Guests have to pay for parking?

I would suggest a small note in the invitation. Small card behind the invitation as a heads up to avoid issues on your special day!

Do you have a DOC? My venue was in a downtown with a garage and they actually validated the parking so people didn't have to pay. But maybe your DOC can go table to table quietly and ask if anyone is parked in the garage and you can set aside $ to use to cover the parking for guests. My DOC went table to table and validated the parking for everyone, so it'd be similar to that.

I was just going to say was @Brieliz said. At least have a buttload of $5s and $1s that someone can hand out on the way out.

@brieliz that's a great idea!! I don't have a DOC since it's such a small group (40 guests) and it's all family so I don't think it would be too weird to just ask. That's an awesome idea since it one of those garages where you don't pay until you leave.

I agree with what brieliz said. I would go talk to the management at the garages and ask if there is a way to work this out. Maybe you can pay for the parking before the guests leave the garages. And, this would be info for the wedding website either way.

I actually have the same problem with my venue, as it's on the harbor and just has one big lot that charges by the hour. I hired a valet service the venue recommended and honestly, it wasn't nearly as much as I thought it was going to be. That could be something to look into?

My cousin was in a similar situation with her rehearsal dinner venue. What she did was talk to the garage before hand and let them know she'll be covering the guest parking, so she stamped the guest parking tickets with a regular signature stamp and at the end of the night the garage attendant gave her all the tickets and she paid.

My FSIL included a leaflet with instructions in the invitation that had a specific parking garage. At the wedding they included with the favors a voucher to get the parking validated. I would ask the venue if they can accommodate that for you. If they can't maybe ask the other nearby parking garages? If it's downtown there should be quite a few? Maybe?

I would talk to your venue and see if they offer some kind of parking voucher for guests in either one of the lots? This can't be the first time this has been brought up, I would ask!

Following! We have this problem too. I like the idea of having the DOC stamp or give out cash to comp the parking. I hadn't thought of that

All of these are good ideas!

On the flip side- I've always thought I am responsible for my transportation to a wedding. I never expected for my uber/lyft/taxi or parking to be paid for.

I agree with AK. I wouldn't expect my transportation or parking to be paid for. It's part of the travel expense. It's incredibly kind when hosts take care of it, but I wouldn't sweat it. Post it on your website.

My venue also has paid parking. We are including this in our fee for the venue so our guests do not have to pay. However, I agree with the above comments. As a guest going to the wedding, I wouldn't think twice about paying for my own transportation/parking. It is a nice gesture but I don't think its going to be something guests will complain about.

Any chance you can do valet? I too have a downtown venue and we're paying $5/car for valet.

We are going to hand out parking validation during the reception. Not sure how yet, but it will be done... lol

I would never expect for the bride/groom to pay for this either, it's part of the travel cost and I wouldn't think twice about it. Very thoughtful but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Maybe see if there is a parking place a little further away willing to work with you and then rent a shuttle for guests?