How far is too far for venue?

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We've found a venue that both DP and I like the look of, it's within budget where most "proper" wedding venues nearby are really expensive, and it looks absolutely lovely. We can't view it yet due to Covid-19 but plan to once everything's open again.

We're wondering how far is too far away for a wedding venue though? This is a 50 minute drive away. Ideally we'd want to keep day guests at a fairly small number, with a bigger amount of evening guests, but I'm not sure if this would be too far to expect people to travel just for the evening reception? Neither of us have been to many weddings in the last 10 years or so to know what the norm is/what's acceptable.

Would you go to a wedding if it meant nearly an hour of driving each way? Even if "only" for the evening reception? Am I just over thinking it?

I wouldn't mind if you put on transport back. My wedding is this year and I'm putting a coach on to the reception after the church. But that's only a 15 minute drive into the city centre so people can get home easily from there. If you put on a coach back to your main transport hub it wouldn't be too bad. Otherwise one person in each couple are less likely to drink which is a bit boring. Especially for the evening reception.

I wouldn't go to a wedding if I had to drive. I'd always get taxis. And I wouldn't get a taxi there and back for a 50 minute journey. If you want to get married somewhere so far away put transport on for people.

It's a long time ago now but I think when we planned our wedding we didnt look at anything more than ten - fifteen minutes from the church.

People were already driving miles to come at all.

All the weddings I've been to recently have either all been in one venue, or the reception within walking distance.

Ah I've just re-read your OP. I'm happy to travel hours to a wedding - but I'm not keen on traveling much within the day.

I would hire transport for your evening guests. 50 minutes doesnt seem much to some people but it's a long way to go for an evening reception. Either a lot of guests cant drink or there is the cost of taxis.
Our venue was around 40 minutes travel for the majority of our guests. The days guests arranged their own transport amongst themselves, groups all chipped in together for minibuses/taxis to cut the costs and a lot of immediately family/close friends stayed overnight at the venue or in close by hotels. We arranged a coach for our evening guests with 1 central pick up and drop off point.

Is the wedding and reception at the same venue? If so I would travel that far (it would depend being an evening guest what transport links are like though and how well I knew you guys).

Tbh if it fits into your budget and you really like it just do it. It's your wedding so do what makes you happy is up to the guests if they want to partake. There's no point spending a ridiculous amount for something closer if it's just to appease evening guests.

I wouldn't travel that far for an evening invite. I would if I was a day guest but would probably get a hotel overnight

Our wedding was two hours from home, but we laid on a coach and signposted people to accommodation at a variety of price points so no one had to be to put out, or drive if they didn't want to

I wouldn't go to an evening reception if it meant 2 hours travelling there and back. Its a lot of travelling for what is basically a party.

If I was invited to the day I'd stay over somewhere near to venue on the night so me and husband could both drink and relax, if I was just invited to the evening I'd probably hope there would be some transport put on so we could both enjoy ourselves, but also would drive if needed! But to be honest with how much some people drink at weddings having a few sober people who have to drive isn't always a bad thing!

Ours was over an hour from our house. No one declined the invitation. Actually most stayed over nearby and it made more of an event of it, loads of people stayed until the end. I had worried about how far it was, but I think in our case it was better being further as lots of people would have left earlier if they'd been staying at home - to get back to baby sitters rather than making the most of a night off (kids with grandparents etc)

Wedding and reception would be at the same venue, but it's 50 mins drive from where we live - sorry I should have been clearer! We'd be looking at £4K+ extra more locally for the same "level" of venue, plus food costs which are included at the one we've found, but I'm worried that we'll end up with no guests. I hadn't thought to put transport on, would we just arrange it for a local car park as a drop off point? Venue has a 2am licence so it'd either be a late coach, or slightly earlier and give the option of staying to the end if guests could get themselves home...

I went to a wedding which was about an hour from where the bride (and a lot of the guests) were from. The couple put on a bus to pick us up from a pub car park in the evening. It meant we could all meet there beforehand for a couple of drinks and when it dropped us off we either walked home or got taxis. Got us all in the mood for a dance for when we got there!

We drove 200miles to one wedding but we did stay hotel where they was having the wedding, but most off the guest were about 45mins drive away. Some stayed/some drove and the rest got taxies together back home as everyone was from the same area.

when my BIL got married in Croatia the church was about 40mins away and then the reception was an hour and a half away from the church they just got coaches to the church from the hotel then after they had already picked up the brides side off the family and coaches from the church to the reception and then back to the Hotel when most off the guest wanted to call it a night

For an evening do, I’d drive/taxi about 30 mins but not 50 unless I could stay overnight nearby. If you wanted to organise coaches, the ideal would be one at 10.00pm, one at midnight, and one at the bitter end.

The usual way to organise evening transport is pick up from a central point,pub car park is a popular choice so guests can meet and have a drink first. Pick up again at a time you think suitable, the norm seems to be half an hour before closing, then drop off at same place.

Our venue is this far away from where we live, but we arent doing day/evening guests we are having everyone there for the full day as it's all close family and friends so most are staying at the venue. I had reservations about asking night guests to travel that far but I have attended a few weddings up to an hour away from where we love.

I would offer transport if I were you. Even leaving the venue and dropping off at a couple of locations close to your home if thats where most of your guest are from.