Problems with wedding reception venue...

misterpotatomato on 24/04/2014 - 14:05

Hi all,

I'm posting today because I've been hit with a bit of a roadblock in my upcoming wedding (namely the wedding reception). Now, I'm just trying to figure out if my requirements here are logical and sensible. I'm not here to try to feel vindicated or to get crowd support for something…

Basically, me and mrs potatomato found an awesome place for our wedding reception. We put down a deposit, and everyone is on track to give us a great wedding day.

Now, we're having between 50 to 80 people in our wedding reception. We told the reception place this, and they updated their quote accordingly. We then accepted the quote, signed the relevant forms, etc etc.

One of the questions that my parents had was "where is everyone going to park?". The reception venue has carparking out the front, but it is limited. When we initially went to see the location, we noted that the carpark was relatively small, but there were areas that were gated off etc, so we assumed that, maybe, the premises would have parking elsewhere on site.

So, I asked the question yesterday, to the venue (with what would happen if the small carpark were to fill up).

Heres where it gets interesting…

We can't actually use the carpark at all, as the carpark is for the people that are staying in the venue overnight (who have the place booked overnight). From talking to the venue, we can have five carparks (nowhere near enough).

So… we have two options. Either make our guests park on the street and (some are pretty old) walk down the path to the venue, which is up hill and about 200 metres long. It is also in the middle of the rainforest, and has potholes all through it. There is also a portion for the first 50 metres that is not lit up. Also, it will be cold as its happening in winter.

We can do that, or we can hire a shuttle bus to shuttle people in and out. This doesnt really work either, because people are going to get there and leave at different times. Plus the added cost of the shuttle.

Nowhere on the contract does it make mention of parking… I thought (and I could be wrong) that parking onsite was a logical requirement of attending a wedding.

Am I wrong? Is parking not a logical requirement of having a reception? And shouldn't something like this be mentioned on the contract?

Thanks for the help.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Smulder on 24/04/2014 - 15:59
    +1

    We rejected a number of wedding reception venues on the basis of not having sufficient car parking. It can be a problem.

    Given that you have already paid the deposit, I would just include a note about parking in the invitation, letting people know the options and let them decide.

    They might choose to get a taxi, or perhaps the older guests can be dropped at the door before the driver goes to find a park.

    You will probably find that your guests will park in the car park anyway, what is the reception really going to do about it? Tow them all?

    • misterpotatomato on 24/04/2014 - 22:22

      The problem we face is that the driveway is relatively narrow as well, I wouldnt say it would be two way for cars…… so if people were to choose the taxi option it would be a collective nightmare to get them in and out as there would be a continous stream of cars in and out of the venue…

      I'll have to keep thinking about it.

  • shadow131 on 24/04/2014 - 16:07

    Am I wrong? Is parking not a logical requirement of having a reception?

    Yes it is but it isnt unusual for venue to have insufficient parking for its capacity or to have criterias to use the parking lot

    So… we have two options. Either make our guests park on the street and (some are pretty old) walk down the path to the venue, which is up hill and about 200 metres long. It is also in the middle of the rainforest, and has potholes all through it. There is also a portion for the first 50 metres that is not lit up. Also, it will be cold as its happening in winter.

    Wouldnt be too bad. Not everyone has to get off and walk. Only one has to. Just drop people off and turn back to park. If everyone is old, find someone to be a valet. Same thing with heading home. Only someone needs to head to get the car.

    erms night time…. and not lit up… er. i cant help there. hope someone else has some other ideas apart form a shuttle bus.

    • shadow131 on 24/04/2014 - 16:12
      +2

      Actually try find a driver/mate/airtasker. Get them to stay in a car in the parkinglot. They can drive the driver out at night to get their car.

      • misterpotatomato on 24/04/2014 - 22:23

        I'm not so sure if this would work in the night time… I'd have to find someone who came to the reception who wouldnt mind being interrupted to drive in/out of the premises… I kinda think that everyone who comes should be able to sit there and enjoy the reception, without having to play taxi.

        Thanks for the suggestion everybody :)

        • shadow131 on 25/04/2014 - 02:38

          Family friend's kids or anything will do fine. I have uni break right now, If i knew you on a personal basis, I would do it for $100 to $200 + free food. Uni students are poor, don't doubt what they will do for a bit of extra cash :P.

