Transportation - Church & Reception in Different Cities

jessicaj.614

My fiance and I have found a church that we like and a reception site that we like. The problem is they're in 2 different cities. The church is here in town where we go to college and the reception is in a bigger city 45 minutes away where we may live. Our college town has very few locations for a reception (only 3-4) and they all seem to be fairly expensive for what you're getting. We both are just really attached to both places.

To complicate the problem, my family and friends are from out of state, so they'll be flying in.

Is it reasonable to have people drive 45 minutes between the 2 locations, especially if they're already coming from out of town? Also, is there some form of classy transit from one location to another that we could provide for our guests?

I don't know if any of you have had this problem, but if have any advice I would really appreciate it. 

Thank you so much!

nda_roxybabe

Mmm, if they're from out of town that kind of sucks. Could you switch churches?

crfische

I think 45 minutes is way too far to ask your guests to drive, especially if they are already travelling to get to your wedding.

I'd find a different church or a different reception hall in the same town.

ootmother2

45minutes REAL time or 45 minutes without traffic?

If it's the latter, I would try to find 1) transportation for guests such as a shuttle bus or 2) a different venue

IMO, 45 minutes is about as far as you should expect a guest to drive

temerityjane

To be honest... if I was in town, I'd probably skip either the ceremony or the reception. If I was from out of town and knew beforehand what a logistical pain in the butt it was going to be, I probably wouldn't come at all. And I think this is the first time I have ever responded to a poster to tell them "Yeah I probably wouldn't even come to your wedding," so, you know. I don't just hypothetically skip hypothetical weddings all willynilly.

jessicaj.614

Thanks ladies for the quick responses! That's what I figured. We've visited other churches, but it's so weird speaking with pastors and priests (He's Baptist & I'm Catholic) that we don't know. Any suggestions for that by chance?

Again, thanks for your help!

vitacosmopolita

I agree with everyone else. That is way too long. How long have you been looking? If its only a month, I would say keep looking. It took me almost 4 frustrating months, but we figured it out and everything in within a 2 mile radius.

People may very likely skip the ceremony or reception because of this. If that doesn't bother you then stay with the plan.

ootmother2

Try the Alabama board.  I'm not sure if it's divided by city but you can check.

The dropdown menu is ^

good luck!

ThePinkSuperhero

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_transportation-church-reception-different-cities?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8cea8562-b3ea-4d25-9dd5-04f1a834e49cPost:26d9c21d-a888-4f35-8c0d-95812724475d">Transportation - Church & Reception in Different Cities</a>:
[QUOTE]My fiance and I have found a church that we like and a reception site that we like. The problem is they're in 2 different cities. The church is here in town where we go to college and the reception is in a bigger city 45 minutes away where we may live. Our college town has very few locations for a reception (only 3-4) and they all seem to be fairly expensive for what you're getting. We both are just really attached to both places. To complicate the problem, my family and friends are from out of state, so they'll be flying in. Is it reasonable to have people drive 45 minutes between the 2 locations, especially if they're already coming from out of town? Also, is there some form of classy transit from one location to another that we could provide for our guests? I don't know if any of you have had this problem, but if have any advice I would really appreciate it.  Thank you so much!
Posted by jessicaj.614[/QUOTE]

I think 45 minutes is just too far, particularly if you're talking about out-of-towners who will either have to rent cars or ride in a bus (not fun)!

eastunder1

I think thats too far to expect people to drive from one spot to another.  Especially if theyre all from out of town.  Even more so because neither the church nor the recepetion place have any special meaning.  Theyre just places you like.  Pick something else in a short distance from another.

sucrets4

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_transportation-church-reception-different-cities?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:8cea8562-b3ea-4d25-9dd5-04f1a834e49cPost:26d9c21d-a888-4f35-8c0d-95812724475d">Transportation - Church & Reception in Different Cities</a>:
[QUOTE]My fiance and I have found a church that we like and a reception site that we like. The problem is they're in 2 different cities. The church is here in town where we go to college and the reception is in a bigger city 45 minutes away where we may live. Our college town has very few locations for a reception (only 3-4) and they all seem to be fairly expensive for what you're getting. We both are just really attached to both places. To complicate the problem, my family and friends are from out of state, so they'll be flying in. I<strong>s it reasonable to have people drive 45 minutes between the 2 locations,</strong> especially if they're already coming from out of town? <strong>Also, is there some form of classy transit from one location to another that we could provide for our guests? </strong>I don't know if any of you have had this problem, but if have any advice I would really appreciate it.  Thank you so much!
Posted by jessicaj.614[/QUOTE]

1.  No.

2.  If you get them there, you also have to get them back.  That will probably be expensive.

My advice:  find another place to get married.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Nope. How about having the ceremony at the reception location?

If you do it, provide transportation for everyone. Even then its a bit iffy. But contact limo companies for rates on party buses or other forms of transportation. Then you have to figure out if you want the guests to stay at a hotel near the reception, get them to the ceremony, then get them back, or vice verse.

ExpatPumpkin

Yes, I think that's too far.  If you're expecting a lot of out-of-town guests, you really should try to make it as easy on them as possible...

Where are the nice and reasonably-priced hotels?  That should be a huge factor in your decision-making.  And how far are these towns from the airport?  Choose one town for both your ceremony and your reception...

jessicaj.614

Again, ladies thank you. That's what I thought. I'll keep searching and ootmother2 I'll definitely check out the Alabama board and see what other brides in my area have done.

I think I knew all along it was too far. I was just hoping. haha

cat1121

I think it's too far, unless you are providing transportation. A lot of your out of towners might try to minimize their expenses by not renting a car and your choice forces them to do so.

If it's finding a pastor and a church that are the trouble, you could always ordain someone yourself.

fangsiting

Is this between Birmingham & Tuscaloosa?  If so, absolutely not.  That is way too far.  I would find a new church.  There are plenty of them Alabama!