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Super February 2019

Guest Expectations for Out of Town Guests

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Amy, on January 24, 2018 at 11:40 AM

Posted in Planning 31

If you are an out of town guest attending a wedding, do you expect to have to rent a car? Is this acceptable? I'm feeling a bit stressed about the cost to my side who will all have to come in from out of town and need to pay for plane, hotel, and car. I'm not requiring it of course and Uber exists where the wedding is but public transportation is really not an option. Even if I do a wedding shuttle the day of, the hotel /venue isn't near the airport. It would be about 25 minutes away.

Am I worrying unnecessarily? Is it just expected to have these expenses for an out of town wedding? Would you be put out?

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31 Comments

Dedicated October 2018
FutureMrsM · on January 24, 2018 at 4:59 PM
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I 100% expect to have to rent a car for an out-of-town wedding. I'd never expect the bride and groom to provide my transportation. If your guests are adults, they're old enough to figure out how to get from an airport to a hotel by themselves.
That being said, the hotel we're blocking at offers shuttles to and from both our venue and the airport - and I'll make sure that is shared with the guests so they know that if they are only planning on going to the wedding, hotel, and back, they don't need to get a car.
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Super February 2019
Amy · on January 24, 2018 at 5:03 PM
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The have to get a car is probably subjective. I don't Uber or use taxis, but it's about 25 minutes from airport to hotel, and 12-16 from hotel to venue.
I don't know if thats middle of nowhere per say but I'm not sure what people prefer for taxi distances. Would a 25 minute taxi ride be crazy expensive if they hit traffic and it becomes 35-40 minutes?
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Master October 2017
fallinthegarden · on January 24, 2018 at 6:52 PM
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Not sure about OP, but H is in a wedding where the town is at least an hour and a half away from the nearest, tiny, airport, so we have to rent a car. The town has like 5,000 people, so I'm guessing there's no uber, and the one hotel in town probably doesn't do a shuttle.
To the OP-People understand that part of traveling to a wedding is arranging transportation. No one will be put out by it.
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Dedicated March 2019
Sara · on January 25, 2018 at 12:12 AM
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I flew to a wedding and rental a car for it. I have had to rent hotel rooms for others. I think those costs are just expected by guests. I always took them them into consideration when deciding to go. If you are really worried about cost to them maybe find a nice way to tell them that them being there and that money spent is all the gift you need.
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Expert October 2018
Tiara · on January 25, 2018 at 10:32 AM
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This! I would never just expect my entire transportation needs to be covered. It's a wedding, not a work trip. But I totally agree that shopping around for a hotel that can shuttle to the venue is a good idea
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Super February 2019
Amy · on January 25, 2018 at 10:59 AM
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Thanks so much! Im not too familiar with etiquette so now I'm always worried I'll make some huge faux pas!
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Super February 2019
Amy · on January 25, 2018 at 10:59 AM
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That's a good idea! I've had that happen to me and it's always appreciated!
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WeddingWire Administrator October 2016
Lynnie · on January 25, 2018 at 3:27 PM
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Hi Amy! I've had to fly and travel for almost all of my friend's weddings and have always fully expected to get myself to my accommodations!
If we need to rent a car I'll normally go in with some of my friends to make sure we're all car-pooling and coordinating.
I do think it's really nice for couples to offer day of transportation to and from the room block to your venue!
How to Make Out-of-Town Guests Feel Welcome
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Beginner September 2018
FutureMrsS · on January 29, 2018 at 5:15 PM
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I'm the same way - all of my family and friends have to fly in, and our venue and hotel are about 30 minutes from the closest airport. The hotel does offer an airport shuttle which is great and was a requirement when I was looking to book hotel room blocks, but the area lacks public transportation so I expect probably everyone will rent a car, although there is always Uber/Lyft!
I do feel bad that my side will have to rent cars, but I have been an out-of-town guest at a few weddings where I had to fly in and rent a car, and I honestly didn't think much of it. It's an expected expense if you're a guest agreeing to attend.
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