Wedding Etiquette Forum

Walking Distance

How far is it acceptable to have the ceremony and reception venues away from each other and not have transport between the two (obviously excluding the infirm and things who need door to door) ?

Re: Walking Distance

  • If I'm wearing a dress and heels, I don't want to walk terribly far.  I'm thinking a quarter mile would be pushing it.  However, I'd have no problem driving a short distance.  I think the rule of thumb for driving between locations is no more than 30 minutes under normal traffic conditions of the time/day of week your guests would be making the drive.
  • If the only option is walking, no more than a quarter mile.
  • Ven&Radio said:
    If I'm wearing a dress and heels, I don't want to walk terribly far.  I'm thinking a quarter mile would be pushing it.  However, I'd have no problem driving a short distance.  I think the rule of thumb for driving between locations is no more than 30 minutes under normal traffic conditions of the time/day of week your guests would be making the drive.
    Would that be the same if parking and things was very difficult (city centre)?
  • Would that mean that they might be walking back to their cars after dark?  If so, is it in an area where most of your guests would feel safe and comfortable walking after dark?  I know there are several downtown areas that I would not feel safe in, particularly if I'd had a glass of wine or two.  Is there parking available at both location? Are there regular public transporation options? Cabs? Just a few things for you to think about.
  • I think you need to be way more specific on the situation you're considering doing if you want honest, accurate answers.
  • If the venue is in the city, I would expect parking to be readily available.  Couple blocks max.if I have to walk farther than that, I would probably give up and not attend the reception.  But, I live in a city where you have to drive everywhere, and very little public transportation. People who live in the city might see it differently. 
  • I think it depends on the atmosphere, but I think you can push it further than a quarter of a mile. If people live in or near a big city, they're probably used to parking more than a quarter of a mile from their destination in general. People who generally drive everywhere in the suburbs might see it differently. I'd consider your guests and what they're used to. I think a few blocks in a city would be acceptable.
  • Oh and consider temperature too.
  • If the venue is in the city, I would expect parking to be readily available.  Couple blocks max.if I have to walk farther than that, I would probably give up and not attend the reception.  But, I live in a city where you have to drive everywhere, and very little public transportation. People who live in the city might see it differently. 

    Would that mean that they might be walking back to their cars after dark?  If so, is it in an area where most of your guests would feel safe and comfortable walking after dark?  I know there are several downtown areas that I would not feel safe in, particularly if I'd had a glass of wine or two.  Is there parking available at both location? Are there regular public transporation options? Cabs? Just a few things for you to think about.

    Reception is in a hotel were all OOT guests are staying. 
    We are talking a big city. Where a number of people who live there don't own a car or will only drive if going out of the city. (Very congested and very little parking - hotel does have a a car park) 
    Lots of public transport and taxis. 

    Possible ceremony space doesn't have parking - though does have space for cars to pull in by gate.

  • Really weather-dependent, but I'd say no more than 3 blocks or so (my dress shoes are never comfortable).
  • Can you provide a shuttle? I agree a couple blocks max unless transportation is provided or you can drive/park easily
  • I'm not sure why the need to be so cryptic on this. Are we talking a church in NYC with little to no parking and a hotel 20 blocks away? I'd take a taxi and be fine with it. Or are we talking a park on the water in Boston with little chance of getting a cab? Then I think you need a shuttle.
  • I have no issue providing a shuttle I was just trying to see at what distance is a shuttle silly. 
    Don't mean to be cryptic @STARMOON44
    I guess I wanted to know if there was just a general overarching rule about it without city specifics.
  • When in doubt, provide a shuttle.
  • If it's likely that most people would be taking cabs between the ceremony and reception (likely, since they'll be dressed up and it sounds like more than a block or two), I would provide a shuttle for everyone if it's in your budget.  
  • I think that if the walk would be over 15-20 minutes (and 15-20 minutes in heels and a cocktail dress, not 15-20 minutes in sneakers) that you should provide a shuttle.
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  • Also, what about inclement weather?  I'm not walking that far in rain or snow wearing heels and a cocktail dress.
  • Definitely need more details....and it is all contingent upon time of year, weather, availability of cabs, etc.

    But if most of the guests are staying at one hotel - I'd provide shuttle service from that hotel the ceremony location.
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  • Need more details about weather conditions, parking, alternative transportation, formality of wedding (are guests going to be wearing long gowns or cocktail dresses, wearing heels, etc.) to tell you.

    I'd say, though, that for people in high heels and dressed in light attire, probably they won't want to walk more than a quarter of a mile (and that's assuming they have no health issues).
  • GlassButtonGlassButton member
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    edited August 2013
    I agree with pps. More information is needed.

    If it's in ideal weather and a great neighbourhood where I walk back at night and not be afraid then I'd say no more than 15 minutes - and that's pushing it. Ideally 5 minutes. I'm the type of person that waits 5 minutes for a good parking spot when I'm in heels. Sometimes I make my FI leave me at the door while he goes and parks, so I personally wouldn't be happy to walk much in heels.

    ETA: ideally it'd only be 200 meters, but the max I'll walk is 500 meters.
  • First, transportation is not expected to be provided between the ceremony and reception. Guests should be able to work this out for themselves. If you are in a city then they can judge for themselves if it is "walkable". If not, they can drive, take public transportation, or a cab. If your hotel is providing a shuttle from the reception site back to the hotel at the end of the night, you could consider offering a shuttle from the hotel to the ceremony, and then to the reception, but this could be costly and is not required/common.
  • We're having the ceremony and reception in the same place, but the hotel block we'll likely be getting is about a mile away (maybe a little less). It's all in the city. I assume everyone staying at the hotel will not be driving to the venue, and will likely take a ~$5 cab ride to the venue. Public transportation is available, and would be a little cheaper, but a LOT more of a hassle. Our local guests will probably be driving, but they could take public transportation (pretty easy from where they'll be coming from ) if they wanted to. There's a small lot to park in, that should be enough space if people park appropriately. If not, they'll have to find street parking.

    Yes, our suburban guests may be a bit put off by the situation, since they're used to giant expansive parking lots and never take cabs. But all of the city dwellers will think its just fine. We'll provide lots of info on the website, but the fact of the matter is that WE are city people, and we are having a city people--it's not everyone's cup of tea, and it doesn't have to be. I don't like attending weddings where you have to drive between things and stand in a field, for instance--it doesn't mean people shouldn't have those kinds of weddings any more than it means I shouldn't have a city wedding where typical city transportation will be used.


    Anyway, I think anything longer than a 5-minute walk (probably about a quarter mile) would require transportation options. 
  • Don't just assume the elderly or infirm need transportation.  You may not know if one of your guests has a medical condition that would make a walk difficult.  If you don't want to provide a shuttle, that's fine, but make sure that you are in an area where taxis are plentiful.  I would be peeved if I had to call for a cab after the ceremony and wait 20 minutes for it to show up.

    Also, if it is hot, cold, rainy or snowy I would be less likely to walk in dress and heels.
  • I think different things to consider

    -Time of year (I'm less likely to want to walk any distance in January in a location like NYC or anywhere northern)

    -Is the route flat or are there any hills

    -If this is a location where you would see a lot of people taking taxi's, what about calling a local taxi company & asking if they can have taxis at the ceremony site around the time the ceremony will be over so that guests don't have to call & wait themselves. I went to an destination wedding in Vegas were we all had to get around via taxi. Well the ceremony wasn't in a location on the strip so after the ceremony we had to call to get enough taxi's to transport close to 50 people to the resturant. Then after dinner we had to call again. It wasn't fun.

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