How did you arrive/ are you arriving at your wedding?

JCbride2015 · May 2014

So, we are having a very formal wedding. All the trappings of black tie except we're having live music for the first half, then switching to a DJ for dancing. (No this isn't about attire, not putting anything on the invites, it's just so you get the background info). The venue is a historic park building, now running as a restaurant.

I associate limos with the asshole/popular kids at prom. I guess it makes sense for transporting all the BMs and myself, but then how do Fi and the GM and all the rest of the family get to the venue? Will we need like 4 limos??? Will some people drive themselves and then feel left out?

I thought about renting a classic car, which suits our taste much better. But that doesn't solve the "how does everyone else get there" problem. And we are trying to cut costs, so transportation for the five-minute drive from hotel to venue just seems like something that can be pared down.

Am I weird if I have no desire for a limo? It is strange to pull up outside our super-fancy venue in my big poofy dress in, like, an Uber towncar? Or a taxi? At what point does your transportation just not "fit" your venue?

How did you all handle transportation?

buddysmom80 · May 2014

@jcbride2015 I'm driving myself to my venue. The bridal suite at my venue is big enough that hair and makeup can come to the venue and I can get it done there so it's not like I have to get ready at the hotel with the BP then get in a limo to drive 10 minutes to the venue. After the wedding, we'll take my car home since it holds a lot more stuff than FI's car (hatchbacks rule!).

climbingsingle · May 2014

I'm lucky in that our ceremony and reception are in the same place. And it's a hotel, so I'll be sleeping there the night before.

What if you rented one of those shuttle buses instead of a limo?

JCbride2015 · May 2014

Ah, important extra info: I have to get fully ready at the hotel. The bridal suite is lovingly nicknamed the "bridal closet" so it's OK for touch-ups but not to get ready at. So I'll have on my makeup, dress, the works.

Fi and I are doing a first look but we would prefer to arrive separately to have the "moment" in the park when we are ready.

FiancB · May 2014

I was at a pretty formal wedding and they just used the hotel shuttle for transportation. I don't think it was out of place, it was easy, and if it cost anything it wasn't much.

We aren't sure yet. We were hoping everyone would be able to just walk from the two hotels that are right across the street, but I just tried to set up a block at them only to find they're full

rajahmd · May 2014

Our wedding was all at one location. DH got a ride there with the groomsman who helped him setup (same one who took us home that night). My MOH picked me up from my house, went with me to the hair salon, then we drove to the venues. No fancy cars. Since it was all at one place (and we didn't have anyone get ready with us other than above), everyone else was responsible for their own transportation. We just told them what time to be there for pictures before the ceremony.

FutureMrsN3312 · May 2014

We're having a 42 passenger party bus. That will take the groom, his parents, grandparent, and both sides of the bridal party to the church. My parents and I will leave 30 mins later in a Chrysler 300 10 passenger limo. After church we'll join the bridal party on the bus and our parents and grandparents will use the Chrysler. At first I was totally again the party bus bc I thought it screamed prom.but it was a lot nicer than I expected.

For us the classic car would have cost us almost as much as what we're paying for the party bus and Chrysler. I couldn't believe how expensive it was.

smalfrie19 · May 2014

See, I am arriving at the venue in my car and getting ready in our bridal suite (minus hair because I will be going to my normal salon for that) . So ..ignore my post... I am no help

JCbride2015 · May 2014

FutureMrsN3312 said:

We're having a 42 passenger party bus. That will take the groom, his parents, grandparent, and both sides of the bridal party to the church. My parents and I will leave 30 mins later in a Chrysler 300 10 passenger limo. After church we'll join the bridal party on the bus and our parents and grandparents will use the Chrysler. At first I was totally again the party bus bc I thought it screamed prom.but it was a lot nicer than I expected.

For us the classic car would have cost us almost as much as what we're paying for the party bus and Chrysler. I couldn't believe how expensive it was.

Yeah, I think this is what is "expected" at every formal wedding I've been to in NJ. And it makes logistical sense. But a party bus for a five-minute ride does seem a little silly.

Dignity100 · May 2014

My venue provides a limo to us for 4 hours of use.

