WWED?

VioletRays

We where talking with FMIL about the change in location. I really wanted a Catholic wedding in my church. FI backed me 100%. The original plan was a ceremony & reception at the same location very close to FI's hometown since 2/3 of the guest list would be within 20 minutes of the location. The new plan has the church about an 1 - 1 1/4 hours away, with the reception location 45 minutes to an hour away. About a 20 minute drive between. FMIL says not to expect most of those guests to come to the ceremony since they'd have to drive to 2 locations so far away, they'll probably just come to the reception. Do you think that's true? I expect a few would skip the ceremony but to say most makes me feel like this change is the wrong choice. 

P.S. It's a Saturday late afternoon ceremony with the reception ending at 10.

AdeleDazeem

I can only tell you what I'd personally do...and I would happily come to both.  Driving an hour to wedding seems amazing to me.  I have never been to a wedding where I didn't need to get a hotel room!

MrsGandthebeag

I don't think it should be a problem.  She's probably just trying to guilt you into going back to the closer location.  I would drive an hour for a friend or family member.  

JoanE2012

An hour is no big deal to me, especially for a Saturday wedding.

AddieCake

That is not a bad drive at all. Don't listen to her.

lauralaur

The only way I would have a problem with this as a guest is if there was a huge distance between your ceremony and reception locations, which there isn't. I'd be fine with this.

This is important to you and understandably so, and your fi supports you. Don't listen to her.

MsYeck

If I drove over an hour to get to a wedding I would think nothing of an extra 20 minutes drive.

monkeysip

I don't see it as a big deal either.

The distance to the ceremony, and the distance from the reception at the night are no big deal.  The only distance that I can ever see being a real inconvenience would be a big distance BETWEEN the two.  I *might* skip the ceremony or reception if they were like an hour apart in distance or something.  But 20 minutes between?  That's completely doable.

Weddings, of course, aren't subpoenas, so people don't have to come.  But chances are, if they are willing to come to one, they'll come to both.  Don't worry!

Jen4948

I don't think the distance is a big deal, but just out of curiosity, what was the reason for the change in venue?

Simply Fated

I went to a wedding that was like that. About an hour away to the church, then about 20 minutes to the reception venue. I wasn't bothered by it.

AJuliaNJ

I doubt that many people would skip the ceremony. Unless you have a good excuse not to come (work, car accident, previously scheduled event), it is pretty rude to skip the ceremony, but go to the reception. An extra 20 minute ride is NOT a good excuse in my opinion.