Asking guests to travel for a no party wedding?

I don't think it is disdain @theleafandnotthetree
I think a lot of people who meet up with extended family and friends at an occasion like a wedding and who they haven't seen for some time just prefer to chat and catch up with each other.

I still enjoy music and dancing, but wouldn't miss it at a wedding.

I think what the OP suggests sounds lovely.

As long as food is provided, I wouldn't care about the lack of dancing. If I'm quite honest, I think that a lot of wedding dances are quite forced and naff. I would far rather have a really slap up meal somewhere really nice, and mingle, than have a band or worse, a DJ playing awful music.

I think a lot of people will actually prefer a meal and socialising. I would!

Just the ceremony, no I wouldn’t travel unless close family.
a meal and a get together? Absolutely fine, yes I’d go.

So it's an hour to the wedding venue and a further half hour to the reception.
So an hour and a half home.

Is there an alternative to driving for those who need public transport between the venues? That would be my only concern.

For those with cars it will prob be couples or family / friends groups in a car with one nominated driver so the rest can drink. Might be a bit dear for a taxi for an hour and a half drive so some guests will instead choose to drink and stay. I'd just not drink and go home at a reasonable hour as I imagine some will also do. Seems fine.

Is the registry office particularly beautiful or significant? Just wondering if one venue to do the ceremony and reception might be more convenient?

That's all I would want to consider options for.

The traditional ceremony and breakfast after sound perfect. I'd probably want to check with the hotel that they won't be blaring crap musac in the room or ask if you can plug in your own speakers and play your own quietly in the background. If anyone wants to dance at their tables to background music they can. We did that at one wedding just in a corner. Nobody minded. Those who liked a boogie (and the kids present) did so out of everyone's way. It was a CD player with lots of cds.

Is the wedding ceremony being held late in the afternoon or why are you assuming people will need to stay overnight? I'd be v happy to attend this wedding if I could come home on the same day ( is the reception 30 minutes in the opposite direction for most guests so 90 minute drive home?), as long as you aren't huffy at anyone that decides not to come I don't see an issue

I would happily travel an hour for a wedding, meal and drive home by 11pm ish

But this will depend on the age of your guests and whether they drive / have good public transport. In my 20s I'd have been less keen to take a train and need to stay overnight for an event that finished at 9.30pm

We had a small, non-party, non-disco wedding. We did have a proper sit down 3 course meal and socialising. Everyone invited knew our plans and still came - most had at least a 3 hour drive, some flew in from Europe. Some people made a week's holiday of the trip and, all in all, we had people around for a week with the wedding in the middle. It acted as a reunion for more than one group of friends!
So yes, people will travel for your wedding! It sounds lovely.

I used to love that! We'd all go out and wave them off, having suitably dressed the car in tin cans and written "Just Married" in shaving foam on the windscreen!
Going Away outfits were special.

A meal and socialising is a party.

Ideal with kids, or for those who want to get home that night. Just an hour doesn't need anyone to stay over, it takes me longer than that to get to the office when I go in. I'd be happy with this.

I'd definitely go

Yes, and the bride had a special Going Away Outfit. Guests would wave the couple off as they set off on their honeymoon :)

The 30 mins between 2 venues -is that 30 min drive? Or say walking between 2 London locations?

How would non drivers using trains get between the 2? (I am happy to pay train then taxi to and from venue but trying to get a taxi from one rural place to another maybe tricky)

But that applies to all weddings really.

The @inspector80 asked for opinions, and that’s mine!

But I also like the the party part of the wedding best 🤷🏼‍♀️

This! People who wish to drink can stay overnight if they choose, or they can stay sober and drive home. It’s all absolutely fine.

Then they can choose not to go. Sounds like the drink at the wedding is more important to them. I would find this baffling personally but to each their own.

Very true, but it's usually possible to share a taxi or someone will give you a lift.

But a lot of people (not on mumsnet!) like a drink at a wedding and not everyone has a chauffeur

I don’t really think I’d class an hours drive as “travel” but maybe that’s just me, I know we all have different perceptions. My commute to work daily is 45mins and my parents live an hour away and I go to theirs every couple of weeks for Sunday dinner. So an hours drive away for a wedding seems like very little to me.

And with it only being an hour away and no party, why do you HAVE to stay over? Can’t you stay sober at the mela and just drive? If it’s that much of an issue?

The meal/reception is the main celebration. It’s fine to not have music/dancing afterwards.

Sounds brilliant to me!

Can I also point out that an hour is the distance I'd go to a good restaurant for dinner anyway! If you say travelling to me i think 3 hours plus, more than I'd want to go to and from in a day

That sounds perfect to me, no problem at all. Also it’s an invitation not a summons - if they don’t like it they can stay home.

Oh my god, plus those awful burger vans that you have to queue up for to get a small greasy portion of fast food. A sit down meal please!