The limo will pick up groom/his family/best man and take them to the location; it will then come back and pick me and my family and MOH up. After the ceremony/dinner/after party, we will rent a private bus to take everybody back to their cars/hotel.

manateehugger · May 2014

I wouldn't worry overmuch about the transportation "fitting" the style if you're trying to keep unnecessary costs down. Few people will actually see you arrive and even fewer will actually care what you arrive in. I say rent the classic car for you and FI and look into a shuttle bus for everyone else (or have them drive themselves) and then make the decision based on cost.

I've done the shuttle bus, and I've driven myself (or carpooled) as a bridesmaid. I don't really have a preference, unless I have to drive to like 3-4 different picture sites, in which case, give me a freaking bus/shuttle.

For ours, we have a hotel shuttle that the wedding party can use (hotel is a 5-10 minute drive from the reception venue), but I think most everyone will just end up driving themselves.

FutureMrsN3312 · May 2014

JCbride2015 said:

FutureMrsN3312 said:

We're having a 42 passenger party bus. That will take the groom, his parents, grandparent, and both sides of the bridal party to the church. My parents and I will leave 30 mins later in a Chrysler 300 10 passenger limo. After church we'll join the bridal party on the bus and our parents and grandparents will use the Chrysler. At first I was totally again the party bus bc I thought it screamed prom.but it was a lot nicer than I expected.

For us the classic car would have cost us almost as much as what we're paying for the party bus and Chrysler. I couldn't believe how expensive it was.

Yeah, I think this is what is "expected" at every formal wedding I've been to in NJ. And it makes logistical sense. But a party bus for a five-minute ride does seem a little silly.

Agreed! That is silly....keep in mind most limo companies have a 4 hour minimum. For us that would have applied to a classic car too.

I need to think more. My brain is still not working.

JCbride2015 · May 2014

FutureMrsN3312 said:

JCbride2015 said:

FutureMrsN3312 said:

We're having a 42 passenger party bus. That will take the groom, his parents, grandparent, and both sides of the bridal party to the church. My parents and I will leave 30 mins later in a Chrysler 300 10 passenger limo. After church we'll join the bridal party on the bus and our parents and grandparents will use the Chrysler. At first I was totally again the party bus bc I thought it screamed prom.but it was a lot nicer than I expected.

For us the classic car would have cost us almost as much as what we're paying for the party bus and Chrysler. I couldn't believe how expensive it was.

Yeah, I think this is what is "expected" at every formal wedding I've been to in NJ. And it makes logistical sense. But a party bus for a five-minute ride does seem a little silly.

Agreed! That is silly....keep in mind most limo companies have a 4 hour minimum. For us that would have applied to a classic car too.

I need to think more. My brain is still not working.

So.... you are paying for the limo/bus the whole time you're inside your wedding?????

Kristen625 · May 2014

The nice thing about a limo is its larger...and you said your dress is big and poofy. I would at least look into a town car, they are larger, have more leg room and more dress room. Otherwise, a more cost effective way to do this, is find someone who has an SUV that could drive you. Maybe you could pay to have the car detailed the day before, and that way in an SUV you again, have more room. How many people are in your bridal party?
I had to have a similar talk with my FI about the limo and everything (which I still need to book) because the hotel we are staying at for the wedding night, is three miles from our venue. It too is a 5 minute drive. I told him that the reason we have a limo or town car come get us is because we probably would have been drinking (lets not get a DUI ever and especially not on our wedding day) and I'll be in a fancy dress that will need more room.
So I would think of the limo as a necessity and not as a prom thing. You have a big dress, you'll need the room.

beethery · May 2014

JCbride2015 said:

So.... you are paying for the limo/bus the whole time you're inside your wedding?????

That's pretty standard, I remember a similar setup when my group of friends rented a limo for our prom ride.

SapphireCounselor · May 2014

My parents actually drove me to the ceremony. I had the same issue by the way. The venue we chose was five minutes from my house so a limo seemed silly. My dress wasn't huge, but wasn't small either. Still I had the backseat completely to myself on the ride over so it worked. FIL drove us home at the end of the night.

pinkcow13 · May 2014

I like limos. My friends and I had one for prom. I was also the girl in the big poofy baby blue ball gown, with a tiara, and a white tux and baby blue vest matching date. Don't judge me. (Okay, judge my 17 year old former self. At least I got it out of my system back then lol).

