Bridal Party PLUS Guest in Limo?

daniellemarie13 · May 2010

We are getting a limo for transportation of the bridesmaids/bride to the church, then to take the bride, groom and full bridal party around town after the ceremony for some outdoor photography, maybe a quick martini, then taking us to our reception. Who all has to be included in the limo? Is it just the bride/groom and bridal party? Or do we have to include our bridal party's spouse, significant other, etc.? What about the maid of honor who's daughter is the flower girl, and groomsman who's son is the ring bearer?

suz62984 · May 2010

I would suggest including the guests in the limo. Personally I don't have a problem not being included if I know others at the wedding or i'm in town. My FI was in a wedding and they didn't include guests. We were OOT and I got lost (badly). The couple also forgot to keep the limo for the bridal party for after the wedding. The bridal party didn't know they didn't have a ride back to the church and had to bum a ride from random guests at the wedding. I would also suggest including the flower girl and ring bearer.

SarahPLiz · May 2010

I think you need to look at it from the guest's perspective. You don't HAVE to do anything, but don't be rude by making their guest sit around alone for hours waiting for you to get back from your partying. How would you feel if someone did that to you? That's pretty crap-tastic IMO.

However, you also need to take after-reception transportation into account. If you have a single BM with no guest and she is transported in a limo all day, how will she get back to her car at the end of the night? Is your reception close to the ceremony? Can your WP get back to their cars after the reception?

Also, the FG and RB are traditionally part of the wedding party, so I don't see why you wouldn't take pictures with them as well.

CA2MT4EveR · May 2010

I would include them, but stopping for a martini is rude. It takes time away from your reception and makes your guests sit and wait for you longer.

mbcdefg · May 2010

If they have no other way around, and/or don't know anyone that they could hang out with during the gap, I would defintiely invite them. Otherwise, I think it's a nice gesture to invite them along but I don't think it's awful if you can't fit them.

I rode to the ceremony with my parents and two bridesmaids in a limo. MH went with his father and the groomsmen in my parents' car. The dates got rides with other people to the church.

For the time between the ceremony and reception, we invited the bridal party's dates in the limo. MOH's date (who only knew a couple other people) and the groomsman's date (who knew nobody except the groomsman) accepted the offer. The Best Man's FI was invited, but she knew lots of other guests so she elected to spend the gap time with some of them and then she met us at the reception hall. The dates all sat at the head table with us.

Having the two dates in the limo was a lot of fun. We got some nice pro photos with them ... some silly, some sweet (PIB). They also had their cameras with them so we got a lot of non-pro pics of the bridal party shoot right after the wedding. That was great because we didn't have to wait for the pro pics to see how things turned out. The dates were also grateful because they didn't have to awkwardly spend time alone or with people they didn't know, had we refused to let them come in the limo.

banana468 · May 2010

Why are you not joining your guests for the drink? Nix the martini.

SheDiva4 · May 2010

I would say that who you include in the limo is up to you, but at SarahPLiz said think about it from the guests perspective. How would they feel.

As for the FG and RB how old are they? This is important because if they are really young the would require carseats.

We are offering limo service for our entire WP spouses and children but know that most will decline as they would have to tote car seats in and out of the limo.

Celles · May 2010

I think it would be a nice gesture to extend the invitation to dates. Some might decline due to logistical reasons or simply to spend more time with friends who aren't in the wedding party. But those who want to stay with their SO's during the gap will have the opportunity to do so. It's a win-win for the bridal party (although not so much for the guests that have to wait on you and your martinis, sadly).

duckie1905 · May 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-party_bridal-party-plus-guest-limo?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:37Discussion:c70842fa-ef29-452e-8bee-fae63188fca4Post:6f505a02-43ae-4647-841a-6745e9c5f7ba">Bridal Party PLUS Guest in Limo?</a>:
[QUOTE]We are getting a limo for transportation of the bridesmaids/bride to the church, then to take the bride, groom and full bridal party around town after the ceremony for some outdoor photography, maybe a quick martini, then taking us to our reception. Who all has to be included in the limo? Is it just the bride/groom and bridal party? Or do we have to include our bridal party's spouse, significant other, etc.? What about the maid of honor who's daughter is the flower girl, and groomsman who's son is the ring bearer?
Posted by daniellemarie13[/QUOTE]

1. I think that if the limo is anything more than transportation to the reception you should at least extend the offer to the dates/SOs of the WP. If they are in-town or know others at the event they may decline but that is their choice; it would be nice to include them.

2. No stopping for martini. Why would you make your guests wait for you? That's rude and completely unnecessary. Have a drink when you get the reception so you can spend time with your guests (the ones that have traveled near/far to be with you).

3. I would include the children if their parents are in the WP unless their is another parent, family member, or friend that they feel comfortable leaving their children with. Again, I think it would be nice to give them the choice.

Beachy730 · May 2010

You don't need to invite guests in the limo but it is nice if you can afford the bigger limo or have room. We tried getting a bus limo but they were booked on our date so unfortunately we will not be able to include guests. Our whole wedding party lives in town though so their dates will be fine and have friends or family to go with.
As for the kids, it definitely depends on the age of them (like someone said, car seats). And if its not a big deal to you to have them in those pictures, then maybe you should ask their parents who are in the wedding. They might prefer to have them with them, or may prefer them to go with the other parent. My FG and RB aren't coming in the limo eiither. I am a little bummed that they won't be there for some pictures, but they both need booster seats, and I know their parents would prefer to give them a nap between if possible.

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