Is the drive to long to reception?

heymank · June 2012

I need an opinion. I have a reception site picked out that I really like, however I am trying to find a ceremony place and so far the one I like the most is 35 minutes from the reception hall. Is this to far of a drive? The town that the ceremony is in has the perfect place for pictures after the ceremony and the reception hall is perfect for my theme. Neither one of them is booked but I feel as though it is going to be a hassel for the guests. All the guests that I can think of off the top of my head are familiar with both towns and it is a highway drive to the next so traffic should not be a problem.

LizzyRB · June 2012

35 is ok

Maggie0829 · June 2012

Anything under an hour, IMO, is perfectly fine.

When you don't get married in the same location as your reception, your guests expect some sort of drive.

random4180 · June 2012

I think it sounds okay- like, PP says, if they're not at the same location then some driving is expected.

mcskatcat · June 2012

I would say it depends on the are you are in. I live in Chicago, so anything under an hour would be fine, but I grew up in a more rural area where I think it would be asking a bit much of guests.

dokchampa · June 2012

Is it in your budget to provide shuttles to the reception site and back?

cwaggoner07 · June 2012

I personally would be kind of annoyed, but I would do it.

jemmini6 · June 2012

I personally think it's a little too long. 20 min is the max I'd suggest, but I think that's mostly because I live in a large metro area and there's no excuse to not find a venue within 20 min. If you live in an area with less options, I might be a little put out, but I'd understand.

calliopeia2013 · June 2012

In an urban/suburban area, I wouldn't go more than about 20 minutes. In a rural area, 35 minutes is fine.

QueerFemme · June 2012

I also think it's too far. I think 20 minutes is reasonable, but anything over 30 is too far. I know you said 35, but does that account for any traffic or accidents? I don't know how rural Toledo is, but in my head, it seems like a decent size city... with traffic and busy streets.

I would try to find something in the 20 minute or less range.

Summer2011Bride · June 2012

I generally say no longer than a 30 min. drive. If it truly is 35, I think that's fine, but make sure to factor in traffic, any construction going on, etc. Also realize that 35 miles does not necessarily mean 35 min. In an urban area, a 30 mile drive can easily take over an hour.

I once went to a (rural) wedding where it was almost an hour's drive between locations and this was on country roads, no traffic. I absolutely hated it!

aragx6 · June 2012

I think you're right on the line. Is it really 35 or is that overly optimistic?

RebeccaB88 · June 2012

Yeah, I think it's borderline. Can you make the drive several times at different times of the day, timing them? You could get more of an idea with and without traffic, constructions, other events, etc. See if it's really 35 minutes. MapQuest lies, you know. Out here, 35 minutes on an interstate highway at 75mph gets you pretty far away.

DramaGeek · June 2012

In my town, 15-20 is max. However, I live in a big town/small city and in driving 35 minutes one passes literally hundreds of venues. If you're out in the sticks, it might be one of only 10 venues around, you know?

angelsong21 · June 2012

I'm in the "borderline" camp on this one. If its truly 35 minutes even with traffic or construction problems included, I would be a little annoyed but I'd be there. If 35 minutes doesn't take into account either of those things, then I'd say no.

martind1 · June 2012

That's fine. 35 minutes is almost nothing (for some people). Then again you might get some people that ditch the ceremony just to be spared the hassle.

Just factor it into your scheduling and you should be fine. The biggest problem is: the longer the drive the more varience on when people arrive. Your 35 minutes might be someone elses 45-50 minutes which means they may miss out on parts of the reception, so just be sure to account for that if you can!

sxcwed · June 2012

35 is really borderline in my mind. I would suggest taking the exact drive on the same day of the week and time of day that your guests would be doing it and drive at or 5 under the speed limit. Then you're pretty confident of those family members that take it slow or might get lost and see how long it potentially could take. Personally I'd cap it off at 15-20 minutes but it would depend on where you live.

rievergurl13 · June 2012

Ours is going to be a 25-30 minute drive. I asked around to most of our family members and none of them seems to have a problem with the drive they all came back with anything under 40 minutes is fine.

hoffse · July 2012

I think it's borderline also. I would expect it to actually take that long in a larger city with traffic, but I would be wondering why it was so far away in a smaller town. Even smaller towns have wedding venues, though there certainly aren't as many options. I'm from a rather small town, and our reception is at the town's one and only country club. So yeah it's limited, but it's also only 10-15 min away (if that). Honestly I would put guests' comfort over your theme. You can decorate to make a theme, and the theme of the wedding should really be marriage.... right?

jgadbois1 · July 2012

Well as they say it's your wedding but as a guest to wedings where there is a hike from one to the other I have always found it pretty annoying.

Is the drive to long to reception?

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