Getting There
Your guests and your wedding party have all made it to town and are safe and snug in their hotel rooms. What next? They have to get to the rehearsal dinner and then to the ceremony and the reception. There are all sorts of ways to make sure your guests get to the chapel on time, along with you and your wedding party.
One-Way Transfers
Since many of your guests may be at the same hotel with your bridesmaids, you may want to consider one-way transfer shuttles for everyone. This will typically save you money, but it is also hard to organize. Your guests all have to be at the same pick-up location at the same time, which means there is not a rotating shuttle that comes every fifteen minutes to pick up your guests. This allows the shuttle company to be able to conduct other business in between the time your ceremony starts and the end of the reception. If you have a wedding that is less than 100 guests (and a large portion of the guests are local), this form of transportation can work well with a small gathering of guests coming from one location. Then the same bunch can gather together at the end of the night to get back to the hotel.
One-way transfers can also be done with sedans and limousines for parents, grandparents, and your wedding party, especially if you only want the nice vehicle for their grand arrival at the hotel or your place of worship.
Shuttle and Valet Services
When you have a large quantity of guests that are going to need transportation to and from the wedding, shuttle services are really your best bet. There are many factors that lead to making the decision for a shuttle bus service for your guests. Typically the most common reason is simple: getting everyone to one place on time. With venue contracts becoming stricter (with every hour comes a higher price tag), shuttles will ensure that your guests will arrive safely and on time.
While it is important for your guests to arrive on time and in safe transportation, keep in mind your guests have their own schedules as well. Not everyone plans everything down to the last minute. Make sure you schedule your shuttle reservation with at least two times to pick up guests prior to the ceremony to make sure your slower guests still have a chance to see you walk down the aisle!
Another common reason for getting shuttle bus transportation is simply due to the large amount of alcohol that will be consumed at the reception. There is always that certain pesky amount of liability that goes with having a reception with alcohol. The last thing you want to be associated with is a drunken guest driving back to her hotel.
Finally, another reason to have a shuttle is that it can just be plain fun for your guests. If you plan it right you can rent interesting trolley cars that have informed tour guides that know the downtown area ride through to your venue. This will give your guests some interesting trivia and make your wedding feel like a vacation!
While shuttles and trolleys may seem like a lot of work and a lot of planning, they are typically the most efficient and cost saving hospitality choice you can offer for your guests. You could be saving tons of carbon emissions and tons of money for your guests by providing transportation and having less cars and traffic on the road to your wedding. A bonus for you, your guests, and the environment!
Another way to make sure your wedding starts on time is to hire a valet service. If your wedding is taking place in a congested part of the city (or at a hotel), your local guests will appreciate a professional valet service. Typically valet services will help your guests park their cars and keep their cars safe. This type of service is typically another huge cost saving for your guests so they are not spending $5–$30 on just parking their cars for your wedding.
Taxis
When shuttles, sedans, and limousines are just not in the cards in regard to your budget, make sure you have taxi information available. Some taxi services will arrange for several of their drivers to be available at your hotel, ceremony, and reception if you contact them ahead of time. Ask your hotel concierge for the best taxi service in your area and enlist their help in ensuring that the number of taxis you will need will be available at the appropriate time.
