Guests paying for parking?

[cara]

This grey area. If you can cover it without a lot of hassle, and the parking lot will be useful to the majority of guests, do it.

But I don''t think its necessary to go to extreme lengths to cover parking for guests. Its somewhere between the time when guests are responsible for their own expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.) and when they are your responsibility.

 

[Rock Your Socks]

Date: 1/29/2009 5:58:23 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 1/29/2009 5:45:26 PM

Author: allycat0303

Well my instinctive gut feeling was ''NO WAY''. Seriously, I wouldn''t give it a second thought if my friend was getting married and I paid 12 dollars for parking. I think it''s a little bit too much about ''the guest''. If I was having a party downtown, paying for their food and drinks the whole night and they complained about paying 12 dollars for parking ($120 a person + unlimited drinks, entertainment) and you complained.... I would probably smack you. HARD.



However, if parking is limited, and then guests would have to be running outside to put money in the meter (like downtown Montreal) then I would rent the parking lot, because I think it spoils the evening to hike out to the car every 2 hours (that''s the max time allowed here). So for the convenience I would rent it, but not because of politeness, or for fear of complaints.

LOL, that''s awesome! I totally would too.

Ditto!

Plus lioness the thing that keeps playing on my mind is if you know only about 100 people are coming and the car park has 300 spaces it seems silly to pay for 200 extra spaces than you need to. You wouldn''t pay for 200 extra people for your reception than you knew were attending so why pay for more than you need to? (i know i will be slaughtered for this comment but think about it, makes sense!)

 

[Octavia]

FWIW, I've never had a problem parking in Manayunk. Granted, I wasn't dressed for a wedding and was willing to walk a couple blocks. But there's plenty of free parking up the hill a bit, and I'm pretty sure the metered spaces are free on Sundays (I know they are elsewhere in the city). If you do want to pay for lot spaces, I wonder if you could do some sort of coupon that your guests would give the parking attendant, and the lot would bill you for the total coupons used? Or maybe they'll rent you half the lot instead of the whole thing? Definitely worth a try!

 

[honey22]

Seriously, can anyone actually say they would be upset to spend 12 measly bucks at the wedding of a loved one? There is such a thing as going too far. What if a guest doesn''t drive, are you expected to pay for their taxi?

I wouldn''t think twice about paying the parking for a friends wedding. If a guest of my wedding was upset they had to pay for parking, then I would hope they wouldn''t come.

 

[Sharon101]

As a basic rule, you dont need to pay for guests parking. Of course no one loves to pay to park, but it is a relatively small pain, and a cost mostly expected by guests to incure.

However, if you are beyond wealthy, you can think up all kinds of ways to spoil and pamper your guests.....and hiring out a car park would probably be something that your wedding planners organise at the minimum!!!!

 

[sba771]

I am also getting married in philly and I was going to say $12 seems about average. Sadly every venue I have looked at is that much or more. I actually found on place where the parking lot is next to the building and they do not do valet but instead we have to pay for security guards, so in the end it comes out the same. But I agree with everyone else who says no guest should have to pay for parking, I would however check what other venues charge for it and see if you have any room to negotiate. That is what we are doing with certain charges like coat check etc.

 

[oct2009]

Date: 1/29/2009 8:45:27 PM
Author: Rock Your Socks

Date: 1/29/2009 5:58:23 PM

Author: sunnyd

Date: 1/29/2009 5:45:26 PM


Author: allycat0303


Well my instinctive gut feeling was ''NO WAY''. Seriously, I wouldn''t give it a second thought if my friend was getting married and I paid 12 dollars for parking. I think it''s a little bit too much about ''the guest''. If I was having a party downtown, paying for their food and drinks the whole night and they complained about paying 12 dollars for parking ($120 a person + unlimited drinks, entertainment) and you complained.... I would probably smack you. HARD.





