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Original poster

Would you expect a coach put on from church- reception venue if it was 20 mins?

59 replies

prettyfloralsocks · 17/02/2024 15:07

Mum is stressing me out- says we must have a coach going to venue and back to a drop off point at night. I've been to 3 or 4 weddings recently and only the one with more than an hour's drive had a coach.

However we aren't getting married in a hotel so people will need to get home at the end of the night.

What would you expect x

OP posts:
Justkeepswimmingswimming · 17/02/2024 15:09

I think you should put on a coach from
the wedding venue to the reception venue.

ShakespearesMonkeys · 17/02/2024 15:10

No, never. 20 mins would be from one side of town to the other, which is normal church to reception distance.

RubyRed55 · 17/02/2024 15:10

If the venue was an hour away yes.

Under an hour, absolutely no coach required imo.

Most venue to Reception are upto 30 mins drive away, people expect to have to drive that distance to the venue from most weddings I've been to.

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BookSpines · 17/02/2024 15:10

I wouldn’t expect it at all and I have been to about 30 weddings and there has never been a coach laid on. At least half were travel from church or registry office to the reception. Last time I booked a coach for work which was years ago it was about £500.

LaPalmaLlama · 17/02/2024 15:11

It depends. If most guests have travelled and there’s a main hotel they’re staying at I would do a coach to save people having to drive. Otherwise if they’re going to have to drive home anyway, probably not as what’s the point and how are they going to get their cars back?

bananaboats · 17/02/2024 15:12

From the wedding venue to the reception venue at least, that's the norm for any wedding I've been to that wasn't all in the same place

Mrsjayy · 17/02/2024 15:12

Justkeepswimmingswimming · 17/02/2024 15:09

I think you should put on a coach from
the wedding venue to the reception venue.

yes I think this. how people get home Imo is up to them,

HolidayPrepIsStressful · 17/02/2024 15:12

Nope.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 17/02/2024 15:13

No, and i wouldn't want to get on a coach, no one has had anything to drink at that point ao everyone just drives from church to venue surely

scrivette · 17/02/2024 15:13

I have always made my/our own way from the Church to the reception when I have attended (many) weddings.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/02/2024 15:13

I've never been to a wedding which involved a coachConfused. Guests drive, organise who is giving a lift to great Aunt Flo etc. If they're expecting to all be drinking they arrange themselves taxis.

Original poster
prettyfloralsocks · 17/02/2024 15:14

Venue is a museum in the same city as the church and the majority of guests. I'd be surprised if more than 1 couple were staying in a hotel and they're coming down from Scotland. Everyone else would be going home.

OP posts:
InTheRainOnATrain · 17/02/2024 15:15

Do you want a late raging party where everyone will be drinking a lot? Then go for the coach. Otherwise people may not want to pay for multiple taxis so they could just decide to drive themselves for ease.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/02/2024 15:22

Ah, a museum in a city might be a bit different to many other venues depending on whether it has suitable parking.

Original poster
prettyfloralsocks · 17/02/2024 15:23

There's a very small car park and drop off zone at the front, then a larger carpark about a five minutes walk away.

OP posts:
TigerOnTour · 17/02/2024 15:24

I would check if they have cars etc. Hire a minibus for a handful of people who need a lift. It'll placate your mum and keep costs low.

Hopeful16 · 17/02/2024 15:47

I wouldn't expect it but would definitely appreciate it if it was provided. I think the main thing that I'd be asking myself is if you can afford it. If you can, it may take pressure off for people transport wise and taxi wise. If you can't comfortably afford it then it's a non-issue.

IvorTheEngineDriver · 17/02/2024 15:54

For DD's wedding, we did a coach from the church to the reception (20 mins away) but as for getting home, that was their business (altho' some elderly godparents had cabs paid by the father of the bride).

DontForgetWhereYouCameFrom · 17/02/2024 15:54

Transport was important to me so I had a coach after the ceremony and coaches home at night. I wouldn't expect it at someone else's wedding or think it was weird not to have one though.

Sophist · 17/02/2024 15:56

In a city there are lots of options so no need for a coach.

I’ve been to a lot of rural weddings where taxis are scarce and there a coach is pretty normal.

SmashedPrawnsInAMilkyBasket · 17/02/2024 15:56

If you expect everyone to drive, there needs to be adequate parking for both venues. If that’s not guaranteed then you should consider providing transport.

BungleandGeorge · 17/02/2024 16:02

It sounds like parking could be a problem if it’s in the city in the middle of the day. Is there a sufficient car park at the church? Generally at weddings you drive to the church and then to a hotel and park outside but your set up does sound more tricky. How lavish is the wedding? Coaches are generally provided when someone is having a bigger budget wedding

TorroFerney · 17/02/2024 16:06

No. My mum banged went on about this when we got married , we ended up getting married at the venue so was a moot point in the end. You will be feeding and watering them I assume so not unreasonable for them to get to the venue themselves.

minipie · 17/02/2024 16:07

I think either is ok but if you don’t lay on transport it does tend to interrupt the flow a bit. People will be worrying about getting a parking space at the second venue and may duck out early to ensure they get one. Some may even decide to head back to their room and freshen up since they’re in the car anyway.

Also will mean people choose to drive (and so not drink) from their accommodation, rather than getting taxis, since they have to drive the middle bit anyway.

If you want everyone to be in wedding/party mode for the whole time then a bus or coach is the better option.

crumblingschools · 17/02/2024 16:11

I assume the church won’t want people parking in their car park (if they have one) once the wedding is over. Where will people be parking for the ceremony bit?