Guest Transportation

You don't have to provide transportation. It's nice if you do but not required.
Your guests aren't being forced to attend your wedding and you're probably spending a lot of money on the reception for them.

If it were easier to coordinate I would say yes. With everyone’s flights coming at different times it would be too difficult and costly to accommodate. Nice to offer shuttle from venue to hotel.

I think offering a shuttle from the hotel to the venue is great. However, no guest ever expects transportation from the airport to the hotel. That is always just part of that expense of flying in. Also, it would be a logistical nightmare to try to plan since people will be getting in at all different times and even days. I'm in NJ too, and we had people fly in from all over, especially California. One couple flew in 3 nights early because they wanted to do some other stuff. Another couple flew in the night before the wedding. And so on. People will make their arrangements on their own.

From the airport? No. Not your responsibility, and way more complicated than it is worth. Is your town anywhere near public transit ? Or a shuttle service ? The most helpful thing you can do for guests is pre-research and connect them to local resources. One example, I traveled to a wedding in GA outside of Atlanta. I did not rent a car, but was able to take a shuttle service to more near where the wedding was. From there, another guest/friend was able to pick me up without really going out of their way. The bride directed us to that shuttle company, and it worked great. For our wedding in MA, we had several guests coming from NYC. I knew the ones flying or taking the train would *likely* just go for the 45 minute cab ride, however I still found the bus line that connected between the city and the suburb of the wedding, and put that on our website as a resource for any guest who preferred to save the money. I don’t think anyone went that route, but I still felt good detailing information of other option besides a cab or rental car — how to get directly to hotel (via a bus then a short walk) or how to get close-ish within a much more reasonable cab/Uber distance via the T or commuter rail, just so people knew what their options were. But, that’s really even more than you need to do. Sorting out getting from the airport to hotel is generally expected as a guest traveling to an out of town wedding.

You already have a shuttle. Sounds like a non-issue to me

I’m in NJ too. I don’t think you need to pay for them to fly in or anything like that. I suggest if you are booking in a certain hotel make a care basket for them for staying in the hotel. That and the shuttle to the venue.


Oh for the ones stayed in the hotel here we gave them water,snacks, pack of playing cards with my hubby and I, & nuts. Nothing crazy but just a little something to thank them for coming. (Just make sure no allergies -> nuts)
Just a nice thank you for coming care basket is a good idea and simple to make. They family or friends so they know you are happy and that’s enough for people to want to be there. (My uncle came for me for my party from Texas just for that reason. Me)

You should check if any of the hotels near you offer a shuttle service to and from the airport. If they do, see about getting a block of rooms there and have your family stay there. Trying to arrange transportation for everyone by yourself will be a logistical nightmare.

Most people will rent a car or get an Uber from the airport to the hotel. Any transportation from the hotel to the venue is nice but not required as guests figure that out on their own.

Thanks everyone. I know it's not customary. I am looking to see if any of the hotels in the area will do a shuttle to and from the airport but I don't think we'll pay for anything if they don't.

The expectation of going to an out of town wedding is that if I go I pay for a flight, hotel room, and rental car if needed. Don't feel guilty !

If there was an airport at the hotel that a lot of guests were staying in, I would say sure, provide a shuttle from the airport hotel to your venue and back again. However if you are just trying to get people who are flying in (likely at all different times) from the airport to accommodations closer to your venue then I don't think providing a shuttle makes any sense. You'll either have to provide multiple shuttles (which will add up and get expensive fast), or provide limited shuttles that will require many of your guests to wait at the airport for some time, neither of which are ideal. And your entire shuttle timing could get thrown off if even one flight is delayed. If flying to a wedding, I'd personally rather spend another $100 on a rental car or Uber to get to my hotel right away than wait 2-3 hours or more at the airport after a long flight just to get a free shuttle.

Guests who want to come to your wedding will, and the shuttle from the airport to your venue is unlikely to be the barrier that stops them if they are already willing to pay for a flight and accommodations. I can understand wanting to make the process easier and lessen the financial burden, but something like a welcome dinner or day after brunch specifically for guests who are traveling could be a nice alternative way to lessen their costs slightly but still keep logistics and cost streamlined for you.