and enjoy for a friend's wedding! And who knows, it could turn out to be a totally awesome evening and a cherished memory! 

Definitely do not ask for help paying for alcohol, though. I think you got that from previous posts! 

photokitty

Knottie1456507824 said:

Yes, the party bus IS the reception. Based on everyone's feedback I can see that it is a good idea for us to also pay for the alcohol. I have only been to 2 weddings in my entire life and they were traditional weddings paid for by the parents. I honestly don't even know where to start when it comes to the etiquette of a wedding, that's why I asked for advice and I thank you!                                                                                                                                             So yes, the party bus is the reception, unfortunately the party buses do not allow food. My original idea was to have a party bus with booze and pizza.  photokitty said:

I'm confused. You're getting married and then riding around on a party bus for 2 hours? When is the reception? What will people eat? 2 hours on a bus with 25 people sounds like a flash back to high school hell. And how is each person going to drink $10 worth of alcohol purchased at state minimum pricing in 2 hours on a moving vehicle. Sounds like a vomit session waiting to happen.

Like I said before, food is not allowed on the bus so I am thinking we will make our stop at a pizza place, with the pizzas ordered ahead of time. The bus will be making a few stops for people to get out and take pictures and stuff. Still sound tacky?
        

So, 2 hours on the party bus, stopping for pizza, also getting in and out to take photos.

Yeah, sorry, not sorry, I think that's tacky.

That's something you do with the wedding party during cocktail hour.

People are traveling to Vegas to see you get married and your going to drag them up and down the strip taking photos with a stop for pizza?

I hope you're up front about the plans, bc I'd side eye this plan if I flew to Vegas and a 2 hour bus ride with some pizza in between photos was my thank you for attending.

MesmrEwe

As a guest I'd side-eye the party bus for two hours without food in general, but asking to pay for booze while doing so goes above and beyond the tacky factor.  This is your wedding, not 21st B-day or Bach party! 

Spend the money you're going to put in to a party bus for two hours on a nice pizza dinner with all the alcohol people can drink (there are plenty of places on the strip to choose from).  Party it up!  But don't be a poor host!  These people are spending at least a grand each to be guests at your wedding, host them properly! (and, you can do so without spending a fortune!)  At minimum - "Cake & punch", depending on where your budget is, you can expand the menu from there... 

LondonLisa

I don't think a party bus is wrong, per se, as long as you pay for everyone's food and drink but it is going to be a logistical nightmare. I think there are several ways to get a similar style party atmosphere that probably cost the same amount or even cheaper without being complicated. 

If you want the crazy, Vegas party atmosphere,  can you get a suite at a hotel with an entertaining space/lounge and stay there for the night (you can double this up as your hotel room)? With only 25 people you can get some party platters and bring your own beer and wine. A lot of the suites are actually not THAT expensive, and you will save loads by buying the alcohol and food yourself (you can even just order pizzas!). Many of these suites have stereos so you can just plug your phone in for music and also enjoy the awesome views sans a need for Dramamine. 

Another option would be to book a private room or table at a nightclub and have a tab behind the bar and order some nibbles. 

You can get married at 8/9ish and party afterwards so you don't have to serve a full meal (although you need to serve some food) 

Party buses are fun if you are going somewhere, like to a sporting event or a concert with a huge group. They aren't that fun if you are just being driven around in circles for 2 hours. 

The only rule with all of this is you have to pay for everyone for all things. If your club has an entry fee, you have to pay. You have to pay for everyone's drinks for the reception. You must serve some sort of food (enough to constitute a full meal if you are having your wedding during a meal time, otherwise snacks should be OK). 

ei34

I think your plan is fine, etiquette-wise.  As long as guests don't have to open their wallets, they're fed at meal time, and there's enough to drink, you're good.  Ive never been invited to a wedding in Vegas, but I think it's an appropriate celebration considering the location. 
I disagree with PP who feel guests need to be treated to a full, sit-down dinner.  There are different types of weddings- at the end of the day, if the guests are properly hosted, it's not against etiquette.  OP asking us if it's tacky is a tricky question because we all have a different definition of tacky as far as taste.  It's not tacky etiquette-wise.

cowgirl8238

As long as no one opens their wallets you are good.  I think you have gotten that so I am not worried there.  Personally, I would not enjoy this kind of reception.  I don't drink alcohol (at all!) and I get motion sick pretty easily...so if I knew that you were planning this I might decline your wedding.  It does not make it wrong, it is simply not an event I would want to spend the time and money to attend.

I really liked the idea a few of the other pp's came up with and want to ask if you would consider renting a room for an hour or two where everyone can sit down, eat their pizza/salad/pasta/etc and relax, then have the party bus pick up whoever wants to party and allow the other guests who wouldn't really enjoy a party bus just go their own way?  It may seem a bit odd, but I would think of it as an "after party" to a more traditional wedding and leave it up to your guests comfort and preference to decide.

Good luck and happy planning!

AddieCake

scribe95 said:

It has a Vegas feel so I think it's cool. Having some drinks, stopping at the Vegas sign for pics; more drinks; stopping for pizza; more drinks; stopping to watch the fountains. It is definitely nontraditional but I think it could be fun for a younger set of people. 

This is where I am on this. Most days, this would not be for me, but occasionally a wilder night out is fun for me, and it certainly would have appealed to me in my younger days. It's a different kind of reception, to be sure, but that doesn't make it wrong. I also don't think it's tacky. As we always tell people, you don't have to attend the weddings you're invited to, so if riding on a bus, drinking, getting out for pics, and eating pizza doesn't appeal to you, decline the invitation and let those who would enjoy this do so. 

LD1970

I've been to a Vegas wedding that was more traditional - ceremony in a nice chapel, reception in a private area of a restaurant, and it was great.

Your plan sounds awesome, through, now that you've added food and drink to the plans.  I'd love your wedding.  And for point of reference, I'm 46.

short+sassy

I think the party bus sounds fun, especially for Vegas!  However, since it is only a 2-hour rental, I think you would get more "bang for your buck" if you all took everyone out to dinner first and set the pick-up party bus time for after that.  That way, you don't have to worry about stopping for food during the rental time.

It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but Vegas is AMAZING and exhilarating at night.  Even just driving down the Strip is an atmosphere.

Talk to the rental bus company and/or driver about trying to time it so you all are passing by the Mirage during their show with the fountains.  I think it runs every hour or two hours.  Something like that.  But it is large enough to be seen from the bus, especially if there are open areas.  And traffic along the Strip on a Fri./Sat. night is usually slow going, so you all should be able to see at least a few minutes of the show (if not more) while you are passing by.

kahluakoala

I guess I just don't understand why you'd want to be on a bus when you could be in one of the 783294732948302184321 bars and clubs and party spots available IN vegas. I like the "party hopping" thing, but why ON a bus? Where is the bus going to? I see that a sit down reception isn't what you're really going for - but what about a meal (pizza?) with a few drinks and then an unhosted after party at a bar or club?

teddygirl9

I'd probably do it a bit different - have the ceremony, go for dinner, and then do the party bus if anyone wants to join later. That way everyone will have eaten, if they want to go back to their hotel and chill they can, or if they want to go sight seeing they can join you.

If you want to keep your plan, I don't think it's 'tacky'. It's definitely 'vegas'. I also like a PPs idea of doing stops for different courses, and you can do some sightseeing around that area. IE dessert near the Bellagio fountains, go watch the fountains, then hop back on the bus.