Help! What would you do?

[sadie123]

Hi there, I''m having a little bit of a dilemma.
I''m stuck between two reception halls and I need to make a decision a.s.a.p. before I lose them for my wedding date.
First I''ll say that they both have great food, we will be having the ceremony at both places, and they are almost equal as far as pricing.

The 1st place is in a hotel and very close to the town the majority of our quests will coming from, and when I say the majority I mean 80%. I also like the idea that it''s in a hotel so people that want to stay don''t have to drive home, and the people from out of town won''t get lost getting back to their hotel. The problem with is that I''m not excited about the room and the decor, and where we will have the ceremony is not that great either. It will have to be on the back patio, I''ll only have a couple of steps for the aisle, and if it rains, we are basically screwed. We will also have to leave to go to a park for the pictures.

The second place is beautiful and there is a wonderful gazebo for the cereomy outside, and a "chapel" for the ceremony in case it rains. We will also be able to take our pictures there, and maybe spend some time with our guests at the cocktail hour. The problem with this place is that it will be about a 1/2 hour drive for most guests, some will have to drive about an hour, and the nearest hotel is at least a
couple of miles away.

So here is the question:
Do I get married in a hall that I''m not in love with, for the convenience of my guests, or do I chose the place I''m in love with but make them drive?
Help!
(sorry this was so long, but I actually couldn''t sleep last night because I was thinking about it so much!)
Thank you!

 

[njc]

I dont think a 1/2 hour or an hour drive is a big deal. I've driven much further for friends before. If the second site will make you happy (and it sounds like it will) I say go for it. Also sounds like it will save you some time (not having to travel somewhere else for photos) and perhaps a little money if the site doesnt need much added in terms of decoration.

 

[ellaila]

I say go for the hall you love! I''ve had to travel for so many "local" weddings (I live in Boston and have been to friends'' weddings down the Cape, on Martha''s Vineyard, in Maine -- and we had ours in Newport, RI) and have never held it against the couple for choosing the venue/location they love! I mean, for our wedding, most people had to drive home from Newport to Boston-ish late on Sunday night, but you know what? It was worth it!! No guests left early, even though most had to do an hour-plus drive home, and everyone thought the place was spectacular! So ... it''s YOUR wedding, choose the place YOU want!!!

 

[robbie3982]

Definitely go for the hall you love!

 

[labbielove]

i was in a similar dilemma and almost let the venue of our dreams slip away because i was worried people wouldn''t want to drive 24 miles in the country to come.

most people drive 1/2 hour or more to WORK! so don''t let that stop you- and if hotels are only a few miles away, folks who want to drive can do so, and folks that want to take a cab can also do that for fairly cheap-

besides that, why put yourself in the stress about being screwed if the weather is bad-
you don''t need that anxiety!

it''s your wedding, if the place you love is within reach, go for it. the people most important to you will be there, and frankly if someone didn''t want to drive 1/2 an hour to attend my wedding i wouldn''t want them there in the first place. but that''s just my ''bridezilla'' talking

 

[sumbride]

Number 2!!!!

It''s a wedding, not a conference! A half-hour drive is fine for most people and if you really love the second place so much more than the first one, I think you have a winner!

I''ve driven HOURS to weddings before. No biggie and I didn''t hold it against the happy couple! It was always worth the trip!

 

[tiffanytwisted]

I think you should go for the one you love. The ceremony and reception will be there, so that''s already a plus. It is YOUR wedding and I don''t think 1/2 -1 hour drive is much at all. I really don''t think your guests will mind.

 

[sadie123]

Thank you for all of your opinions. I feel so much better about picking the one I really like now. I just made the appointment to sign the contract!

 

[robbie3982]

Yay! Congratulations!

 

[jcrow]

the ONE THAT YOU LOVE!! especially if they are the same price! your guests aren''t going to mind the drive especially if the venue is so wonderful!

the one that you love! the one that you love! say it with me...

 

[MelissaSue]

Make them drive. a half hour is NOT a long drive..

 

[codex57]

Where are you from? If NYC, I can see how many of your guests might not have cars or feel uncomfortable driving. Most everywhere else, 1/2 hour is no big deal. If in SoCal for example, 1/2 hour is an easy drive.

 

[Kerbear560]

I just read your thread, and I''m so glad to hear that you''re going with the one you love!

A 30 minute drive isn''t long at all! I don''t think your guests will feel like you''re inconveniencing them (I know I wouldn''t)! Had you chosen the other one, I think that in the long run you would''ve regretted it (but the fact that you even agonized over this shows what a caring person you are, putting your guests before yourself).

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I agree! Go with the location you love!

 

[anchor31]

Go with the one you love... That''s what''s most important. And 30 minutes to 1 hour isn''t bad at all!

My FI and I could have decided to get married in the city and saved everyone 1 hour off their drive (ranging from 1 to 6 hours!), but we decided to go with what we fell in love with; my beautiful little parish church and a reception in a beautiful hotel among the trees at a ski resort nearby.

 

[larussel03]

I vote #2 as well! 1/2 hour drive is not bad at all plus, you''re doing your ceremony at the same place.

Our ceremony is at a church of varying distances for our guests (they''re from all over the state), and then the reception is 1/2 an hour from that! I hate having that much driving for them, but it is the only church in the state that is Melkite (arabic/greek version sort of of roman catholic to clarify) and it has alot of sentimental value for FI and I. I''d have loved to book the reception closer, but anything near the church is rediculously expensive.

 

[Rosebud8506]

I would go for option #2 as well. If you are concerned about people needing rides, or getting lost etc., you can always ask about a shuttle service for the nearest hotel if its within a 2 mile radius. Usually if there are a lot of guests staying at one place, they can offer it to you free of charge (as was the case with our wedding) - something to look into.

Good luck!

 

[Rosebud8506]

oh nev mind, I didn''t read that your ceremony wil be at the same place... ignore my other post

I still vote #2 - 1/2 hour is not bad!!