Wedding Etiquette Forum

Shuttle/hotel question

My parents are insisting that we have a shuttle for guests who drink for between the hotel and reception and they are paying.  I agree completely, but as I am talking to hotels to block rooms there are only two in our area that also offer shuttles.  I also talked to the transportation companies in town and their quotes were almost three times as much as the hotel shuttle ($300 vs. $800 plus).  This would be a no-brainier except for that my FI's family think the hotel with the shuttle is too expensive at $105 a night in the Minneapolis/ St. Paul Area.

Here is what I am considering:
1. Booking two hotel blocks, one for earlier in the week at a cheaper rate, and one for the wedding night and Sunday at the more expensive hotel.
2. Have FI tell them tough crap, this isn't small town USA and some stuff costs more, and we would greatly appreciate being able to help my parents lower the cost of the shuttle.
3.  Blocking rooms at a cheaper hotel, and only running a shuttle home from the reception then car pooling back to get cars the next day. 

Does any one have any other suggestions?
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Re: Shuttle/hotel question

  • Block rooms at the hotel with the cheaper shuttle and more expensive rooms (I think $105 a night in MSP is really quite reasonable, actually).  Then block rooms at a cheaper hotel without a shuttle.  Don't buy a shuttle for that hotel.  Let guests choose. 

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  • We did the same thing J&K said.  We booked one hotel attached to a casino that was a bit more expensive and it had a shuttle, and then reserved another much cheaper hotel with no shuttle.  There were plenty of guests who did not care for the shuttle and stayed at the cheaper hotel.  The shuttle definitely got used by the ones who didn't mind paying a little extra for a hotel. 
  • I understand doing that, but if we do the expensive and cheaper hotels do you ladies have any suggestion about curbing drinking and driving.  I know it is not my place to police my guests but FI friends and family don't understand that in Minnesota they do enforce drinking and driving laws (which they don't in his home town) and the last wedding we were at with that same group there was a car accident related to alcohol.  I am just nervous that they will attempt to navigate the back country winding roads that they don't know in the dark and intoxicated and my parents would be liable for anything that would happen. 
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  • Are there really that many winding back country roads going to the cheaper hotels?  I understand being concerned about drinking and driving but aside from paying for a shuttle (which, if your FI's family and friends are so good at driving under the influence, they  might not even bother using anyway) at a cheaper hotel, there's not much to do.  Cut the bar off a half hour before the reception ends (many places do this anyway) and serve coffee and a midnight snack maybe.  But that's just more money, and you might as well spend it on the extra shuttle then.

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    Everything the light touches is my kingdom.
  • The reception is at a ski chalet, so no matter which way you leave, there are a lot of winding country roads that are up and down hills.  
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  • I think if guests know there is an option of having a shuttle vs not, they will reserve a spot accordingly.  They will see that as a better option and get the expensive hotel that comes with a shuttle.  I think as long as you provide the service there isn't much more you can do. 
  • Liberty, I agree with J&K.

    Also, you should definitely talk to your venue about feeling free to cut off guests who have had enough. Many venues don't do this at weddings for whatever reason, but if you are clear you are fine with it they will be more apt to pay attention.
  • No matter what you do you can't force people to use the shuttle or to book a room at the hotel you picked.  So you can never entirely avoid this issue.  I know if we had a car, we would almost certainly drive rather than taking the shuttle because it allows us to leave when we want without being constrained by when you've scheduled the shuttle to run.
    Married 10/2/10
  • Is there any way you guys could cover the difference between the cheaper and more expensive room for the important members of FI's family that you're concerned about?  That way they get the use of the (cheaper) shuttle without bitching about the price?

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    Everything the light touches is my kingdom.
  • Meghan- I am going to talk to the venue about that Thanks!

    J&K- That might be our only option...  
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_shuttlehotel-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:704b7e49-807c-4ddb-b51a-f04cbc1ed2c4Post:ab198879-05f1-4a39-bc0b-7699dd92ed07">Re: Shuttle/hotel question</a>:
    [QUOTE]Meghan- I am going to talk to the venue about that Thanks! J&K- That might be our only option...  
    Posted by Liberty27[/QUOTE]

    I'd price it out.  If you can save money by covering the difference in their room, that is what I would do.  If not, then I'd just go with blocks at both options, and if a lot of people are booking at the cheaper one, add a shuttle. 

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    Everything the light touches is my kingdom.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_shuttlehotel-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:704b7e49-807c-4ddb-b51a-f04cbc1ed2c4Post:a9b6d434-5672-4ae3-81f1-b143ae796c2e">Re: Shuttle/hotel question</a>:
    [QUOTE]Block rooms at the hotel with the cheaper shuttle and more expensive rooms (I think $105 a night in MSP is really quite reasonable, actually).  Then block rooms at a cheaper hotel without a shuttle.  Don't buy a shuttle for that hotel.  Let guests choose. 
    Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]

    I agree with this. Will the hotel let people who are not guests use their shuttle, too, if they want? I'm blocking one hotel. It's kinda pricey. I'm providing a private shuttle for everyone. So if they want to park at the hotel and take the shuttle, more power to them.

    They don't HAVE to stay at the $105/night hotel. But then, they also don't have to get shuttled, you know?
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  • They don't HAVE to stay at the $105/night hotel. But then, they also don't have to get shuttled, you know?

    Yes, but the OP seems to want to force everybody to take the shuttle.
    Married 10/2/10
  • I can tell you that if your wedding is at a ski chalet where they already serve alcohol, your parents are NOT liable for alcohol-related accidents. At most, the chalet would be.
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