However, if parking is limited, and then guests would have to be running outside to put money in the meter (like downtown Montreal) then I would rent the parking lot, because I think it spoils the evening to hike out to the car every 2 hours (that''s the max time allowed here). So for the convenience I would rent it, but not because of politeness, or for fear of complaints.

LOL, that''s awesome! I totally would too.

Ditto!


Plus lioness the thing that keeps playing on my mind is if you know only about 100 people are coming and the car park has 300 spaces it seems silly to pay for 200 extra spaces than you need to. You wouldn''t pay for 200 extra people for your reception than you knew were attending so why pay for more than you need to? (i know i will be slaughtered for this comment but think about it, makes sense!)

I agree with the above! I have never heard of a rule requiring that guests'' parking be covered, nor have I ever expected that my parking be covered. If it''s going to break your budget, don''t worry about paying for it. I think it''s understood that guests will have to pay for their "accommodations," be it hotel or parking. However, if you have some extra cash and you WANT to pay for parking, it would certainly be a nice gesture.

 

[Guilty Pleasure]

Honestly, do what you can afford, and your guests will understand.

For me, if the lot was owned by or attached to the venue, then I would pay for the parking or valet. If the lot was just part of the city and happened to be the most convenient place to park, then I would not pay for the parking, especially since it''s a waste of money to pay for 300 spots for 100 cars. Your guests won''t even know you have the option to buy the lot, ya know?

When I go to any event in a city, I know I will have to park my car somewhere and that it will cost money. I''m happy if there is a lot close to where I''m walking, and I don''t think twice about the fact that I''m paying for parking. If it is normal where you live to pay for parking, then just make sure people know that there is no garage or lot attached to your venue. You can even put the lot on the map like someone else suggested and spread the word that parking costs 12 dollars. As long as I know ahead of time that there''s not a free lot attached to a venue, I''m fine with paying for parking. I just don''t carry cash normally, so I''d need the heads up.

For my limited budget, I''d rather spend 1000 dollars on a photobooth for my guests than a parking lot. That''s my own preference though. Do what you are comfortable with.

 

[Pandora II]

If the car park was exclusive to the venue and charged, then I would pay. If it was just a normal one for the general public then I wouldn''t.

Nearly all my guests were OOT - should I pay the parking for those who choose to drive, but not pay train tickets for those who come by train? It just makes life even more complicated...

In the end I did a detailed page on travel details on our website and included a map with locations for all the carparks (including prices, the fact they had 24 hour security and they could leave the car overnight if they wanted to drink).

 

[risingsun]

I have a "thing" about parking. We arranged for a valet service and I've never regretted it. All the guests had to do was drive up to the venue. As I recall, the cost wasn't prohibitive, either.

ETA: finding parking at our venue would have been difficult!

 

[fieryred33143]

Date: 1/30/2009 11:24:52 AM
Author: risingsun
I have a ''thing'' about parking. We arranged for a valet service and I''ve never regretted it. All the guests had to do was drive up to the venue. As I recall, the cost wasn''t prohibitive, either.

ETA: finding parking at our venue would have been difficult!

Now that you mention it for my crazy bridezilla ex-friend''s wedding, she didn''t bother to either pay for parking for her guests or find places to park for everyone. We drove around looking for a lot and luckily I remembered there was one across the street. It was $5 an hour for up to 4 hours and after that it was a $25 flat fee. At the very end of the day when everyone was standing around chatting, they were talking about how far they parked and she says "why didn''t you guys use the lot up the street? It is a $10 flat fee"

All of the guests were OOT guests as this was a DW.

 

[Lulie]

Date: 1/29/2009 8:45:27 PM
Author: Rock Your Socks

Date: 1/29/2009 5:58:23 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 1/29/2009 5:45:26 PM

Author: allycat0303

Well my instinctive gut feeling was 'NO WAY'. Seriously, I wouldn't give it a second thought if my friend was getting married and I paid 12 dollars for parking. I think it's a little bit too much about 'the guest'. If I was having a party downtown, paying for their food and drinks the whole night and they complained about paying 12 dollars for parking ($120 a person + unlimited drinks, entertainment) and you complained.... I would probably smack you. HARD.



