Wedding Blog
I know as I have been planning our wedding, I’ve been thinking of some ideas that will make traveling for our guests easier. I made a map to help guests find the ceremony venue, and then I thought, well, I can also include a map to get to the reception, as well as to the church. Then, as I was driving the interstate into the city one Saturday, it hit me… TRAFFIC!
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I totally forgot that the interstate is having some construction done, thus the reason for the traffic. It took me almost 45 minutes for me to get from Point A to Point B, which usually takes me 20 minutes. I immediately thought of our wedding. It was about the same time of day as the wedding will take place, and I really didn’t want our guests to have to deal with traffic, especially the out of towners, who do not know some alternate routes to take to get there.
So, I called my parish’s sheriff office to talk to a deputy about obtaining a police escort. (Louisiana is special… parish=county.) The guy was very friendly and told us that two deputys would be there at the end of our ceremony to escort all of our guests to the reception site (about a 25 minute drive away). Yes, there is a cost: $200. However, I thought, if our guests miss a half hour of our reception, that would equate to a greater monetary loss. Not to mention, traffic can make people very irritable, and I really do not want that for our guests! So, to us, the convenience is well worth it! Plus, I think everyone will feel super important with police bringing them to our reception!
Have you considered police escorts for your wedding guests to get to your reception venue?
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Share this post: A Little Help From the PoPo!
We’re having it in the same place so not an issue, but that’s amazing!! Sounds really fun! 
Wow, smart move BF! I totally think the expense is worth it for you. Great to have piece of mind and non crabby wedding guests. Ours will all be in the same place so there will be no need
I haven’t considered it, but I know if I got a police escort I’d totally feel like a VIP celebrity!
I haven’t thought of it because are ceremony & reception are at the same place but now I’m WANTING a police escort! LOL how COOOOL!
That’s a great idea! I wonder if that would have helped in my case - we had 2 hours between the ceremony & reception, and it is supposed to be a 40 minute drive from one to the other, so plenty of time, right? Wrong. There was a HORRIBLE accident on Hwy. 95, and guests had no choice but to just wait it out. I had to push everything back by 30 min. Ceremony ended at 3, and no one got there until 5:30, so I was glad I pushed back the cocktail hour from 5 to 5:30!
But I mean, like I said, I don’t know if a police escort or anything else would have helped in this case - there just happened to be a terrible accident, and no exits that people could get off at to take a different route.
Oooh, very good idea! I’m lucky that my ceremony and reception area at the same venue!
That is a great idea b/c the traffic could be really stressful for your guests! I’m glad the local “popo” was so accomodating…I can’t imagine that sort of response in Atlanta!
Our reception is at the same venue, although I could get my dad to lead everyone to the reception area (he’s a retired cop, and yes that was a cheesy response). 
That is a very smart move! I actually had the misfortune of missing a friend’s wedding a couple of years ago because the traffic getting into the city (Pittsburgh) was SO BAD and we had no idea of how to get around it. I was wearing jeans and a ratty sweatshirt and no real opportunity to change (I was driving) — we couldn’t pull over somewhere because one of my friends who was with us was supposed to help take pictures at the wedding and we had to get her straight to the church. She changed in the back seat! We pulled up to the church right as the first bridesmaid was walking down the aisle — EEP!
Instead, I checked us into our hotel, changed clothes and went to the reception. I felt really bad about it …
Fortunately our ceremony and reception are at the same place and the hotel for OOTers is very close to the venue. As far as I know, we won’t have anybody driving in that day who doesn’t know alternate routes in case they get stuck. But if I find out about anyone who is, you can guarantee I’ll give them an alternate route!
I hear you on how traffic can make folks irritable. Way to go getting the escort, what a nice idea!
Ours are at the same venue (ish). I’m nervous about our guests arriving on time for the ceremony….since our venue (boat) leaves!! Late comers will have to swim for it!
Wow I have never heard of that, but it sounds so official!
I’ve never heard of this either, but what a GREAT option! I would feel super special getting a police escort
Wow, I never would have thought of that. I would be VERY impressed if I had a police escort to my friend’s reception!
LOL, I’m wondering if we’ll get a “surprise” police escort as my dad is a retired lieutenant and they all know I’m getting married.
No, I haven’t (and I don’t think we’ll need one here in Iowa) but your subject line made me laugh. For some reason my grandpa always said “Po-Po” when he wanted to say “butt”. I never questioned that, but now I’m wondering why he said that… Hmmm…
Best Wishes!
Oh wow, that would certainly make the wedding more memorable — I’ve never had a police escort before!
That’s a great idea. Although, I’m pretty sure they don’t offer that in my hometown. I don’t think there would be much traffic though.
@ggsb: Yeah, being from a smaller town has its advantages. I could imagine it would be more difficult there!
I would love to do a police escort, especially since my father is a police sergant and most of my vendors are police officers themselves! not to mention FI is in law enforcement. Too bad our ceremony and reception are in the same place.
My ceremony and reception are being held at the same place so thankfully I don’t have to worry about that.
However, my FI is a dispatcher for a local police department and has been toying with the idea of getting an escort for us when we live the reception to start the honeymoon.lol
I love friendly police officers! I say it’s totally worth the cost!
I once traveled to Louisiana with my college’s football team for a playoff game. It was WILD to get a police escort from the hotel … TO THE MALL and then TO TAILGATEING…. Seriously, very funny, and very southern. Your guests will love it!
That is such a great idea. Your guest are going to love it. Living in NYC there’s always traffic. But I don’t think a police escort would work. Drivers here tend to ignore sirens.
That’s such a good idea and very thoughtful! Great that you’re thinking of your guests. I’m having a trolley take our guests (who are parking at the reception site) to the ceremony and back, which is only a mile away from each other.
i will have them. even though the drive isnt that far, i would rather everyone get there safe and sound, especially for my out of towners
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Mrs. Ballet Flat, New Orleans
Age and Occupation: 24, Geographic Information Systems Analyst
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, IT Analyst
Engagement Date: March 16, 2008
Wedding Date: May, 2009
Blogging Since: September 25, 2008
Venue: St. Charles Borromeo Church/Jefferson-Orleans North
About Me: I absolutely love wedding planning, spending time with Mr. Ballet Flat, various crafts, watching football, baking, pop music, bargain hunting and ice cream. My idea of a great date night is dinner and clearance shopping with Mr. Ballet Flat! I currently live below sea level in the suburbs near New Orleans, where I make maps all day, everyday for my job. I'm slowly becoming more and more obsessed with anything New Orleans related for our wedding, and I can't wait for the big day!
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