Parking at the church

hlq2011

My wedding is in the city, and the church doesn't have a parking lot.  Street parking is like $2 an hour, and our ceremony will be a Catholic ceremony without a mass, so not all that long.

We're paying for parking at the reception, and trying to arrange a shuttle to run between the reception and the hotel (where 3/4 of our guests are likely staying) to limit the need for designated drivers.

So here's my question.  Should I put something on our wedding web site warning people that street parking at the church isn't free, and that given the limited parking, we recommend people carpool or consider taxis?  It's only a mile and a half, and the cab ride won't be expensive.

Should I not mention anything?

Or should I just try to arrange the shuttle to run from the church to the hotel, for the extra $300 or so it'll cost?

I guess I know the last option is probably the kindest to our guests, but I'm wondering if it's really necessary...

TIA!

MattsPenguin

I would try either (a) pay for their parking or (b) use the shuttle.  Since paying for their parking is probably not feasible, I would go with the shuttle.  And definitely put a message up on the wedding website regarding the shuttle and limited parking. 

ETA: this would give them a head's up.  I hate when I don't know that I'll need $2 in cash and scrounge around my car looking for it.

[Deleted User]

I would definitely arrange for a shuttle. If there is not ample parking for everyone and they are likely to get frustrated if they have to pay to park. Furthermore, if a lot of your guests are from oot and they don't realize there are parking meters, you are going to have some unhappy guests when they have pay fines and/or their cars get towed.

I think the safest thing to do would be provide a shuttle from the hotel (since you said that is where most of the people are staying) to the church. I think it would be fine to put a message on your wedding website to let guests know ahead of time the arrangements you have made.

hlq2011

Okay, so, assuming I can convince FI that a shuttle is needed, is it reasonable to ask guests to RSVP for the shuttle(s) from hotel to church and hotel to reception?  How?  On RSVP cards or on the web site or word of mouth?

emilyinchile

I would probably add a card with directions to your invitations, mention the $2 parking and say if they'd rather take the complimentary shuttle to RSVP by X date to ensure space. I imagine some people would prefer to pay and have freedom to drive themselves, but everyone will appreciate the heads-up.

annakb8

I think it is also important to let them know if the meters only take quarters or anything like that. Parking is $2 an hour in DC too and I always get screwed because a lot of the machines only take quarters and I never have 8 quarters laying around.

FutureMrsTR

I think if you're going to run a shuttle it should go from the hotel to the church to the reception to the hotel.  Otherwise people will have cars left in various places that's kind of a pain in the ass.

jessienjeremy

I agree wtih Future Mrs.  If your going to do the shuttle you need to have it go everywhere.  If that will be extra and out of your budget then yes explain its $2 but they can rsvp space on the shuttle. I would also explain it will be going from hotel to church back to hotel so they may get their own vehicles to take to reception.

courtney1188

Where do people normally park when attending church there?

...sorry, this might be a stupid question, but there's free parking all around where I live, so it's not a situation I'm very familiar with.

Simply Fated

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_parking-church?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:dfe1d9c0-2580-45ca-bc36-8c75f88dc25aPost:879c68fe-b828-401d-a74e-fe9d14c7cdc0">Re: Parking at the church</a>:
[QUOTE]Where do people normally park when attending church there? ...sorry, this might be a stupid question, but there's free parking all around where I live, so it's not a situation I'm very familiar with.
Posted by courtney1188[/QUOTE]
I was wondering the same thing myself. Some people only go to church once a week, but what about those who go more often? For someone to go everyday, it would cost $14 a week, $56 a month and $672 a year. Give or take a few dollars if my math is off. Surely there must be other free parking, no?