Should I expect my out-of-town guests to rent a car

nadiapare

Hello
My fiance is from Omaha but I have lived a  few different places in the US. I should have about 20 guests that are from out of state. I feel bad enough that they have to fly and rent a hotel room, do you think that people who accept to attend the wedding will fully expect to rent a car? Shoud I arrange to pick them up/drive them back to the airport and for transportation between their hotel, the church, and the reception place?
Thanks
Nadia

dumdumfroggie

It depends.  If they are really close relatives I'd probably arrange some sort of transportation.

However, if I was flying to a wedding, unless I had arranged it with the B or G ahead of time, I would expect to rent a car.

KatePlusNate04

I think you could provide info on car rental places with your other hotel/travel info for guests who would like to rent cars. How far of a drive are we talking from the airport and from the possible hotels to the venues?

If it's within budget, it'd be nice to arrange some sort of shuttle to take guests from the venue to the hotel and vice versa. It's also helpful if people will be drinking. But I don't think it's required.

midgetthemighty

If you can arrange a shuttle from the hotel, that would be nice but not necessary. Adults should know all of the implications that come with going to an out of town wedding. A lot of them will probably use cabs.

MattsPenguin

Ditto PPs.  Also I almost always use Priceline to get cars anymore.  I can rent a car for $20/day.  It's pretty inexpensive.

sleblanc72

Ditto PP's, most people are used to figuring out transportation for travel.

Ljacks87

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_should-expect-out-of-town-guests-rent-car?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:f32fc7d6-106a-43a4-b417-6b70cab30441Post:505ebce2-bc86-484d-902e-877e7429f942">Re: Should I expect my out-of-town guests to rent a car</a>:
[QUOTE]If you can arrange a shuttle from the hotel, that would be nice but not necessary. Adults should know all of the implications that come with going to an out of town wedding. A lot of them will probably use cabs.
Posted by midgetthemighty[/QUOTE]

This.

LuluP82

I'd like to add, if your guests need a car to get other places (like to go get lunch or explore on their own, whatever) just make sure you let them know. We went to a wedding once and figured we'd take a cab to the hotel since the B&G made a big deal of letting everyone know they were providing transportation anytime it was necessary. Well...our cab cost over $100 and when we got to the hotel, it was super spread out. We couldn't even go get a bottle of water without a car. Luckily, we had friends who arrived a bit after us, and we called them and let them know about the situation, so they got a car for us to share.

It was great and thoughtful we had transporation to and from wedding events, but we were there for 2 full days and needed to eat, drink, and entertain ourselves during that time as well!

ceceibson

I work in Omaha quite often and stay in either the Old Market area or out west, depending on where I'm working.  I drive from here, but rely on shuttles to transport my clients, etc. and have always had good reports.

Where are your wedding-related events going to be held?  If downtown, everything there is easily accesible by walking or taxi and I don't think taxi rates are too terribly high.

ElisabethJoanne

You're not obliged to provide transportation to your guests. When I'm invited to an out-of-town wedding, I look up the addresses online, and arrange my own transportation accordingly. Maybe I rent a car. Maybe I stay at a hotel with a shuttle near the church. If I know local friends are attending, I don't worry too much as long as I can get to the church. I can always get a ride to the reception and back to my hotel. Maybe I'm staying with a local friend who is also invited to the wedding.

Historically, the best man had the responsibility of making sure everyone at the church and invited to the reception had a ride to the reception. Not that he had to drive them, just introduce them to friendly guests with space in their cars.

Kokes28

Our reception and ceremony venues are in the same town in MIchigan, we will have guests from Maine as well as that is where my FI is from. We have hired a private shuttle bus for the night to take all guests too and from the ceremony and reception venues that way it is easier for both our in town and out of town guests. This might be somethign to look into for you as well.

nadiapare

Thanks everyone for their reply, it is really useful to know what is the proper thing to do. Just to answer ceceibson's question: the church is in Papillion and the reception in Bellevue. I thought about blocking rooms in Bellevue but giving people names of a few hotel downtown so that they can have the option of staying near the old market. I will find out about hotels offering a shuttle.

Again, thanks ladies

Nadia

mollyehren

I live in Omaha and if I travel for a wedding I would not expect anyone to pay for my rental and I am not proving or paying for a rental to my fiancees OOT guests. Which church in Papillion? I've lived here 31 years and can remommend some affordbale but nice hotels near the church that it would be darn near impossible for people to get lost between the two.

rebarobert2012

If you can, I think it's nice to provide a shuttle from the hotel, but I know that hotels don't always offer this service or it may not be within your budget.  So if you can't, people can just rent cars or get taxis.  You aren't obligated to provide transportation for your guests.  It's nice if you can, but it's not required.

john&julie

I have been to several weddings in Nebraska (I do not live there - used to) and have never once had someone offer transportation for me.  There are taxis at the airport, many hotels have shuttles, and rental cars are readily available.  Yes, you should find out if the hotel has a shuttle, but I would not worry about it too much if they don't.  I'm getting married in Washington, DC and the hotel where everything is happening does not have a hotel shuttle.  I have provided detailed transportation options on my wedding website with approximate costs of each (taxi, metro, etc) from the ap to the hotel.  Maybe that's something you could do to make sure your guests are aware in advance.