Transportation Troubles

Transportation Troubles

November 19th, 2010 @ 4:43 pm by Mrs. Hippo
Share

One thing that I don’t particularly love about our wedding city is the lack of public transportation. Dallas is really a city you have to have a car in. Not only is everything super spread out, but it definitely does not have the phenomenal subway system I’ve learned to rely on everyday in the Big Apple. Don’t get me wrong, D-town has made some huge strides with its light rail system and there are certainly buses in the city, but it’s not a city where you can basically get from any point A to any point B relatively easily without a car. The city is way too big to be very pedestrian friendly, and taxis aren’t just roaming around waiting for someone to step off the curb and raise their hand up for a ride. I guess I’ve been spoiled living in New York.

Transportation Troubles : wedding dallas Untitled 1 Untitled-1

Source

The hotel our guests will be staying at is very close to a light rail station, but our ceremony and reception venue are not. And the thing is, the ceremony is only a 10 minute drive from the hotel, but I definitely don’t want our out of town guests to feel like they need to rent a car…in addition to flying to Texas…and paying for a hotel room. Mama Hippo was concerned about the whole transportation situation from the very beginning as it is mostly family members that make up the out of town guest list. So…what to do?

In yet another act of motherly kindness, Mama Hippo very generously offered to pick up the cost of shuttle transportation for guests from the host hotel to the ceremony and then back to the hotel after the reception. Sweet! I think our out of town guests will really appreciate it, and I’m hoping some of our in-town friends will take advantage of it too, staying at the hotel overnight so they don’t have to worry about drinking and driving and can truly enjoy the reception.

So, now we’re trying to figure out the logistics, and we could totally use the hive’s help! Our ceremony starts at 6:30 PM, but we are opening the art gallery up at 5:45 PM to let guests look at the art and have a glass of wine before the ceremony starts. You might remember me mentioning something about that here and here. I figure there are really two options:

Have the shuttle make two pick-ups at the hotel—one for the early crowd that wants to get to the gallery early and a later one for those who don’t care about seeing the gallery or can’t get it together in time to make the earlier shuttle. This option makes me slightly nervous, as the shuttle bus would have to leave the hotel on time, drop off guests and turn around immediately to pick up the second group. The timing would have to be pretty perfect, and we all know how that goes. But, this is definitely the most guest-friendly option.
Have one pick-up time at the hotel. If you get on it, great. If you miss it, you’re shit out of luck. The wedding I recently went to had one shuttle pick-up time, and it seemed to work well. This is definitely the easiest, least stress-inducing option, but definitely isn’t as guest-friendly.

Which option would you choose? And what time(s) would you have the pick-up(s) be? If you were an in-town guest, would you take advantage of the transportation offer?

Tags: dallas |

Share |

Latest Gallery Pics

Hot Pink and White with Zebra 36" Lighted Spandex Ostrich Feather Centerpiece

16 Responses to “Transportation Troubles”

Member

LGenz (message) 3,789 posts, Honey bee

How many people fit on the shuttle? I’d have it make two trips, one at 5:30 and one at 6:05 (Is it 10 minutes with or without traffic?)

11/19/10 @ 4:48 pm (reply)

Member

glamfish500 (message) 262 posts, Helper bee

I would have two shuttles times and to heck with schedules. If things run a few minutes late due to the shuttle it’s not the end of the world. Besides, you’ll probably be waiting on a hefty chunk of guest on trip two so everyone will understand why things are running behind.

11/19/10 @ 4:50 pm (reply)

Member

eloquence08 (message) 113 posts, Blushing bee

I think one pick up is fine, since this not something that you HAVE to provide, guests should be respectful and appreciative of accommadations (sp) you’ve provided in order to help them make it to the wedding.

11/19/10 @ 4:50 pm (reply)

Member

soontobemrsreeves (message) 57 posts, Worker bee

I say shuttle pick up at 5:30, and next shuttle pick up at 6:00. Give more than enough time for any delays and give guests the option of when they would like to go!

11/19/10 @ 4:54 pm (reply)

Member

spitfire229 (message) 377 posts, Helper bee

Option 1 Definitely! You definitely will have those two types of “crowds” (the early birds and the better-late-than-never crew!)

