Wedding Vows & Ceremony Discussions

Two families in two locations

Although there's no "ring on it" yet, my boyfriend and I are at the point where we are working on planning a wedding.  I'm faced right now with ideas as to where to have the wedding ceremony and reception.  I live in one state and he lives in another.  Although we are only an hour apart, my fear is neither family is going to want to drive a long distance.  We have been attempting to come up with a place in both of our home towns and near the college we both currently attend since it's an hour away for both families.  I'm just not sure where I should really work on finding a location for.

Re: Two families in two locations

  • You don't think people will be willing to drive an hour to see you get married?    Wow. I'd be pretty upset if people wouldn't drive an hour for that....but you know your family better than we do.  FWIW, we're getting married in VA and the only people that AREN'T at least an hour away are my parents.   

    I would recommend finding someplace that is no more than an hour drive for most people (guessing you'll still have some out-of-towners).  Find a place that fits your guests list size and budget that YOU like,then send out invitations and see what happens.   If you think people are going to want to stay in a hotel overnight (rather than drive an hour back home), then block some hotel rooms in two different price points so your guests have some options:-)
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  • AdeleDazeemAdeleDazeem member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 25 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    An hour is nothing!  I've traveled from Boston to LA for a wedding and was on the ground for only 36 hours.  People will travel, especially one short little hour.  That doesn't even require a hotel room stay!
  • I drive 45-50 minutes to work everyday.  An hour is nothing here.  Plan the wedding in the place that has the vendors/venues you want and you should be fine.  Vendors start charging when they have to drive an hour to get somewhere and your venues should be very close to one another, not one in one town and the other in the other town.  You are not asking too much of anyone here - plan what works and is affordable.
  • Just make sure you take into consideration people's willingness to travel when you plan the guest list. My fmil wanted to invite a whole bunch of people "out of courtesy" who live about 45 minutes away from our venue, and told us not to worry, they wouldn't drive that far anyway. Always plan on 100% acceptance.
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  • My parents drive a half hour to get grocercies and go to work. A day trip for us is 3 hours one way, shopping and whatnot, and then driving home 3 hours. 1 hour is negligable.
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  • edited December 2011
    An hour isn't too far for most most people to travel to and from a wedding. Choose a reception venue that is close to the ceremony location and don't have a time gap between the two. It's no fun for guests to wander around an unfamiliar town, trying to kill time between the two. Also, choose a date when the weather conditions are conducive to driving. 

    As soon as you have firmed up a date and location, send out save the dates, so guests can figure out car pools, if necessary, and hotel arrangements if they plan to stay overnight.

    Good luck with your planning.
                       
  • One hour? We regularly drive one hour to see my parents and his parents. It's nothing.

    I thought that this was gonna be like our situation: my family in California and his family here. But an hour? That's not even vaguely long-distance.

  • Heck, I've got family flying from Colorado, driving 90 minutes to the ceremony from her mom's house, 20 to the reception, then back to her mom's another 90 minutes from the reception, then flying back to Colorado.  1 hour between the sites is nothing!
  • I am Flying my mom and sisters to AZ. from IL. for the wedding then Flying back to IL. with them for the recption with my entire family
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