Distance to Wedding venue

That makes it an out of town wedding, so I would expect a higher decline rate. Just make sure you have hotel blocks and send out information well ahead of time so people can plan. Also, it may especially make a difference for people with kids and pets, so expect people with kids to want to bring them.

Good lord, Sheri. Your threads always turn into this.

No one is being negative or putting a dark gloomy cloud over you. They are just giving opinions. You can accept them or you can ignore them. Simple.

Personally, I don't think you HAVE to change the time. But I probably would, just so that it would be more accommodating for people who are not staying near the venue the night before.

No one is being negative. Giving an opinion aside from one you want to hear is not negative. You literally asked if anyone would travel a certain distance. However, to answer that question there are certain things to take into consideration. The time of day being the most important factor. 81 miles on a Saturday evening isn't bad, but 81 miles to be there by 11am is out of the question for me, unless I am there the night before or it's a DW. Don't ask for opinions, if you aren't capable of dealing with it.

If I recall correctly, OP, you're not serving alcohol at your wedding. That being said, (I'm not bashing you for the decision,) I just think an afternoon wedding would be easier. Especially considering that's not considered hosting your guests properly. I would not expect to be up so early and travel that far for a wedding without booze. If you must have your wedding so early in the day, you should probably find a closer venue. Just my opinion though.

ETA: words.

Yes, getting ready time is something to consider. I needed 2 hours for hair and makeup, and my MOH needed an hour and a half for hair and makeup. If you have a large bridal party, everyone will have to get up very early.

I think if you block rooms, and your VIPs are good with it, you are fine! I've traveled for weddings. If people want to be there for you, they will! End of story.

I don't think the distance is an issue. I feel weddings aren't usually something that are a 20 min drive away. Usually at least an hour for most people so what's an extra 20 miles.

I am not sure about such an early wedding though. I wouldn't be excited about that as a guest on a Saturday having to start my day that early. And sure you can get a hotel block but I am guessing the wedding is going to be over by 5 or 6. Then I have to stay in the area, fend for myself for dinner out and not get home until the next day.

But you know your guests better than we do. Maybe this is something they don't mind. Venue looks beautiful BTW!

I think it depends where you live too, every wedding I've gone to has been at least a 45 minute drive but I think that's more the norm in socal. For me I wouldn't even think twice about that drive.

Most of my guests will be traveling in 500+ miles.

I don't think it's too far, but I would get a complimentary room block.

My upper limit is about 50-60 miles. If it's more than that I would choose to get a hotel room if I can afford it. If it's too far to Uber and too close to justify a hotel I would likely leave the reception early-ish, maybe after dancing for 2-3 songs.

If you have a lot of guests who are younger (in or fresh out of school/college) or have young kids, I would expect declines due to this distance. If that's okay with you then go for it.

My venue is two hours from us- further from a lot of guests. (We're pretty spread out). Double check with those people you can't imagine not having there, and if they give the okay then just make sure there's a hotel block somewhere for them!

StPaul - 'But if it's a matter of "everyone must drive four hours round trip to me because *just look at this view*" then that's obnoxious'

You must find destination weddings unspeakably rude and obnoxious then. People can choose to get married wherever they want and it's up to individual guests to decide if it's too inconvenient for them. I'd happily drive a few hours to watch close family/friends gets married in a lovely venue with a nice view.

Well.. my venue is 500 miles away for all of my family -soooooo...

ETA - its a morning wedding? I wouldn't be going unless I had 2 nights at a nearby hotel

I think it's a bit far if all your invitees are local. But they will let you know either way through their RSVPs.

@Sheri, Thanks for posting about the card box issue (or lack thereof!). I have been looking for something for the cards and been concerned about locking it. I know the bridal suite locks which will keep all of our personal stuff safe as well.

Huntsville girl checking in! I work in Huntsville and I can see why you would want to have a wedding here. Things are fairly inexpensive. The drive down 45 can really be annoying though when traffic backs up. If I were a guest I would leave really early. They are doing a lot of construction on 45 by New Waverly from 8pm- I think 5am overnight. It sucks to get stuck in that.

90% of my guests will be traveling 5 hours to my venue. I've already started contacting hotels to try and secure a few blocks. Many family members have already said they'll plan their vacations around it too. So if you give plenty of notice it shouldn't be an issue.

Where are the majority of your guests coming from and are all of them local or oot? Most people close to you will travel out of town regardless. All of my guests are out of town, including us. We're traveling 5 hours and everyone else about 4. But if I were local- you'd bet your ass I'd be staying over night

That's what we're asking our guests. We just loved the venue, and no one is really "in town" for us anyways. If they don't want to make the drive, they don't have to come.

People might not enjoy getting up so early to make it by 11am and you may have late guests that underestimate travel times or run into traffic. I'd be much more likely to attend a wedding that far away if it was in the afternoon or evening and I had a hotel block to utilize.