Paying for Parking

dolewhipper · March 2014

Reception venue (at hotel) charges $5 for self parking. Parents and FiL who are hosting and supporting financially believe that we shouldn't pick up the bill. With 150 guests, maybe 50-60 cars would stay for the event and leave. Some would stay overnight.

I feel like the charges could be worked in my budget. I don't feel like nickle-and-diming my guests even if the self parking takes cash and cards. Am I in the right here? And I'm assuming that if guests stay overnight, I wouldn't pay for that parking charge? (FTR, I would try and get a discounted parking rate with my room block.) And then how would I relay the message to my guests staying just for the event that I have their parking tickets?

AddieCake · March 2014

No, you shouldn't have to pay for parking. It's a nice gesture if you want to, though.

photokitty · March 2014

I think you should pay for the paying of guests who are not staying overnight. Wedding I have been to like this have had vouchers for the parking. When I am staying overnight I expect to pay for my parking. When I am only attending the ceremony and reception I would not expect to pay for parking to attend the event.

HisGirlFriday13 · March 2014

If you want to pay for parking for them, either for the duration of the event or for overnight, that's very nice of you.

If you're going to do so and you want to alert them that you will, you can re-use an old etiquette stand-by of the private carriage ticket.

When people travelled by train, hosts could reserve train carriages for their guests, and they would issue their guests a ticket, which the guest would then present to the conductor, who would then escort them to the private carriage.

You could do something similar, just have printed up (even at VistaPrint, just do business cards) cards that say, 'Please present this to the valet for complimentary parking courtesy of shannonmaya and FI.'

And then have the valets keep those cards so at the end of the night you can settle up with them for how much you owe in parking for your guests.

If you only want to pay for parking during the reception, have the cards say, 'Please present this to the valet for complimentary parking during the reception from 6 p.m. to midnight (or whatever your hours are) courtesy of shannonmaya and FI." That way they know parking is covered during the reception but not overnight.

[Deleted User] · March 2014

I remember once someone that was invited to a wedding where the location charged for parking. A special parking ticket was included with the invitation (it includes the couples name & event info) & the guest turned it in to the parking attendant. We found out later that the couple was then charged a parking rate based on the number of parking tickets that had been turned in. I'm sure they had worked out this system with the parking company in advance and maybe even a discounted rate too.

You would have to talk to hotel about overnight parking rates & then maybe have to figure out something for that, like maybe include two parking tickets, one ticket for self park & one for overnight guests and then the guests can use the one that is approriate for them.

dolewhipper · March 2014

Thank you everyone! Love the history of it, HisGirlFriday13 !

MandyMost · March 2014

I think if it's the only possible place to park/get there then it would be nice to pay for your guest's parking. But if there's also ways guests could park further away, circle to find street parking, take public transportation, etc., then I don't think you need to pay for parking at all. People need to find their own way to get to an event. If you can't afford to park, you should find another way to get there. It's not like you're considering for paying for other guests' public transportation costs or taxis, for example!

bananasplit472001 · March 2014

You should always consider paying for parking. If it is valet parking than that is a must and most venues have a package you can pay for during the event. As for guests staying overnight it is not your responsibility to pay for their overnight parking. As long as you pay for the parking for the duration of the event you should be fine.

LDay2014 · March 2014

I think that if you chose a venue that charges for parking, you are responsible for the cost. This IMO, is along the lines of your guests should not be charged to attend your wedding.

lc07 · March 2014

We had parking validation tickets available for our guests that were given to us by the parking company. The parking company had a credit card authorization from me prior to the wedding and sent me an invoice after the wedding based on how many validation tickets they processed of ours. Our DOC made sure that anyone who had parked received a validation ticket.

jessicabessica · March 2014

I would pay for parking for the guests that are only parking for the reception. If you talk to the hotel, I am sure you can figure out how to do it (validation, vouchers, etc.).

lyndausvi · March 2014

In this case I would validate parking. I would also try negotiate a deal with the hotel for 1 night parking for my overnight guests. Even if that means they get a $5 discount that you are actually picking up the $5.