Our ceremony/reception is in the same venue, in Central Park. We also have a "bridal closet" and so I will be getting ready in the hotel. I don't want to pay for a limo to just take us to the reception, or even one of those fancy cars. Honestly, I was just thinking of getting a yellow cab. Maybe one of those vintage ones, although I'm not sure if those are just for pictures. I think our venue is classic New York, and what's more classic than a yellow cab?

ElcaB · May 2014

We are driving ourselves to the venue, which is where we're doing everything --- ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception.

Then, for transportation from the venue to the bars & home, we are using our tailgating mini-bus for the BP & ourselves

PrettyGirlLost · May 2014

JCbride2015 said:

So, we are having a very formal wedding. All the trappings of black tie except we're having live music for the first half, then switching to a DJ for dancing. (No this isn't about attire, not putting anything on the invites, it's just so you get the background info). The venue is a historic park building, now running as a restaurant.

I associate limos with the asshole/popular kids at prom. I guess it makes sense for transporting all the BMs and myself, but then how do Fi and the GM and all the rest of the family get to the venue? Will we need like 4 limos??? Will some people drive themselves and then feel left out?

I thought about renting a classic car, which suits our taste much better. But that doesn't solve the "how does everyone else get there" problem. And we are trying to cut costs, so transportation for the five-minute drive from hotel to venue just seems like something that can be pared down.

Am I weird if I have no desire for a limo? It is strange to pull up outside our super-fancy venue in my big poofy dress in, like, an Uber towncar? Or a taxi? At what point does your transportation just not "fit" your venue?

How did you all handle transportation?

I don't think it really matters to anyone else how you roll on up to your own reception. . . are any of your guests even going to see you?

We are also having a very formal wedding at a cathedral and then reception at a historic mansion, and we are going to be traveling in between venues by a restored trolley. It's the only thing big enough to accommodate the entire WP, save for a party bus/coach bus and I don't really care for them.

I wanted to rent a classic car for just FI and I, but no one really does that round here

(

phira · May 2014

I think you're overthinking the situation. Wedding party/family can get themselves to the venue like other guests will (I assume driving). You don't need to arrange transportation for them.

PrettyGirlLost · May 2014

phira said:

I think you're overthinking the situation. Wedding party/family can get themselves to the venue like other guests will (I assume driving). You don't need to arrange transportation for them.

Really? I think it might depend on what ppl are used to, and what the logistics of the day are (everyone meets at point A, goes to ceremony, then to reception, or everyone meets at ceremony, etc).

I've never been in a wedding where the WP had to drive themselves to the reception. In most cases transportation was provided for all of us to the ceremony site and then to the reception as well.

phira · May 2014

PrettyGirlLost said:

phira said:

I think you're overthinking the situation. Wedding party/family can get themselves to the venue like other guests will (I assume driving). You don't need to arrange transportation for them.

Really? I think it might depend on what ppl are used to, and what the logistics of the day are (everyone meets at point A, goes to ceremony, then to reception, or everyone meets at ceremony, etc).

I've never been in a wedding where the WP had to drive themselves to the reception. In most cases transportation was provided for all of us to the ceremony site and then to the reception as well.

See, and I've never been to a wedding where the wedding party didn't drive separately. So you might be right about expectations.

I do think that if it's not affordable or logistically reasonable for the OP to provide transportation, it's definitely (at the very least) not necessary.

FutureMrsN3312 · May 2014

Not the reception no. Party bus is doing pick up at 1:30. I'm leaving at 2. Mass is from 3-4. Receiving line/pics figure we'll leave about 4:30-4:45. From church we're going straight to the venue. Once we're dropped off the limos will leave and those of us staying at the hotel will take the shuttle back at the end of the night.

