To Limo or Not to Limo??

renee.himes.osu

Facts: My wedding is at 3 & reception is at 6.  My FI & I will see each other before the ceremony.  Outdoor pictures with entire WP will be at 1pm. Then the 1 hr mass/ceremony, 30 minutes of church pics (end about 4:30).  Most guests will use the down time to check into the hotel (hotel/reception is 20 minutes away from the Church).

The plan is to release the WP @ 4:30 and meet up with them and the remaining guests for cocktail hour at 6.  My FI & I can take pictures and have some semi-alone time.  Also- the GM are planning an after party- we plan to contribute $200-300 for booze and snacks for the pre-party.

Also- my dad has a nice car from the 1930s- we will to use for our exit.

Pros: 1. my FI & I get alone time  2. the WP is huge and would require a hummer/party bus which just seems big and not eco-friendly  3. WP gets to be with their S/Os and take a break  4. Save about $1000

Problem: My mom thinks it is a horrible idea not to have a limo.  She keeps insisting I fit it into the budget.  Is she right???    [also note we can't use a smaller limo and make 2 trips due to the 20 minute distance!]

Thanks in advance!

bablingbrooke

We didn't do a limo.  No one seemed upset.  It was nice to have the downtime with just me, DH and BIL (who drove us in his car).  I vote no, it's a non-essential thing and if you don't want one, don't have one.

stina93446

You don't NEED a limo. Many weddings, mine included went off without a hitch with no limo. Save money and carpool. Tell your mom that you're not getting a limo because it's not your style.

BTW, why would people check into the hotel between the ceremony and the reception. That seems really odd to me.

MyNameIsNot

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_limo-not-limo?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:37Discussion:380d6544-32f2-4fa2-9033-db4432214446Post:f0d53910-d896-41f9-babf-d84304db136a">Re: To Limo or Not to Limo??</a>:
[QUOTE]BTW, why would people check into the hotel between the ceremony and the reception. That seems really odd to me.
Posted by stina93446[/QUOTE]

<div>They won't.  If they travel in the day of the wedding, they'll check in so they can freshen up before the ceremony.  It's just an excuse to leave a gap.</div><div>
</div><div>It's up to you whether you have a limo.  If you WP is mostly OOT, you'll want to do something to help them with transportation, though.</div>

Licia&Wayne

Yeah, you don't need a limo if you don't want one. I think unless you're planning on dragging WP from one end of the earth to the next for pictures (ugh), it's unnecessary. Even then, it's so easy to carpool if you need to. I think you're fine.

stina93446

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_limo-not-limo?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:37Discussion:380d6544-32f2-4fa2-9033-db4432214446Post:7bceed5c-70b7-4052-9223-224e24468f2b">Re: To Limo or Not to Limo??</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: To Limo or Not to Limo?? : They won't.  If they travel in the day of the wedding, they'll check in so they can freshen up before the ceremony.  It's just an excuse to leave a gap.
Posted by MyNameIsNot[/QUOTE]

If you got a gap, you got a gap. No need to make a fake answer. I have never heard of guests dong this between the two parts. They do it before the ceremony.

MOBinFL2008

Stina and others, I've checked into the hotel between the ceremony and reception on several occassions.  There have been times when the church is closer to my home than the hotel/reception venue so I've just gone to the church first.  When I arrive at the hotel/reception venue, I check in.  I don't find anything unusual or odd about that, it just seems to make sense at times.

renee.himes.osu

No excuse for the gap- don't think I need an excuse. It is a big catholic/formal wedding.  (If I was having it outside a Church; I would have had more flexibility.)  Every wedding I've been to in my life (in this area) has had a gap.  I expect some people to ditch the ceremony as a result, but most are okay with it.  [Besides, I never heard of a 5 course meal starting at 4:30- just seems weird].
I picked the latest ceremony time.  And I am serving hors d'oeuvres with cocktails cuz I know guests will be hungry.  All of our guests fit into a category where they know a ton of other people (friends, family, work friends, etc) and at every other wedding I've been to- you just hang out together, relax, and do touch ups.
I said most people will check in between the to events, because every hotel I've been to has a 3 pm check in time.  About 90% of my guests are local, but will stay at the hotel to avoid drinking and driving.  The hotel is right next to the reception- so that is the most convenient time for everyone to check in.
As far as the limo advice... THANKS SO MUCH!!!  I've never been to a wedding without one and my family things it looks cheap not to have one.  Like I said- I want to break the mold on this issue- but needed your guidance.  Anyways I will keep checking back for more responses.  Thanks girls!

Anivnaiza89

I never even thought to have a limo, on a extreme budget and my wp isn't large.  I have all night so spend with them, they can be alone for a while   but ya if you don't want a limo, then don't have one.

banana468

You don't need a limo.

BUT, because you have a gap, I'd set up a hospitality suite in between the ceremony and reception.  Gaps can be common but theyr'e not so fun for the guests. 

renee.himes.osu

great idea banana

bablingbrooke

Definitely do something to occupy the guests.  Otherwise they might decide it's not worth waiting and go home.

gottahavashorti

A limo isn't necessary.  But will your venue let you close up that gap?  The purpose of the cocktail hour is to give your guests something to do while you're taking pictures, you don't need to be there for it.  It woudln't mean dinner at 4:30. 

If you have a receiving line or it otherwise takes a while for people to leave the church and they have 20-30 minutes of travel time, you could get away with having the cocktail hour 5-6pm and dinner served by about 6:30pm, which isn't terribly early.

lalap69

It sounds like you've made up your mind and the ladies have already advised you well.

The only thing I take issue with is the eco-friendly argument.  Having each member of your WP travelling separately isn't going to be more environmentally-friendly than a large limo bringing everyone.  The fuel consumption/pollution by all the individual cars adds up.  If you rented a limo bus, you could fit your WP with their SO's and it would be eco-friendly and beneficial for your WP.  But if you don't want to pay for it, I get it and don't think it's the end of the world.

renee.himes.osu

Thanks for all the perspectives.  
It is still more eco-friendly to not do the limo - b/c their dates will still drive to the church- so no matter what... those cars will be driven.
I didn't make up my mind yet- I mostly posted b/c I was expecting a former bride or BM to tell me how much fun the limo experience was.  I was worried about taking that away.  But not a single person voted to keep the limo or told me a story about how much fun the limo was- so now I can feel better about getting rid of it.
As far as the gap- it's funny I had so many comments- b/c I DID make up my mind about this issue.  Keep in mind that I fully expect some people to just show up to the reception- and I am fine with that (the ceremony is more for the B&G and family anyways).  My family will make plans to hang out at the hotel bar or at a nearby relative's home.. same goes for the work friends, family friends, and our friends.  Also, I want to be there for cocktail hour so I can mingle with guests and spend my dinner eating and night dancing.  (besides.. who wants the party to end at 11??- my hall includes a 6 hours reception and always recommends 6-midnight.. cuz this is normal in MY region)
My advice to other brides about having a gap- be very clear about the start time of the reception so your guests can plan accordingly. 
Thanks again to those who answered my limo question.  It's good to know that it really isn't worth it.  I would hate to regret the decision later.