Wedding Location

Personally I would say to go for it as long as there are either hotels near that venue - or you have no problem getting a bus shuttle to pick people up and drop them off. Our wedding was about an hour from our house but about 2 hours from the other end of the city to the venue and we just got a shuttle that picked people up at a hotel in the city and took them back at 1am

I think if it fits your budget and you love it, keep it.
Our venue is an hour from where we live. The people important to us will be there. That's all that matters. I was so worried ppl would not make the drive. Or the drive home will be too much. You won't please everyone, there is always someone who will complain.
Go with your gut. And stick to it.

Why not ask your relatives that would find the drive inconvenient? Ask to see how they would get there and what their plans to stay would be as a way to see if it would be a good fit. I wouldn’t rule out your venue yet!

A lot of our guests will actually have a similar commute length for our wedding and we haven't had anyone object yet. We'll see what happens with the RSVPs but I say go with the one that makes you happy.

It might be just a tad too far. Like the others mentioned it adds an overnight stay and a lot of driving so you will have guests who decline. My fiance has family 1.5 hours away and I'm ready for them to decline but hopeful they'll make it, with the ones even farther away I expect them to say no.
I would keep looking. Is the budget flexible enough to look at slightly more expensive spots closer to home?

View quoted message Each guest will have their own limit as to how far they are willing to travel for a wedding. Elderly people will be less willing to travel altogether, my FSIL just had a baby and there’s no way they’re ready to travel far for a wedding yet.


It depends on your crowd. For someone that I’m not close to and isn’t family - I’m not going to travel that far, that’s just me personally.
Also keep in mind September is also back to school month as well - so parents may be a little less likely to want to travel in September trying to get kids back into school routine and out of summer routine.

I think a 2.5 hour drive makes it a bit similar to a destination wedding. Everyone will likely have to stay overnight which adds to the guests expenses.
I think it really comes down to what Kelsie said. Is the venue worth possibly getting more declines? That's really something only you can answer.
A thought: if important people can't do the drive can you provide transportation assistance? That may help ensure the people you really want there can get there.

View quoted message Thanks Kelsie. That's kinda the debate I'm having with myself right now :/ Like I guess I'm just wondering how far is it acceptable to ask guests to travel considering it's not exactly a destination wedding. And it's going to be a September wedding so there better not be snow lol.

I think this really depends on how you feel. If you select the venue you really want are you ok with getting more no’s due to distance? If you are ok with it, then I’d choose the venue that is further but you like.


Another thing to keep in mind as well, if there’s a bad snow storm or weather you might also get people who RSVP yes but don’t end up coming because of bad weather.