Whats an acceptable distance between ceremony and reception?

I think if it's going to be more than 20 minutes it is nice to provide a coach. However I wouldn't want to spend more than half an hour travelling really, as the day will go so fast anyway, you don't want to spend it all travelling.

We are having exactly the same problem Although H2Bs uncle owns a company that has 2 red old fashioned London buses which he hires out for weddings and parties and has said we can use them, so we may decide to go the ferrying people around route.

We've got about a 30 min journey between church and reception venue. We're putting on a bus but as part of it is country rd, will likely take about 40-45 mind. Due to this, our ceremony is slightly earlier than it might otherwise have been.

Our reception venue is about 35-40 mins from our church, we are not providing transport and no one has said anything about it either.

The venue my OH and I are looking at is about 50 minutes away from the church. This seemed really far a first but its a pretty perfect venue!!

My maximum was an hour for people to travel to the reception...but we're going along the lines as people will be there for a good few hours - with some people being there all day and the evening guests being there about 5 hours. So I didn't feel an hour was too far a journey.

We've also got family travelling from around the world so I feel it would be best to offer transport to the reception as they'll be in b and bs.

I honestly think as long as you are providing for them (which you do in a wedding!) and the reception is going to be enjoyable (and enough furniture for everyone to relax) then an hour is acceptable!

I'd rather have a nice venue with a bit of further travelling, than a horrible venue!

xx

We chose to exclude anywhere more than 30 mins away.

The reception venue we chose is 20-25 mins from the church and doesn't have accommodation. Most guests are travelling, some from overseas. We have cheaper rates at a hotel about 5 mins from the reception venue, and we're putting on a coach from the hotel to the church and then from the church to the reception. Then it's taxis back to the hotel at night time.

The coach is costing £250 for a 50-seater and about half of our 70 guests are taking it.

TBH, it is a logistical nightmare with about 5+ locations involved (our house, mum's house where we're getting ready, church, reception, hotel) especially getting cars/overnight bags/people to the right places at the right time. But, not impossible!

As for venue search - try local Council websites as they will list all premises with a marriage license.

Thank you for all your advice

I think you have me convinced that the perfect venue will be worth the distance, I shall double check local coucil venues and restaurants and then start looking a little further afield.
Then have an earlier ceremony, provide some drinks and nibbles after at the church, and then arrival drinks and finger food on arrival at reception and make sure guests can stay there or close by. I still dont want to go more than 40-50 mins coz as i said a lot will be travelling up to 2hours on the day which is far enough without going much further. And make sure everyone has travel arrangements. that sound ok?
Thanks ladies xxx

BTW if anyone can recommend venues in the west mids id be grateful. around Stourbridge/Wolverhampton/Kidderminster I'd be very grateful!?