Which wedding would you rather attend? Help us decide on a venue please!

[DrinaDancesInParis]

I know it is a very nice 'problem' to have, but...

DP and I have found two beautiful venues. Neither are completely 'perfect' and so it's a pros/cons situation.

We have made lists and talked about it until we are blue in the face with no decision! There are lots of small children coming, and I don't want to be the subject of an AIBU thread want it to be comfortable and easy for everyone.

So, MN jury, would you rather attend a wedding at...

Venue 1.
Pros: City centre location, 10 minute walk from train station. Beautiful and spacious. Lots of outside space for kids to play. Easy to find as city 'landmark'.
Cons: it doesn't have a licence for ceremonies, so we would have the ceremony ten minutes down the road at an art gallery, a bit squished if all our guests came, and you can only hire one room. People would then walk to reception venue (or we could lay on a bus in case raining? Wedding is in the Autumn!)

Venue 2.
Pros: ceremony and reception in one place. Equally spacious and beautiful. On site accommodation for wedding party.
Cons: 30 minutes drive out of city centre, a 'middle of nowhere'-ish location so poor to no phone reception, and people not staying on site have a 30 min drive back to city or 10/15 minutes to nearest village. (We would also lay on transport/shuttle service, and make sure there was pleeeenty of food, but I do worry that if people did need to nip back for something, we are sort of stuck and it is a hassle?)

Now I have written it out maybe we should just keep looking

Both have great food (a priority for us!) and great local reputation. Both offer child-friendly meals, and a 'chill out' room that we could put games, colouring books etc in.

If I were being totally selfish I would probably go for venue 2, as I do think it is less hassle to get married and have party in one place, and it is beautiful. But of course I won't enjoy the day if people aren't having a good time, and I have always enjoyed city venues more as a guest.

So..which wedding would you rather attend? Which should we go for?

With venue 2, is there no accomodation for guests? In which case venue 1 for sure, esp if there are children

It's your special day - you need to feel happy with what you're doing so go with what you feel- if you're not 100% happy with either maybe keep looking.
As a weeding guest I woul say the day of the week is maybe more important than venue ie midweek may mean two days off work for travelling guests.
Enjoy your day whatever xx

I would keep looking.

Wow thanks for swift replies!

@CMOTDibbler there are cottages onsite but probably only enough for family and people travelling long distances (that does, however, cover most of the small children.) The nearest accommodation after that would be B&Bs around 10/15 minutes away, or 30 mins back to the city.

@Orchidflower it will definitely be a Saturday! We are teachers so no chance of getting a Thursday off

@calzone I think you're right...but we have looked at so many places and they are either lovely but unlicensed, or licensed but only for 20 people...or licensed and for the right number but out of the city, so raises issue of hassle for people again. I had no idea it would be this difficult!

Thanks everyone for taking time to reply. Will keep having a think!

I think venue 2 sounds fine! I don't really understand the issue with travelling 30 mins, especially if you are putting on transport.

30 mins isn't far from city - those that want can arrange taxis?

It sounds as though you're doing the right thing - making sure that guests are completely happy is the fastest way to a fantastic wedding. You've thought it through for both venues and if you're happy to have a shuttle mini bus, then there's no hassle at all for anyone. Go with your gut - which place would YOU most like to marry in?

@B1rd and @Dory thanks! In my heart of hearts I think I do want venue 2...DP is genuinely happy with either. Spoke to them today and they said it's a common worry about transport but that they can organise a shuttle. There is also plenty of B&B accommodation in nearest village, so...we might go for it!

I think you've cracked it. Go for it!

Wishing you a wonderful day and one that's memorable for all the right reasons.

Going against the grain here with a vote for venue one. A 30 minute cab around here would set you back at least £35 so unless you had a mini bus picking up and dropping off to everyones accommodation it would add £70 on to the price. Also, I have two really little kids and it would be a long day stuck in the middle of nowhere with them-I'd prefer for one of us to be able to nip back to our hotel if need be. Totally irrelevant to your wedding but I get really travel sick so would feel ill after a 30 minute drive (can't take my super pills and drink)but that's just me!!

1 and lay on a bus , people won't want to walk in heels if it's raining.

Definitely venue 2 - 15 mins cab to a b&b is nothing and only 30 mins from the city isn't far at all. Especially if a lot of the families with small children could stay on site.

Congratulations

Venue two for me.
I'd rather not be in the city centre with my kids, moving from venue to venue. I would do it and wouldn't really mind but it would be simpler to be able to drive to one place and stay there.
Ten minute taxi to a b and b would be fine. Or more likely one of us would drive.

15 mins in a cab would be the best part of 35 quid here.

Where in the country are you. What do you want?

Interesting as I would definitely prefer venue 1 myself, but would choose venue 2 (assuming it has parking) as it sounds better for drivers. IMO there is a very high proportion of people who can't or won't use public transport.

Venue 2.

Have guests meet at a specific pub for the bus there and drop there back at the end.

Hi there !
We had a wedding in a venue similar to 2, as non drivers at the time (and space for day guests to stay over) it didn't bother us too much, all evening guests (and some had travelled !) made their own arrangements ! If people want to attend they'll sort themselves, try not to worry ! Go with your heart

I wanted somewhere where we could get married and have the reception at the sane place, with enough accommodation for everyone who wanted to stay. We compromised on other areas (mainly numbers) so we could achieve this and I'm glad we did. The majority of people stayed the night before the wedding and all but very local people stayed the wedding night. It was lovely seeing everyone the following day for breakfast before we went off on honeymoon. If I had to choose between the two options you've given I would definitely go for number one as I think travelling that far for accommodation is not ideal.

Venue 2 sounds best, especially if you're putting on transport.

Thanks so much all

Eek- I thought I had decided but some of your replies have made me wobble again!

We've decided to chicken out of making a decision ask my DSis, who is a) mother of small children and b) brilliantly honest and bossy, to come and look at venue 2 with us at the weekend and tell us what she thinks! She'll definitely be vocal about it if she thinks it would be a nightmare...

Then if she says aye we will book it, if she says nay we will book venue 1!

Thanks lovely MN! Wherever we go we will have a lovely day, cause we luffs each other :D