However, if parking is limited, and then guests would have to be running outside to put money in the meter (like downtown Montreal) then I would rent the parking lot, because I think it spoils the evening to hike out to the car every 2 hours (that's the max time allowed here). So for the convenience I would rent it, but not because of politeness, or for fear of complaints.

LOL, that's awesome! I totally would too.

Ditto!

Plus lioness the thing that keeps playing on my mind is if you know only about 100 people are coming and the car park has 300 spaces it seems silly to pay for 200 extra spaces than you need to. You wouldn't pay for 200 extra people for your reception than you knew were attending so why pay for more than you need to? (i know i will be slaughtered for this comment but think about it, makes sense!)

LOL if you don't have the means.....why making a party? Cars are expensive & this is a special event, hopefully your first/last wedding were thousands of dollars are spent a few more won't hurt.
As any other service, you only pay for the parking spaces used, if the guests decide to take a taxi/lemo/horse....then the rule is out, I didn't make them lol.
Everyone is different but guests crucial/ important part of your event [family/elderly] gestures [yeah 12 measly bucks] paid up front for them talks lots about you.

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 1/30/2009 1:19:12 PM
Author: Lulie

Date: 1/29/2009 8:45:27 PM
Author: Rock Your Socks

Date: 1/29/2009 5:58:23 PM
Author: sunnyd

Date: 1/29/2009 5:45:26 PM

Author: allycat0303

Well my instinctive gut feeling was ''NO WAY''. Seriously, I wouldn''t give it a second thought if my friend was getting married and I paid 12 dollars for parking. I think it''s a little bit too much about ''the guest''. If I was having a party downtown, paying for their food and drinks the whole night and they complained about paying 12 dollars for parking ($120 a person + unlimited drinks, entertainment) and you complained.... I would probably smack you. HARD.



However, if parking is limited, and then guests would have to be running outside to put money in the meter (like downtown Montreal) then I would rent the parking lot, because I think it spoils the evening to hike out to the car every 2 hours (that''s the max time allowed here). So for the convenience I would rent it, but not because of politeness, or for fear of complaints.

LOL, that''s awesome! I totally would too.

Ditto!

Plus lioness the thing that keeps playing on my mind is if you know only about 100 people are coming and the car park has 300 spaces it seems silly to pay for 200 extra spaces than you need to. You wouldn''t pay for 200 extra people for your reception than you knew were attending so why pay for more than you need to? (i know i will be slaughtered for this comment but think about it, makes sense!)

LOL if you don''t have the means.....why making a party? Cars are expensive & this is a special event, hopefully your first/last wedding were thousands of dollars are spent a few more won''t hurt.
As any other service, you only pay for the parking spaces used, if the guests decide to take a taxi/lemo/horse....then the rule is out, I didn''t make them lol.
Everyone is different but guests crucial/ important part of your event [family/elderly] gestures [yeah 12 measly bucks] paid up front for them talks lots about you.

A thousand dollars wouldn''t hurt? Let''s see, be homeless for a month, rent a lot 2/3 bigger than what I need. Hmmm...

And technically, the only crucial people at a wedding are the bride and groom, an officiant, and a witness.

 

[Lulie]

Date: 1/30/2009 1:40:55 PM
Author: sunnyd

A thousand dollars wouldn''t hurt? Let''s see, be homeless for a month, rent a lot 2/3 bigger than what I need. Hmmm...

And technically, the only crucial people at a wedding are the bride and groom, an officiant, and a witness.

lol you only pay for the cars being parked, that''s why you print vouchers in advance and send to guests, so they know where they are parking....I bet it won''t be 1,000.
Yeah, if you don''t have a loving family/ great friends and important people in your life I guess technically only you matter LOL.

 

[sunnyd]

Actually lioness said that she''d have to rent the whole lot, not just pay for the cars that parked there. $1000.

