Transport for guests

A coach from one venue to the other is a good idea but not if a lot of people would drive to the ceremony space. You could ask who doesn't have transport.

I think you need to organise some transport for the mother or parents of the groom depending on who you think they will be travelling with.

We also have the reception and ceremonyin different places. We've hired a bus to take our guests from the reception venue (as most are staying in accomodation near there), to the church and then back to the reception venue after.

It has cost us a lot but we have a fair few unternational guests and the area is in the middle of nowhere so taxis aren't really an option.

Is there any way you can find out how many of your guests will be driving so you can arrange the right size transport?

What transport would you recommend for mother of the groom? To be honest i've been really reluctant to organise anything for her as she has shown no interest in the wedding so far other than wanting to invite all of her family, who neither i or my oh know. I understand that i will just have to bite the bullet and organise something for her as it will only give her a reason to complain.

We can ask around who will need transport which i imagine will be the majority of people. I just wasn't sure if it was worth it when its not that far.

Why don't you have a word with your oh as to whether he thinks they will be going alone or with others etc. If all else fails ask MIL. It's not like she is likely to be photographed getting out of the car like you do does it need to be anything special? Be nice to arrange a taxi if she needs one rather than her having to book her own. If oh has siblings it may be she will travel with them and will say she doesn't need transport but it shows you thought about her.

Where as it maybe nice ive never understood this, if we where marrying in a totally different area of the country from where the majority live I might put on a coach but other than that its just a huge waste of money esspecially for 5 minutes journey.

as a guest there is very few things expected of you... dressing yourself, travelling and buy drinks is about it.

bare minimum you should be able to do is get yourself there, weather thats organising a lift (possibly with the couples help if your from out of town/country) or getting a taxi, bus, train, drive etc... I assume as an adult these people manage to get themselves around any other day and occasion of their life ?

Our situation is similar although the distance is more like 20mins than 5mins, so we have put on our RSVP slips asking who would need a coach/bus transfer between the two (and how many seats) and then we will only have to book & pay for the number of seats/size coach or taxis that we need. It's definitely not a necessity but I think it's a nice touch and the quote we have is £250 if as many as 3/4 of the guests take us up on it, so for that much money I think it's worth it. But our distance is a little longer than yours x

At my first wedding, we didn't arrange transport for the Groom's parents - they travelled with relatives. We did book an extra car for the ceremony to the reception, which meant they could ride in the car carrying the BMs and my parents.

This time, we are offering to pay for a car for my FMIL & FFIL, but that's because FFIL is very disabled and we're having the wedding about an hour away from where we live. They'll need a specially adapted taxi to take FFIL, so as it was our choice to travel such a long distance we figure it's only fair we pay towards their transport. We're not offering for anyone else, though, even my parents.

I get where you're coming from, but you need to put aside your feelings about your FMIL when arranging things for her. I say this from experience. (My FMIL told me outright that she couldn't get excited about our wedding because her daughter was going through a rough patch in her marriage.) If you think you should arrange something for her then make the offer. If she ends up being silly about it then at least you've done the right thing. If you don't, she'll end up being silly anyway.

We were going to hire a bus to take guests from the church to reception but decided against it. I think some of my friend’s and parent’s friends may all chip in together for a minibus or something to save on taxis for those who want to drink. Thing is, we had the same dilemma as you – what about people who are driving etc? Could you pop something on the invite asking if they would use of like a bus?

I'd personally allow OH's family to arrange themselves - same as my parent's will be arranging themselves

We're having real problems working this out, so looking forward to the replies. Two of my bridesmaids want us to sort out their transport from church to reception, but, they're staying the night before sharing a room, wedding night, one will be with her bf, the other will be with another friend, so do we sort out for all 4, or just 2 or none, my mums always said she's never been asked how she's getting between venues so don't worry. Then we have 2 international friends, one who will now be coming with wife and child, and one on his own, so again sort it out for 4 or 2, or none. It's an 8 min drive, or a 10 min bus ride, which picks up literally outside the church, and a 1.5 min walk drop off to reception.

In regards to your question about OH family, my parents are getting a taxi from Church to reception and already told us they'll be taking his parents, as a kind of nice gesture and all 4 parents bonding thing. Why not suggest this, as all may really like it, but transport to the ceremony I do not think is something you need to sort, and if they question you can then suggest the transport for the middle bit?

Thank you for all of the replies.

My invitations are already sorted so not possible to print something on them regarding wanting transport, however, this is not a problem as we can just ask people or we can maybe print something off to include with the invitations asking people if they would be interested in transport.

With regards to transport for fmil - mob will be travelling to the ceremony in the bm car and fob will be in a seperate car with me. they will both go to the reception in the car we have for the bm. therefore fmil will not be able to share a taxi with my parents.

I think best option will be to arrange a taxi for her and oh's brother to go to the ceremony - will then either arrange another taxi for her from ceremony to reception or she can go on the bus if we do decide to get one.

I'm not providing any sort of transport and I'd say that our church is probably the same distance - about a 5 minute drive/10-15 minute walk - to the reception venue.

The only transport we'd be looking at is for me to get the to the church and then for my and my OH to get from there to the reception. I could understand putting on transport if your venue was perhaps a 30 minute drive away, but anything less than that ans there's always the option to carpool? There's always someone driving.

I agree that is anyone doesn't drive or is on the bus or doesn't want to drive a carpool may be an option. Lots may have a spare seat in their car for someone who needs it.