[clavin690]

We rented a limo for myself (the bride) and the bridal party to go to the venue which is where the ceremony and reception are both being held. Since it is only 15 min away and we had to rent the limo for 3 hours (minimum amount that you can rent it) we decided that we would have the limo go to the hotel and shuttle people back and forth.

Long story short, b/c they will not let you do 3 hours early evening and 3 hours late evening, we had to rent a limo for 10 hours. Since we have to pay for it anyway, we decided to use that to shuttle b/f and after for guest as well.

Is this too over the top? How do I announce this at the reception as I didn't know b/f I sent out the invites that we were doing this. For those staying at the hotel, is it tacky to have the hotel inform the guest when they check in that we are having the limo shuttle them to the venue?

Thank you!

[Nancy Tucker]

More information is needed here. How many guests are you speaking of? What size limo? If you hired one to carry yourself and the bridesmaids, it will probably hold 6-10 people comfortably. Unless you assign who will be using the limo, it could be a fire drill with people getting to the reception that didn't need to be there and those who should be there still waiting at the church. I encourage you to take the 3 hours and use the car for transport to the ceremony, for pictures afterward and then to the reception for the bride and groom to have some down time. Don't try to hire it for the whole day, let guests arrange their own transportation. Even though it's only 15 minutes away each trip to the venue would be no less than 45 minutes.

[clavin690]

The limo holds 10 people. Pictures and everything are being done at the venue so I will really only need it for myself 1/2 tops. I am going to the venue at 4:30 for pictures and the ceremony does not start until 6 pm. I'm not sure of exactly how many people as we do not confirm with the hotel until Aug 13th but 98% of the guest are local. The cocktail hour/reception are at the same place as the ceremony and it is immediately following the ceremony. That is why we decided to just have the limo transport people from the hotel to the venue since I won't need it after 4:30 and we are paying for it anyway.

Any additional thoughts given the above information?

[Etiquette Now]

This is a very nice gesture. You could ask the hotel staff to mention it to your guests as they check in so they don't drive to the venue. Plus, this can be mentioned at the reception after the speeches. But, by then it is probably too late for those people to take advantage of it. It may help to also email some of your guests to let them know and to announce it on your wedding website.

[clavin690]

In that case, I will let the hotel know to inform the guest when they check in that the limo is available to transport them, and then make another announcement at the reception for those to be transported back to the hotel from the reception.

Thanks for all of the advice!