          Congratulations anyway

        • danyool on 27/04/2014 - 13:21

          Yeap - plus 1 for airtasker. It's someone else from outside your wedding, so no-one is being inconvenienced. You could pay $20 per hour or so usually keeps airtaskers happy. (Depending on how far they have to drive/petrol money)

  • Pungentia on 24/04/2014 - 17:21

    my sister hired a company to shuttle people to and from her wedding.. it was supposed to have been a standard mini bus, but the booking was stuffed up.. anyway, it was cheapest for them to supply a limo for a couple of hours to shuttle people back and forth.. made for an extra special feel, getting dropped off in style!

    If the venue is at a distance, how many of your guests will book rooms? Could any of them check in then go and park in the other car park in daylight and let some of your more elderly guests park close?

    Could your elderly guests be dropped off at the top of the hill/close to the ceremony site and someone park the car for them on the street?

    Will your elderly guests drive anyway or will they be driven by younger family members?

    I would google the venue and see if anyone else says anything and I would ask the venue what their usual advice is and what they would suggest..

    Worst case scenario - advise people of the potential walk to/from the car and to bring an umbrella/flashflight!

    • misterpotatomato on 24/04/2014 - 22:25

      They could get dropped off, but as the driveway is kinda narrow I don't think it would be safe to put the road under that kind of load. Besides its a dirt road so it would kick up a crazy amount of dust…. if it were surfaced it would work better.

  • nomoneynoproblems on 24/04/2014 - 17:31

    First of all congrats on the wedding. Second, on site parking should have been considered when selecting a venue. Obviously this was an oversight on your half. I would organise a way for guests to be dropped off or simply tell them to park on the street. You would think that reception would have plenty of Parking but that's not always the case. All the best with your wedding mate.

    • misterpotatomato on 24/04/2014 - 22:27

      Yes and no I guess. If you were to book a place and say I will have x amount of people coming, and the venue were to accept, you would think they would have facilities availible to do so. In my mind its like us booking the place and then them saying "yeah they're aren't toilets here… you might need to hire a portaloo as well". Yes I didn't explicitly ask, but I think that should be something that is implied when you ask a place to have your reception there.

      Thanks for your response though.

  • misterpotatomato on 24/04/2014 - 22:28

    Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far, its helping. I was a bit worried about posting stuff like this on ozb (that other dude who snuck his dog into his hotel room ended up getting roasted) but so far this has been a constructive discussion. High fives all round!

    • Geewhizz on 25/04/2014 - 07:36

      The dude with the dog deliberately did the wrong thing though, and then came looking for sympathy when he got caught out.

      Given that the place (I'm assuming) has hosted receptions in the past, perhaps ask them how others have dealt with it? They may be able to suggest (or provide for a small fee) someone who will do the shuttling for you.

      If it does turn out that people may end up walking, be prepared in advance and make sure to have lightling on hand for that path .

      All the best for your big day.

  • blitz on 24/04/2014 - 22:29

    Congratulations on the wedding - I wish you both many happy years together.

    I find it a little surprising that this venue could have a rainforest location - i.e. off the main road - without parking arrangements. Stranger still that they support large receptions. Will they definitely not budge? That sounds unreasonable to me.

  • grasstown on 24/04/2014 - 23:49

    Just sounding this out and happy to be corrected. 200 metres uphill dressed for winter in a potholed forrest should not be overly problematic for your young or fit guests. even if they are chilly for 5 minutes etc. I say simply in case you are concerned it will bother your young and fit guests. Guests should be accommodating. Lighting may be a problem though. Pungentia had good practical solutions regarding you old and less able guests. Perhaps a little shuttling and a few car spots can suffice?

  • jason101 on 25/04/2014 - 08:28

    Just hire a chauffeur for a few hours (or pay an 18 year old nephew who wants $50) and have him shuffle people around, give all the guests his number and they can call him when they are ready to go or want to be collected at certain pick up points.

  • Pungentia on 25/04/2014 - 09:01

    And I can see a great wedding favours theme (if you subscribe to that kind of stuff). Blokes get an LED torch, girls get a wedding brolly.. hehe

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