11/19/10 @ 5:08 pm (reply)

Member

eeper (message) 485 posts, Helper bee

Transportation was non-negotiable for us - Our friends like to party! I guess I have gotten spoiled b/c I am very surprised if I can’t either hop on a shuttle or stumble upstairs to my room at the end of the evening. We ended up having to rent 2 full size buses but it was worth it. All the out-of-towners took advantage, as did a handful of local friends.

Can all the people fit on the one shuttle? I would do whatever makes you comfortable. You are already being guest-friendly by providing transportation!

11/19/10 @ 5:11 pm (reply)

Member

mightywombat (message) 3,311 posts, Sugar bee

I am so lucky - the hotel where we reserved a bloc of rooms for our guests is providing a free shuttle between the hotel and our wedding! We haven’t worked out the logistics yet, but I’m sure it will be fine. (Famous last words…)

11/19/10 @ 5:22 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Hippo (message) 1,008 posts, Bumble bee

@LGenz: I’m guessing tht we would get the mini-bus size that holds 24 or so folks. We are having guests RSVP if they need a ride, so we will have a better idea as we get closer if the 24-passenger size would work.
And… 10 minutes with pretty normal traffic patterns.

@eeper: So hard to say if everyone would fit on one. I would THINK so, but we won’t really know ’til we RSVPs back.

@mightywombat: That’s awesome that your hotel provides that!

11/19/10 @ 5:32 pm (reply)

Guest

nmeyer01

I think that one shuttle should be good, in all honesty. You’re the one paying for the shuttle, and having one time to meet is more than acceptable. Hopefully no one will be late, and if they are I’m sure they can find a way there.

11/19/10 @ 6:45 pm (reply)

10.

Member

nmeyer01 (message) 130 posts, Blushing bee

11/19/10 @ 6:45 pm (reply)

11.

Bee

Miss Cinnamon Bun (message) 1,100 posts, Bumble bee

I like the idea of 2 pick-ups, it takes some stress off the guests. And if the last shuttle is a few minutes late, oh well!

11/19/10 @ 6:50 pm (reply)

12.

Member

bRooklynRocks (message) 3,767 posts, Honey bee

Ms. Hippo, the more I read of your wedding, the more I really want to be a guest It’s very very nice of Mama H to offer a shuttle service for OOT guests. I’ve been an OOT guest where a shuttle was offered but I wasn’t in that hotel. The bride did one pick up. However, for us to give you a workable time for pickup, you have to know your guests. Some of my guests, sad to say, are late late late comers. As in, they WILL miss the ceremony because they think 6:30 means 8pm (these are old school folks from the ‘old country’) However, for you, I’d do one pickup, if you have just 24 guests at 6pm. That would give folks enough time to either have a glass of wine OR settle into their seats before the ceremony. If more than 24, I’d start at 5:45 and then another at a bit past 6pm.

11/19/10 @ 7:01 pm (reply)

13.

Member

chrispygal (message) 1,113 posts, Bumble bee

I agree about opening the venue 15 minutes earlier and doing two trips. That will give you, and your guests, a little time buffer.

11/20/10 @ 7:48 am (reply)

14.

Guest

kitzy

you pay by the hour, not by the trip, so it doesn’t cost more to have two trips! have one at 5:30 and one at 6, it will be much easier for your guests!

11/20/10 @ 9:28 am (reply)

15.

Bee

Mrs. Glasses (message) 2,741 posts, Sugar bee

I would go with the second as people who miss it aren’t exactly out of luck, they just need to get a cab. I was really worried about transportation too, because L.A. is just like Dallas. It turrd out we only had three OOT parties - Mr. G’s BIL rented a car, my friend from Michigan borrowed her brothers car in LA, and my girlfriends from England stuck with me the whole time. I think when it’s a wedding, people understand they need to shell out a little for the cost of transportation and stay, just like a vacation, but its totally sweet that you are getting a shuttle!

11/20/10 @ 11:51 pm (reply)

16.

Member

geer2mrs (message) 87 posts, Worker bee

I think one shuttle would be fine. I’ve only been to one wedding where transportation was provided. We had one shuttle and had to be on it as there was absolutely no parking at the ceremony site. I would be worried that if there are any traffic delays a second shuttle might get there really late. Good luck making your decision!

11/21/10 @ 2:39 pm (reply)