Transportation Inquiry

Spavigail_824253

So, my venue is 40 minutes from the hotels so we've decided to provide transportation. The issue is that I can't really afford to have an extensive bus schedule to allow people to leave at any time.

I'm expecting around 110 guests - roughly 20 of them will be 14 years and younger (including a few between the ages of 2-6).

After speaking to a few of the guests with kids, they said they planned on driving to the venue with their children and then sending a family member back early with the kids so the parents could stay and enjoy the rest of the evening.

This leaves me clueless on the bus situation since I would need to get 2-3 busses if everyone planned on hitching a ride but it sounds like some plan on driving them selves.

Is it acceptable to put some of an rsvp for a bus ride along with the normal rsvp so I can get a count? Maybe have them check off boxes if they want a ride TO the venue and for how many, then a box to check if they will need a ride back and for how many?

I just don't know how I will handle how many busses to rent and if I should have one bus leave shortly after dinner with all little ones who can' t make it to 12:30am + a 40 minute bus ride

emeejeeayen

I plan to include a section on our RSVP where people can list dietary restrictions as well as note if they would like to use the bus service we've scheduled. I would recommend assuming more people will use the shuttle rather than less to avoid any awkward situations.

mlg78

There are NO hotels closer to your venue?!?  40 minutes is insane.

STARMOON44

Is your venue in an isolated field distant from all civilization?  I think with a 40 minute drive people will plan on driving themselves.  I know I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of a bus - both schedule wise and comfort wise - for that length of time.

Providing transport is nice, but not necessary, and it sounds like more trouble than its worth for you.

And this is why you should pick a venue that is convenient for people!!

spavigail_20251358

The hotel that was closer that I planned on booking got booked! There are about 15 bed and breakfasts that are closer and I provided the information for people to contact them. The larger hotels were 40 minutes away which is why I am providing transportation. If its too much of an inconvenience for guests they don't have to attend. I guess Harrow Ontario is an isolated field void of civilization. I wonder if people with destination weddings should get blasted due to inconvenience for guests. I'm also staying 40 min away so I'm in the same boat.

SlothGoals

What PPs are trying to say is that since the reception is the thank-you for the guests, it would have made more sense to find a venue closer to the hotels so that they aren't inconvenienced by 40 minutes of travel. The way things are now might mean that people don't stay as late, or if they want to drink at the reception they will be at the mercy of a shuttle or the kindness of family/friends who are willing to be designated drivers.

emeejeeayen

40 minutes is nothing where I'm from, so I don't know what all this hooplah is about.

Spavigail_824253

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_transportation-inquiry?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6a549fa8-a275-4390-8e50-a7e8325d6687Post:8ec50319-0a3f-44c9-b584-93f01521110b">Re: Transportation Inquiry</a>:
[QUOTE]Is your venue in an isolated field distant from all civilization?  I think with a 40 minute drive people will plan on driving themselves.  I know I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of a bus - both schedule wise and comfort wise - for that length of time. Providing transport is nice, but not necessary, and it sounds like more trouble than its worth for you. And this is why you should pick a venue that is convenient for people!!
Posted by STARMOON44[/QUOTE]

<div>All right, after all the helpful comments, I have two options. Forgo my security deposit, save the date, and invitations and start looking for a different venue that is not in an isolated field distant of civilization OR move forward with having a hotel built closer to the venue. So, Starmoon - what is the acceptable travel time from venue to hotel? It's times like this when I wish I was in NJ with wedding venues AND hotels in close proximity. 
<div>
</div><div>How do these venues stay in business without closer hotels if 40 minutes is so unacceptable? </div><div>
</div><div>Lastly, no one ever helped with regards to the actual question - I wasn't asking for anyones opinion as to whether or not 40 minutes was too far.  </div></div><div>
</div>

tanyamary627

In Response to Re:Transportation Inquiry:[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Transportation Inquiry:Is your venue in an isolated field distant from all civilization? nbsp;I think with a 40 minute drive people will plan on driving themselves. nbsp;I know I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of a bus both schedule wise and comfort wise for that length of time. Providing transport is nice, but not necessary, and it sounds like more trouble than its worth for you. And this is why you should pick a venue that is convenient for people!!Posted by STARMOON44All right, after all the helpful comments, I have two options. Forgo my security deposit, save the date, and invitations and start looking for a different venue that is not in an isolated field distant of civilization OR move forward with having a hotel built closer to the venue. So, Starmoon what is the acceptable travel time from venue to hotel? It's times like this when I wish I was in NJ with wedding venues AND hotels in close proximity.nbsp;How do these venues stay in business without closer hotels if 40 minutes is so unacceptable?nbsp;Lastly, no one ever helped with regards to the actual question I wasn't asking for anyones opinion as to whether or not 40 minutes was too far. nbsp; Posted by Spavigail[/QUOTE]

I hope you get some helpful opinions via my post a few posts above! I don't think 40 minutes is that inconvenient either, especially if you live in the country. Also, you aren't asking people to drive 40 minutes in between the ceremony and reception, but between an optional hotel stay and reception.

tanyamary627

In Response to Re:Transportation Inquiry:[QUOTE]In Response to Re:Transportation Inquiry:In Response to Re: Transportation Inquiry:Is your venue in an isolated field distant from all civilization? nbsp;I think with a 40 minute drive people will plan on driving themselves. nbsp;I know I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of a bus both schedule wise and comfort wise for that length of time. Providing transport is nice, but not necessary, and it sounds like more trouble than its worth for you. And this is why you should pick a venue that is convenient for people!!Posted by STARMOON44All right, after all the helpful comments, I have two options. Forgo my security deposit, save the date, and invitations and start looking for a different venue that is not in an isolated field distant of civilization OR move forward with having a hotel built closer to the venue. So, Starmoon what is the acceptable travel time from venue to hotel? It's times like this when I wish I was in NJ with wedding venues AND hotels in close proximity.nbsp;How do these venues stay in business without closer hotels if 40 minutes is so unacceptable?nbsp;Lastly, no one ever helped with regards to the actual question I wasn't asking for anyones opinion as to whether or not 40 minutes was too far. nbsp; Posted by Spavigail

I hope you get some helpful opinions via my post a few posts above! I don't think 40 minutes is that inconvenient either, especially if you live in the country. Also, you aren't asking people to drive 40 minutes in between the ceremony and reception, but between an optional hotel stay and reception. Posted by tanyamary627[/QUOTE]
AND you are providing transportation so you're not requiring anyone to drive.