garden vs beach

Re: garden vs beach

• roseofdeborah

  

  April 2012

  Well, it's not uncommon to have the ceremony and reception that far apart. You just have to understand that guests might not attend both. If you don't have problems with this then I think you should do what makes you happy. 

  

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• pattib5 member

  

  April 2012

  In the end, what's more important to you? Your dream ceremony venue or not inconveniencing your guests?
  
  If it were me, I'd rather not lose that 30-40 minutes in transportation time and just get married at the beach. I'm sure there's some area around the beach that would make sense for a ceremony. You don't have to go walking barefoot down the beach ... maybe there's a nearby park, garden, gazebo, etc you could use?

  

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• NOLAbridealmost member

  

  April 2012 edited April 2012

  30-40 minutes is pushing it. I think 20 minutes is probably the longest distance between the two that I would do.  You'll be a much more gracious hostess in all aspects of your wedding if you put your guests' comfort first and your dreams second. 

  
  

  Also, you might be able to have both. Head on over to the Florida's First Coast board and ask around; there may be a garden venue closer than the one you're looking at now.

  
  Fatty Blog

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• FoodShowFan member

  

  April 2012 edited April 2012

  RoseofDeborah has a great point; it's common to see this, and I've attended an out of town wedding where we had 4 hours in between- that was a big pain, but we all managed to figure out what to do with our time, and at the end of the day, we came all the way to celebrate the day with the happy couple; if they can't attend the first or second part by reason or choice, then like RoD said, its important to be okay with that on the get go. On the other hand, occasionally at standard  weddings where its in the same location, it can be a burn out for the guests because they end up just waiting around until cocktail hour, then during cocktail hour, and then the reception. Sometimes a little break is nice, it'll give the guests a breather too.
  
  That said, having planned an out of town wedding for myself, and mostly for my relatives, it is really important to do what you really want to do. We put so much pressure on the wedding, oh the wedding, but it really should be a great big party that your throw, with you and your husband as the spotlight. By the sound of your post, I say go with the garden, 100%. I'm telling you, you have to do so much in light of your guests for other things (food, timeline, setup, etc, etc, etc) that if you end up giving up too much for others, you're just going to look back and wish you did it the way you always wanted to. My wedding was the otherway; I wanted a beach wedding, but had a outdoor wedding instead to accomodate. I still wish I had a beach wedding, and hope I can do a quiet renewal beachside for the ten-year mark.
  
  Have an hour or 2 hour gap in between, and have the beautiful garden wedding you imagined! Your family and friends love you, and will celebrate with yout no matter what!
  
  (And I just read Pattib5 & NOLAbridealmosts, and the rational side of me agrees; I think making sure the closer options are exhausted is a great idea as well. I, still a brat though, think it should be what you love, and can be happy with after the fact). Good Luck!!
  

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• momoirolotus

  

  April 2012 edited April 2012

  I think I will probably just give in to the beach and maybe talk my honey to going to the garden a couple days after the wedding and have a photo shoot with just us that way I can get the pictures I want without my guests hating me for making them drive so far ! =D thanks girls !!

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