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Getting married on a football weekend in State College

alj149alj149
First Comment
in Pennsylvania-Central
My partner and I are hoping to get married in State College (or the surrounding area) in September 2011. Unfortunately there is only one weekend in September when there isn't a home football game. Would it be a horrible idea to have a wedding on a football weekend? 

I can think of two main issues: hotel rooms and traffic. Hopefully, however, we can really stress to our guests that they should book their rooms early, and we can time the wedding so that traffic won't be too insane (for example, we wouldn't plan a 4pm wedding if there's a 5pm game). 

Is there anything else I'm not thinking of? Is it insane to even consider having a wedding during a football weekend? 

Thanks so much for any feedback!
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Re: Getting married on a football weekend in State College

  • SCBojangles1138SCBojangles1138
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    As a PA native, I would say this is a really bad idea. Yes, you can stress booking early but there will always be people who don't. You can plan around hotels but you can't get rid of that awful traffic. There's only a couple ways in to that town.
    Mrs. Wiggins image
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  • yellowbearyellowbear
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My fiance's family are basically all Penn Staters and we end up going to a lot of home games. I would agree with SC that it's probably more stress then it's worth to ask your guests to be stuck in traffic for your wedding day. I think you'll find that all of State College gets centered around football on game days and you might have trouble booking a hotel or restaurant for your rehearsal. I'd say stick to the weekend when they're playing an away game. Unless you want a football themed wedding? Then I guess it's just part of the experience for your guests... I just don't know if it'll be a fun one.
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  • alj149alj149
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks so much for your responses! I really appreciate it. Looks like we'll avoid game weekends... 

    I didn't even think about traffic getting INTO State College (let alone traffic in the town itself). Plus, I think most hotels have a two-night minimum on game weekends and they jack up the prices too. Definitely not fair to guests. 

    Thanks again! 


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  • taraz579taraz579
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I must agree, traffic alone is horrendous on home game weekends.  We travel up 322/22 to route 80 (rite by state college) to our cabin and avoid the traffic as much as possible.  Often times, you can be sitting for an hour (or crawling).  Sorry to scare, but good for you for thinking so far ahead.

    Good luck! :-)
    When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things must happen: There will be something solid for us to stand on, or we will be taught to fly. -Patrick Overton
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  • kathleenmaevekathleenmaeve member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My fiancee and I are graduate students at Penn State and, trust me, don't get married there on a game weekend.  Your guests probably would have already had to book hotel rooms by now given the demand on home game weekends.  Driving is a pain and many restaurants do not take reservations.  I'd recommend looking into surrounding areas (Lemont, Bellefonte) for venues and places to stay.
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  • billysgirl07billysgirl07 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Yeah...just don't do it.  Avoid a Fall wedding in State College like the plauge.
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  • alj149alj149
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks so much again for all your responses!! Very, very helpful. 

    I actually got my undergrad degree at Penn State, but I've lived in California for 5 years and forgot how crazy things are in the fall. Three home games in September, two in October, plus Parents' Weekend and Rosh Hashanah = ahh!! 

    After a lot of stress, we finally decided on an August 27th wedding. It's not quite the fall wedding we were hoping for, but it's still a beautiful time of year and it's way better than risking a snowy October 22nd wedding day. :) 

    Thanks again! 
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