 

[Lulie]

Everything is negotiable, specially if There's 2nd option....she can talk to the attendant, make an appointment w/ main manager. I won't be surprised if she cuts a great deal, we have gotten $1 vouchers for valet parking at some events, it takes patience.

 

[purrfectpear]

Date: 1/30/2009 1:56:31 PM
Author: Lulie

Date: 1/30/2009 1:40:55 PM
Author: sunnyd

A thousand dollars wouldn''t hurt? Let''s see, be homeless for a month, rent a lot 2/3 bigger than what I need. Hmmm...

And technically, the only crucial people at a wedding are the bride and groom, an officiant, and a witness.

lol you only pay for the cars being parked, that''s why you print vouchers in advance and send to guests, so they know where they are parking....I bet it won''t be 1,000.
Yeah, if you don''t have a loving family/ great friends and important people in your life I guess technically only you matter LOL.

If you throw an emoticon at the end of the sentence I guess technically it''s not rude?

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 1/30/2009 3:50:02 PM
Author: purrfectpear

Date: 1/30/2009 1:56:31 PM
Author: Lulie

Date: 1/30/2009 1:40:55 PM
Author: sunnyd

A thousand dollars wouldn''t hurt? Let''s see, be homeless for a month, rent a lot 2/3 bigger than what I need. Hmmm...

And technically, the only crucial people at a wedding are the bride and groom, an officiant, and a witness.

lol you only pay for the cars being parked, that''s why you print vouchers in advance and send to guests, so they know where they are parking....I bet it won''t be 1,000.
Yeah, if you don''t have a loving family/ great friends and important people in your life I guess technically only you matter LOL.

If you throw an emoticon at the end of the sentence I guess technically it''s not rude?

That''s why I didn''t respond...thanks Purr.

 

[Lulie]

Thanks for reminding me...no one is rude here? lol
<~~~aborting the thread.

 

[Sharon101]

Date: 1/30/2009 3:50:02 PM
Author: purrfectpear

Date: 1/30/2009 1:56:31 PM
Author: Lulie

Date: 1/30/2009 1:40:55 PM
Author: sunnyd

A thousand dollars wouldn''t hurt? Let''s see, be homeless for a month, rent a lot 2/3 bigger than what I need. Hmmm...

And technically, the only crucial people at a wedding are the bride and groom, an officiant, and a witness.

lol you only pay for the cars being parked, that''s why you print vouchers in advance and send to guests, so they know where they are parking....I bet it won''t be 1,000.
Yeah, if you don''t have a loving family/ great friends and important people in your life I guess technically only you matter LOL.

If you throw an emoticon at the end of the sentence I guess technically it''s not rude?

Perfect Pear, Im with you.

Ive never heard such immature crap

It is a well known fact that directly after and in the years following your wedding.....you not only dont keep friends with half your guests....but they definately dont recall much about your big day!!!!!

And, you dont put on a wedding so people will think highly and really like you because you were so generous.

Infact....when you open most of your presents....you might be glad that you didnt pay for thousands of dollars of extras imo.

And fwiw, I had a fairy tale wedding long ago and just had a barmi for my son (similar budget to wedding). And we did not pay for parking then....and neither did we now. It never crossed our minds to as it is not necessary.

My sister who went to a very famous wedding last year however got her os. travel and accomodation paid for.

 

[Haven]

If you can afford to pay for the parking, and if paid parking is the only option at your venue, then yes, I believe you should pay for it.

I''ve never had to pay for parking at a wedding, and for downtown Chicago venues we''ve either been given vouchers, had valet services, or were just told to pull right into the pay lot in cases where the couple just bought out the entire thing for the evening. Perhaps it is a regional/social circle thing, though. I''d follow the dictates of your budget and your social circle in this situation.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

I''m SO glad this thread exists!! And Sunny-- are we living parallel lives? I think if you lived in Denver, we''d be, like, bffs for real (said in valley girl voice)

There is parking at our venue. $7/car. And we''ve blocked hotel rooms at a downtown hotel. $20/car. We''ve toyed with paying for parking at the venue, and paying for a shuttle to/from the hotel (which we MAY still do?) It is impossible to predict how many people will be using the lot and how many will be at the hotel & it''s DRIVING ME CRAZY.