Jen4948 · March 2014

If you can do validated parking or make any kind of deal with the venue for a reduced price on parking, I'd do it. But I would assume the costs of parking for anyone not staying at the venue overnight.

MandyMost · March 2014

LDay2014 said:

I think that if you chose a venue that charges for parking, you are responsible for the cost. This IMO, is along the lines of your guests should not be charged to attend your wedding.

Should you also pay for public transportation for anyone who takes the subway? What about taxis for people? What if I'd prefer to take a limo, should you pay for that too? Of course not.

If payed parking is the ONLY option I think it's very considerate to pay it, but otherwise where do you draw the line? At the very least, if you're paying for parking you should let people know--almost every downtown event I go to I take public transportation so I don't have to pay for parking. I'd be pissed to find out everyone else got parking paid for, and I paid for my own subway fare (and likely taxi home).

photokitty · March 2014

MandyMost said:

LDay2014 said:

I think that if you chose a venue that charges for parking, you are responsible for the cost. This IMO, is along the lines of your guests should not be charged to attend your wedding.

Should you also pay for public transportation for anyone who takes the subway? What about taxis for people? What if I'd prefer to take a limo, should you pay for that too? Of course not.

If payed parking is the ONLY option I think it's very considerate to pay it, but otherwise where do you draw the line? At the very least, if you're paying for parking you should let people know--almost every downtown event I go to I take public transportation so I don't have to pay for parking. I'd be pissed to find out everyone else got parking paid for, and I paid for my own subway fare (and likely taxi home).

I don't agree, but I don't live in a city with reliable public transit - if I did I might agree with you Mandy

But I certainly wouldn't be upset if I chose not to drive and then host paid for parking. Would you be upset if you took public transit or a taxi only to find the venue had a free parking lot? I don't expect to pay for parking, but I wouldn't expect the host to pay for my taxi if I wanted to drink. I also wouldn't expect the host to pay for valet if they venue offer free self parking.

Again, this might be one of the few things that is actually a "regional thing".

I would be less likely to expect a host to cover my parking in NYC or DC where almost everyone takes the subway. But in my city, all the weddings I have attended, the parking has been covered by the host.

lyndausvi · March 2014

MandyMost said:

LDay2014 said:

I think that if you chose a venue that charges for parking, you are responsible for the cost. This IMO, is along the lines of your guests should not be charged to attend your wedding.

Should you also pay for public transportation for anyone who takes the subway? What about taxis for people? What if I'd prefer to take a limo, should you pay for that too? Of course not.

If payed parking is the ONLY option I think it's very considerate to pay it, but otherwise where do you draw the line? At the very least, if you're paying for parking you should let people know--almost every downtown event I go to I take public transportation so I don't have to pay for parking. I'd be pissed to find out everyone else got parking paid for, and I paid for my own subway fare (and likely taxi home).

I draw the line at the venue and there are no other options other than the venue to park.

IE. in a city you might have street parking and choice of less expensive parking options or even public transportation. Some venues are not near other options and charge for parking as a venue source.

As for the bold it must be a personal thing. I take taxis to downtown events to avoid the hassles of parking (cost and just plain finding a spot) plus it's a built in designated driver. Even if I got free parking I would still take public transportation. I certainly would not be pissed that people who more than likely didn't have public transportation at their disposal got free parking and I didn't.

dolewhipper · March 2014

To answer some people's questions: The venue is on a street with other hotels but no public/free parking around. Either guests would stay at the hotel (which I am working on a deal for discounted overnight for them), or drive in. As well, it's in Miami Airport area which, although does have a bus system, my guests will 99.999% not use.

I might talk with the venue manager and see if I can work it in the budget when it gets closer to the wedding. In my circle, everyone who has been married had it at a location with free parking, so I'm a first in my group. Thanks everyone!