Cookie Pusher · May 2014

I rented a 14 passenger van that will take FI, his family, groomsmen, and one photographer to our venue then swing back to the hotel to pick up me, my family, bridesmaids, and the other photographer. The rest of the guests will take the hotel shuttle. My sister is going to leave her car at our venue in the morning so we can load any gifts, leftover centerpieces, and our extra alcohol into it at the end of the night. We have an extra run of the shuttle to bring the wedding party back to the hotel while my sister and I take her SUV.

theartistformerlyknownas · May 2014

So you're talking about the ride from the hotel to the ceremony venue? I definitely wouldn't spend any money on a vehicle for that... nobody will be there to see you or care if you're in a limo or a bulldozer. I'd take whatever van/SUV I could fit into in the dress. I'm riding to my venue with my MOH, and FI will drive himself. Everyone else will either drive themselves or take the hotel shuttle (ceremony and reception are in the same place). FI and I will go back to the hotel in his Jeep after the reception. Or maybe to the casino, we'll see. :-p

Both times I've been a bridesmaid I was responsible for my own transportation.

LadyMillil · May 2014

I drove myself to the hotel in my rental car (wedding OOT for me) with my hair and make-up done. It's interesting driving with a veil! I was able to get dressed at the hotel and both the ceremony and reception were there. However, we decided to brave the cold to do first look pictures outside. The park was a 5 minute drive. DH got a ride from his dad to the park and I crammed my poofy dress into a BM's SUV. She dropped me off at the park then went back to the hotel to get ready. DH helped cram me into the backseat of his FIL's car for the drive back to the hotel. See avatar to get an idea of how big my dress was.

The fabric of my dress didn't wrinkle easily so that wasn't a concern for squishing into a car. I just had to be super careful about the door being closed, and I couldn't wear a seatbelt. My dad wanted to pay for a limo but I thought it was a waste of money. The BP drove themselves to the hotel, got dressed in the bridal suite (ladies) or their own room (men) and all pictures were done at the hotel.

singinchick13 · May 2014

We have 4 hours non-continuous service with our limo company. We will have a 14 passenger Lincoln Navigator limo that could fit the entire bridal party. We have one venue for everything, so basically the driver will go back and forth, first from the salon with the girls to my parents' house to get dressed, then to the hotel to get the guys and take them to the venue, then back to pick us up and take us to the venue. Everything is pretty much within a 20 minute radius, so there is time for both parties to take pics with the limo if we want. Also the driver will come back at the end of the reception to take us, and probably people in the bridal party, back to the hotel if they have a room there.

Peaseblossom55 · May 2014

I wouldn't worry about the transporation fitting the venue. We hired a limo to take me to the church and my bridemaids. The guys & FI will drive over in FI's parents car, then after the church FI & I and the whole bridal party will take the limo to the reception venue. I wanted to get a classic rolls royce, I always dreamed of doing that but the cost was pretty high, we decided to alocation the budget towards a viennese hour and more desserts for our guests. Yay!

ShallowSeas · May 2014

I am driving myself to the venue to get ready hours before the ceremony. We are considering doing a horse and carriage ride to the hotel. Its not something we've discussed in detail yet though.

lyndausvi · May 2014

Our wedding was also 5-7 minutes away. We rented trolleys to take us and the entire guest list to the venue. Then had 1 stay the whole time to run people back to their hotels.

Every wedding I've been in has provide transportation for the WP to the venue (and reception venue if there are different locations). Getting home from the reception varied. Some had transportation like we did, others didn't. Those that didn't I just hitched a ride with another guest (family/BF/etc) to get home or wherever I was sleeping that night.

ETA - I love UBER. I would use that if you didn't want to use a limo or something.

SapphireCounselor · May 2014

singinchick13 said:

We have 4 hours non-continuous service with our limo company. We will have a 14 passenger Lincoln Navigator limo that could fit the entire bridal party. We have one venue for everything, so basically the driver will go back and forth, first from the salon with the girls to my parents' house to get dressed, then to the hotel to get the guys and take them to the venue, then back to pick us up and take us to the venue. Everything is pretty much within a 20 minute radius, so there is time for both parties to take pics with the limo if we want. Also the driver will come back at the end of the reception to take us, and probably people in the bridal party, back to the hotel if they have a room there.

This sounds like a ridiculous amount of fun!

How did you arrive/ are you arriving at your wedding?

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