150 guests, let''s say 3 per car (most will be 2)= $350
And shuttle to/from the hotel= $400

Some people say, "Oh my gosh. You''re spending so much money, anyway... What''s the problem with $700 more?! Just spend it?!" Because that''s 700 that could go to a few more guests, or extra time at the bar, or a slight food upgrade, or an extra big photo album, or a few extra hours of music, better attendant or officiant gifts, hair appointments for your bridesmaids, etc, etc, etc.

Most people I know do NOT buy new outfits for weddings. And maybe they get gifts, but generally they''re <$50. Sure, they give time to attend, etc, etc... But we all do it for eeevvveryone else. If the people at my wedding have been married, and I was alive, I went to the weddings. If they''re not-yet married, Ill be going to the wedding. And if they don''t fit into either of those categories, they''re an aunt or uncle and would bend over backwards to make it to "my day." People plan to incur expenses when they go to weddings. They are aware the that the couple spends between $20 and 50K, and in cases like mine, the couple pays for it COMPLETELY on their own, without help from parents.

Example: FI was in a wedding a few months back. He rented a tux, flew from CO to OH, paid for a hotel, paid for parking, did ''bachelor activities'', and gave a wedding present. $700. SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS. He didn''t bit*h and moan, he just said, "We''re gonna have to cut back a bit for the rest of the month." and I said, "Okay."

At most, it makes me cringe for my OOT guests. Some will be spending just about that much... But they could simply say, "Hey, can''t make it to the wedding, still wishing you guys the best" and from OOT, that would not offend me. As our officiant/uncle told us, "People EXPECT to pay money when they go to a wedding. They just do." And for some OOTers, it''ll be like a weekend getaway.

For the majority, $7 won''t be a big deal. For for FI & I, it adds up. And perhaps this sounds snooty, but my wedding day is about Me & FI becoming a united pair-- if someone wants to whine about $7 parking, I could give a rat''s behind.

Woooweee... sorry for the rant, guys. I went a bit overboard. But here''s the deal: Times are tough. Paying for a wedding on your own is hard. If you, as a couple, spend time/$/energy to find a great location with great food and great booze and great music for your guests, and the guests are people who are close to you and care for you and not a random friend of a friend of a friend that your mother insisted you invite, they WILL NOT CARE ABOUT $12 parking.

Sure, I love planning my wedding as much as the next gal, but we''re all TOTALLY being swooped up into this price-inflated, over-the-top, no expense is too much scheme... One''s wedding day is an INSANELY special day-- BUT IT IS ONE DAY. The point isn''t to totally wine and dine your guests and pamper them and be the absolute perfect hostess-- It''s about wedding the love of your life and having a fun time with those closest to you. Your job is not to make it the perfect day/night for all the attendees. It''s about being level headed & not going into debt to impress others.

My .02- Guests can cough up a few bucks for parking. They''d have to pay for parking at nearly any other gala or fundraiser held in a downtown area. Why not a wedding?

Sorry again. Some of these ettiquite things just get me goin''.

 

[D2B]

If parking is difficult I would provide a list of possible options, including where free parking is in the vicinity. Town guests will most likely catch a cab so they can enjoy a drink and mingle.

TBH if I went to a wedding where parking was paid, part of me would think " WOW, they really have money to waste

"(ducks for cover), it is just not something I would expect.

the only exception is where the parking is attached to the venue and then i would assume it came part of the package.

d2b

 

[katamari]

Particularly if I lived in the city, I would just go to where the free parking was and wouldn''t even think it might be paid for; so, I would include the information either way--if you choose to pay or not. I, though, wouldn''t pay. Going to a wedding, at least for me, is like any other night out--except for that I get my food and drinks paid for. I would still feel like I scored if I only had to pay for parking.