To ask people to do a 1.5 mile journey for a post christening lunch?

[VeryLowTum]

I'm arranging a christening for my DC3. The church is in the middle of a large town. Around 35 guests will come, with some family who will travel for up to 2.5 hours (some staying overnight) and some local friends.

I have two older toddler DCs, and several local friends have toddlers, and some family have toddlers/young primary DCs.

Christening is 12:30pm so will be providing lunch after.

I can either hire a room in the town centre, will be a smallish room so enough space for people to eat a buffet but no space for kids to run around. Will cost about £850 all in for room hire plus their own catering (it's mostly pub function rooms available in centre so no catering choice or option to bring my own food).

Or, can hire more of a community hall with loads of space for kids to play/run around (could hire a bouncy castle or toys etc). Will cost about £150 plus catering plus toy/castle hire. But there are none in the centre. Nearest would be 1.5 mile walk. Or there is a bus from opposite the church but only every half hourly and we may not all fit in! I think this would be preferable for lots of reasons, especially enabling my older kids and other children to have a much nicer time/more relaxing for parents, but I'm not sure if it's unreasonable to expect people to get to the church and then drive/bus/walk a long way for the food? The centre is tricky for driving/parking so not sure hiring a bus would work.

AIBU to expect people to go to another venue so far out?

Another option would just be hosting at home - I live about 2 miles from the centre, with similar bus options. This would just be cost of catering plus drinks. Indoor space is fine, our garden is smallish but ok, we have loads of toys but not sure if hosting 35 people will be a nightmare for mess afterwards etc!

WWYD? What would you want as a guest?

Last christening I went to, the post-christening lunch was about 0.6 miles away from the church (about a 12 minute walk "on paper" - more like 25 minutes given the amount of faffing required to get a group that size to cross each road, and speed of toddlers who want to examine each daisy they pass) - that was totally fine, but my worry with a 1.5 mile walk would be that it could be an hour's walk if it was as chaotic as ours was!

I think it's still worth doing - but I bet you could organise 7 taxis each taking 5 people and it wouldn't cost you more than £70 extra, probably much less, and I expect that some of the guests will chip in for the taxi fare so maybe not even that much.

Hmmm. 25% do think it's unreasonable -what would a reasonable distance be?

Car sharing is a good point.

I guess I think traveling is more reasonable for a funeral/wake as there's often limited time to plan.

It's fine. Honestly, I'd anticipate that most people would have a car, and that those that didn't would be able to cadge a lift to the party venue.

A funeral I went to a couple of weeks ago... There was a short service at the crem for family, then it was a 3-mile drive to the deceased's church, where we had a longer service, and then a buffet in the attached hall.

I suspect some of them have voted that you are being U to say you are U to worry about this non-issue rather than think a short walk is actually U.

I’ve had to drive 2 or 3 miles to a reception I don’t think it’s unusual but both places had good parking. I’ve been to a christening where the parents pre booked a bus but if a bus is no use then maybe some 7 seater taxis for those not driving.

As pp above said it wouldn’t be much and you are saving hundreds. 1.5 miles is too far to walk there and back in heels and nice clothes or if you’re not fit enough, especially if the weather is poor.

Deffo not the at home option, too stressful I would think, especially if you are inviting people who never know when to leave.

Hire some mini buses

By the way - if I was one of the out-of-towners, given that parking in the centre would be a bit of a nightmare, I would probably be trying to drive to the reception venue early enough to park there and leave the car there to get into town for the ceremony, and stick with the rest of the guests for the journey back - so if you do go with the 7-seater taxi plan, don't assume that those driving to your town won't need transport.

People came to my wedding reception venue similar distance away - we booked one taxi who would shuttle to and fro for half an hour , brothers wedding similar & I think most people were able to get a lift with a bit of organisation. As long as people know I don't think 1.5 miles is unreasonable or undoable so I do not think this unreasonable at all. I certainly would not change the venue for the party afterwards for this.

It’s fine, people will fill cars, walk or call a cab if needed.

That is perfectly normal everyday life where I am. 1.5 miles would be considered ‘just down the road’. I’ve never been to a church event (christening, wedding, funeral, communion )where I didn’t have to then drive to meal part of the celebration.

As long as you give people plenty of notice so they can plan whether to walk, bus it, get a taxi or car share, there is no problem with option 2 or 3.

Seems completely normal to me. 1.5 miles is nothing and most will drive and will offer lifts to the others that want it.

£850 faints. What is that for. Sounds extortionate. But I think you need to hire a mini bus or arranged lifts for folk that cant walk that far.

It's not far, & not unusual.
Your bouncy castle option will need someone on 'toddler watch' but sou ds far more relaxing (& cheaper so you could sound for a taxi for elderly rellies / a bit of fizz for a toast etc)
Enjoy :)

What's parking going to be like in the town centre? I'd probably park at the reception venue, walk to the church and then walk back again rather than worry about parking in a town centre at a weekend

How many of your guests will be on foot?

How is 1.5 miles a long walk?? It's a short walk or people can drive/taxi. I think you're overthinking this.

You'll be able to sort out car sharing after the baptism. Don't worry.

Travelling a couple of miles is perfectly acceptable. If you have guests especially infirm ones who don't drive maybe ensure they're sorted. Personally for 35 guests I'd be tempted to book a pub function room with a buffet or even buy in fish n chips or curry.

A lot of celebrations I've attended have required moving on for the after bit. It's fairly standard. Unless you know otherwise, most people would have driven I would expect. I'm sure they wouldn't object to giving a lift to one or two people to the second venue. Or you could book a big taxi to be sure. You are definitely over-thinking it!

Community centre option. People can walk of they want to, or there is always the bus. I don’t think 1.5 miles is too horrible, we walk that much every day both ways to nursery! 😀

I think you’re being so kind to think of others but it’s a really short distance to travel and not unreasonable at all.
Every christening, wedding etc I’ve been to has a separate place afterwards which is always a car journey. People will get taxis

I would go for community hall.when you invite people, ask them if they need a lift, or can offer a list. And then tell them who will drive them / who they're taking. And enlist a friend to match people up on the day

Hire the hall. Tell people on the invite, suggest driving, cab, or if anyone had any problems getting from church to hall to please say, (and then you can arrange them a lift with another family member). Easy.

Which month will be christening be? I wouldn't want to walk 1.5 miles in July 🥵 but 1.5 miles in April will be fine (assuming it doesn't rain)
Do you have any elderly or disabled guests? I would order some taxis to transport them to the second venue.