Would it be ok to...?

Question

...expect my guests to pay the $4 it costs to get into the park where my reception is?

I'm having my reception at a state park that it costs $4 a day to get into to. I could insert vouchers to get in, but I don't get a discount or anything, and I'm trying to find ways to trim my budget so that I can accomplish what I would like to do. It is only $4 a car and everyone in my family has been there and knows of the cost. Half of them have yearly passes. It just seems logical to cut this, but don't want to assume too much. I'm having a fairly large wedding, and it would save me mucho dinero. I'm not cheap, just overbudget as it is.

Also, should I mention the fee on the reception card if I choose not to include the voucher? Again I don't want to assume that everyone knows or is going to think about the fee.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, you should tell them. But you don't necessarily want that on your reception card - you'll want it to be on something they can keep so they have that visual reminder. What one might wish to do is to make a sheet with a reminder of the date, time and place with a note that there will be a $4 parking fee at the park, then copy and paste that notice as much as you can on one sheet. Cut them apart, stick 'em in your envelopes and voila! You've solved your problem, your guests have a handy little reminder and you've saved mucho dinero.

Answer 2

Did you include an insert that mentioned a hotel or is everyone coming from town?

What I think is a great idea is to put a welcome bag in their hotel rooms. With that, I included directions to my parents house/in-laws house just in case they planned on going by the house the day after wedding (most people did). Then you can include a lil note with your welcome bag "FYI there is a $4 per car fee, so you might want to carpool with others"

That way--people who already know each other but might have driven seperately will carpool together. They know in advance but it isn't tacky like putting it on the invite would be. I agree it would be horrible if they didn't have any cash on them. In todays world, I often don't carry cash.

I would also include this information at your shower. So that everyone who comes to your shower will be aware of the charge too.

I wouldn't include the voucher--it would probably just get lost, plus you would end up paying for the cars of people who RSVP regrets.

As you said, the majority of your family already has yearly passes. And if you lived in a city, you'd have to pay for parking anyway. In Boston, most of the hotels that you are staying in, still charge you extra per day to park. Parking is not free a lot of places.

I don't think anyone would be offended. After all, it is only $4. And as long as you let a lot of people know beforehand-- anyone can chose to carpool together. But I agree with you--I wouldn't assume they would all know ahead of time.

Answer 3

Don't sweat it. Let your guests pay for the entrance/parking fee and let the guests that are not aware of this by word of mouth.

When you go to a wedding in a hotel or city venue, you are expected to pay for parking or valet parking which is mucho dinero. If your guests have already pay for attire and gift, $ 4 dollars are not going offended them or steer away from the wedding.

Good luck and congrats

Answer 4

I would probably pay for each guest's entry. However, instead of sending the voucher with the invitation (because not everyone you invite will attend), send them out after people RSVP. That way you don't waste money on vouchers for people who aren't going to be there, plus, the people who RSVP'd yes will be more likely to still attend if they know you already bought them a ticket to get in the park. Figure out a way to word it on the respond cards so that people know that they will recieve their tickets upon reply. You might actually get an accurate head count this way.

Answer 5

I think its perfectly fine for you to expect your guests to pay the $4 entrance fee. I dont think it will be a big deal to anyone. If they know your wedding will be at a StatePark then they should know to expect some kind of fee, even just a parking fee. Its just like if someone had their wedding at a luxury hotel and their guests used the valet parking. I wouldn't expect the bride and groom to pay for that either.

Also, I wouldnt mention it on the reception card or on anything on the invites, you may just be attracting attention to something that your guests would otherwise not really care about.

Good luck on your wedding and congratulations.

Answer 6

I don't think it's tacky to make them pay for it. I would do them a favor though a mention it on the reception card. Not everyone has cash with them all the time - I'm one of those people.
It would just be like you having the reception in the city and people having to pay to park their cars in the parking garage. Same thing.

Answer 7

I think that it would be tremendously tacky to have your wedding reception somewhere that the guests have to pay to get in, unless you are paying.
Is there some way that you can arrange with the park that they will allow in all of your guests, and you can pay them later for the ones who do not have a yearly pass? Maybe they will be willing to give you a discount on the total.

Answer 8

In my opinion, I would try to pay for everyone's entry into the park.

The ones who have yearly passes you don't need to worry about.

Perhaps the park will give you a discount depending on the size.

You should at least let them know on the invitation or an insert in the invitation that there will be a fee, if you decide to let them pay their own way into the park.

Answer 9

I think it is perfectly acceptable to have them pay for themselves. how are you possibly going to know who's going to car pool with whom anyway? I would definitely make sure it is somewhere in the invitation though! Just say Reception to be held at ABC State Park ($4 a car load) 5pm, etc, etc...I really don't think it's that big a deal whatsoever!!

Answer 10

I honestly dont know. The parks around here give discounts if you are having a large group. I would talk to them and see for sure if there isnt anything that you can do.

I would inform the guest of the fee and let them know ahead of time.