Would 40ish minutes driving distance between ceremony and reception bother you?

Honestly, I think that is a bit far. I'd say 30 minutes max, but 20 minutes ideally.

I would try to find some where closer. You have to consider your guest are having to drive to your ceremony, then your reception, then back to their home.

Well, the nice thing is that they'd be driving back closer to home for the reception!

Hi Tiffany, the ceremony is in Gallaway but the reception site is back in Memphis where they are all from. It's right in the city so is wtihin 15 or so minutes of everyones home. It's not the reception I'm worried about just the ceremony site so far away. It really is nice going by the photos it's just hard as I agree it's also a bit far. Just having a hard time trying to find something in Memphis that we both like.

Appreciate the honest feedback

You know, my initial reaction when I read this post was "Yes, that would be ridiculous." And then I sat for a moment and thought about why my initial feeling was that way, and I came up with absolutely no reason besides some ingrained etiquette bug.

Realistically, if I have to drive 40 minutes to a ceremony and reception, I'm going to worry about how much my partner and I are drinking, and whether or not we want to get a hotel vs. having to drive home. Plus, with my horrible night vision, it might be better to get a hotel. But now you're bringing the reception, the later part, back into the city...as long as it has good parking, you're actually making things easier for people.

Honestly, I'd talk to a few family members, feel them out, and see what they think. It never hurts to get opinions in the planning stage, just make sure you ask specific questions and don't open the door for random comments. Lol.

Too much.

I've done it before and I don't think it's horrible.

I'm in a wedding in July that's 30 minutes driving distance. The only issue I have with it, is that the ceremony is at 2:30 and the reception starts at 6:00. And we have a 3 year old. That's the ring bearer. He needs to eat at like 5:00.

So yeah, 40 minutes, not a big deal. Most of the time the couple is taking photos for that long anyway.

On the other hand, I'd be miffed if I had to drive 40 minutes to the ceremony when I lived so close to the reception site. It's a lot of extra driving and I'd be like "man, wish I didn't have to go to the ceremony"

Is it not possible to do the ceremony at the reception site? I've always enjoyed those weddings the best.

It wouldn't bother me but I live near NYC and I'm used to planning an hour to get anywhere. When I go home to Maine my friends & family think 20 minutes is far. Most people would think it was far I think.

Thanks everyone for the input, much appreciated I guess it's back to the drawing board for the ceremony. It's just hard for me being on the other side of the world as I have to rely on the internet to research

Given that the reception is closer to home no I wouldn't have a problem with it. At that point it would be no different than if the wedding was 40 mins away and I went home. So I wouldn't mind it. Now I will say if your ceremony is like 15 minutes long I would find a place closer to home. It's just more so of the point of you drive 40 minutes for 15 minutes of ceremony ya know?

I was in a wedding where the rehearsal dinner was an hour away from the church. The wedding day the reception was 45 minutes away from the church. I honestly hated it because we were in the flipping car the whole time. That being said its your wedding day and you can do what you want!

I honestly don't think that 40 mins is too far. My sites are about 35 mins apart. The ceremony is closer for my side of the family (for the most part all of them will be OOT guests) and the reception is closer to home for his family. The reception is also closer to a lot more hotels.

I wouldn't want to drive 40 minutes

The saving grace IMO is that the reception is back home for most of the guests. I went to a wedding last year where the reception was about 45 minutes from the ceremony and we all hated it and said how stupid it was planned like that. I would consider other places but then again family and friends that love you will go wherever you need them to to share in your day.

I would be annoyed by that much driving. It's too much.

Since the reception is close to everyone's home I don't think it's an issue at all. At least I know it wouldn't be for me. The drive to the ceremony and then again between ceremony and reception is nothing it's the ride at night when I'm tired that I would prefer be short.

This would definitely bother me. A 40 minute drive is approximately 30 between ceremony and reception. You should not require your guest to drive more than 20 miles/30 minutes.

Mine are about 40 minutes apart too. I'm not worried about it. if they don't want to drive that far then they will respond "not attending" I can't worry about that. Makes me laugh though, a lot of people think that's too far, but don't have a problem with destination weddings and asking people to travel by plane, train and automobile. just sayin.

I've driven farther than that between the two..it doesn't bother me. Just make sure to provide a map or clear directions for your guests.

If you love these two places..is it not possible to have both events at one of the locations?