LDay2014 · March 2014

@MandyMost

No, I would not pay for public transit, gas, etc however if the venue I chose had paid parking then I would foot the bill for the parking. IMO, it's no different than valet.

I chose the venue...they choose the mode of transportation.

If my guests park at the venue I dictated they come to (via my invitation), I would cover that cost.

MandyMost · March 2014

LDay2014 said:

@MandyMost
No, I would not pay for public transit, gas, etc however if the venue I chose had paid parking then I would foot the bill for the parking. IMO, it's no different than valet.

I chose the venue...they choose the mode of transportation.

If my guests park at the venue I dictated they come to (via my invitation), I would cover that cost.

Right, like valet. If your venue has valet for $$ and free parking, most brides would not pay for valet, because there's another option. I don't think anyone needs to pay for extravagances, and if there are other options I view paid parking as an extravagance if there are other choices.

I'm sure this is coming from my own experiences, where I live in the city where virtually all places have paid parking and not-nearly-as-convenient-and-much-more-stressful free/cheap options, and because of this I often take public transportation or a taxi (usually cheaper than the paid parking, and less stressful than the free parking). To me, saying you have to pay for parking is like saying you have to give your guests lobster and filet mignon instead of chicken.

But anyway, I'm not going to argue anymore. My only request is that you let people know about the parking situation, regardless of which way you go!

lc07 · March 2014

MandyMost said:

LDay2014 said:

@MandyMost
No, I would not pay for public transit, gas, etc however if the venue I chose had paid parking then I would foot the bill for the parking. IMO, it's no different than valet.

I chose the venue...they choose the mode of transportation.

If my guests park at the venue I dictated they come to (via my invitation), I would cover that cost.

Right, like valet. If your venue has valet for $$ and free parking, most brides would not pay for valet, because there's another option. I don't think anyone needs to pay for extravagances, and if there are other options I view paid parking as an extravagance if there are other choices.

I'm sure this is coming from my own experiences, where I live in the city where virtually all places have paid parking and not-nearly-as-convenient-and-much-more-stressful free/cheap options, and because of this I often take public transportation or a taxi (usually cheaper than the paid parking, and less stressful than the free parking). To me, saying you have to pay for parking is like saying you have to give your guests lobster and filet mignon instead of chicken.

But anyway, I'm not going to argue anymore. My only request is that you let people know about the parking situation, regardless of which way you go!

But OP said there is no free parking nearby. So in this case, I do believe she should pay for her guests to park at the venue.

LDay2014 · March 2014

lc07 said:

MandyMost said:

LDay2014 said:

@MandyMost
No, I would not pay for public transit, gas, etc however if the venue I chose had paid parking then I would foot the bill for the parking. IMO, it's no different than valet.

I chose the venue...they choose the mode of transportation.

If my guests park at the venue I dictated they come to (via my invitation), I would cover that cost.

Right, like valet. If your venue has valet for $$ and free parking, most brides would not pay for valet, because there's another option. I don't think anyone needs to pay for extravagances, and if there are other options I view paid parking as an extravagance if there are other choices.

I'm sure this is coming from my own experiences, where I live in the city where virtually all places have paid parking and not-nearly-as-convenient-and-much-more-stressful free/cheap options, and because of this I often take public transportation or a taxi (usually cheaper than the paid parking, and less stressful than the free parking). To me, saying you have to pay for parking is like saying you have to give your guests lobster and filet mignon instead of chicken.

But anyway, I'm not going to argue anymore. My only request is that you let people know about the parking situation, regardless of which way you go!

But OP said there is no free parking nearby. So in this case, I do believe she should pay for her guests to park at the venue.

Exactly...if the VENUE had the option between free parking or valet that would be one thing. But the VENUE has paid parking. To each his own, but even if there was free parking nearby, I would still cover the cost for those who chose to attend at the venue I chose.

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