NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Mel912 Posted: Apr 28, 2009 05:18 PM

NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

This is the ONE thing really stressing me out...
I have about 75 OOT guests staying at the Four Points Sheraton in Plainview. I need to shuttle them back and forth to the Woodlands for my ceremony/reception which starts at 6pm (really 6:30pm...6pm is the invite time).
Given that buses are SO expensive I was thinking about getting either:
1. One 40-passenger bus, making two trips
2. Three 14-passenger vans making two trips each, or however many to get there.

BUT, I am worried about guests having to wait either before or at the end of the night since I'm not technically providing enough transportation to take EVERYONE in one shot. Since it's a 10-minute ride, I thought i could save money by making multiple trips. But is it bad to keep your guests waiting for 15 minutes possibly?

Thanks!!!!

springsandra Posted: Apr 28, 2009 05:34 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Can you please, please tell me what advice you get on this? I'm in a very simlar boat regarding shuttling people. I'll let you know what I figure out as well if I come up with a solution.

KCJones Posted: Apr 28, 2009 06:30 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Ahhhhhhhhhh............ I have the SAME issue!!!

JAAMS Posted: Apr 28, 2009 07:22 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Hmmm I wouldn't make people wait too long. If it's a 10 minute trip there and another 10 minutes back that's atleast 20 minutes. Plus, if people are getting off and on the bus, figure that adds another 5 minutes. People will probably wind up waiting close to a half hour.

marisa and dave Posted: Apr 28, 2009 09:37 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

I'm going to have the same problem. At the end of the night won't matter because people will be too busy at the wedding...aka drinking...only thing I will worry about is getting to the reception.

Nina1010 Posted: Apr 28, 2009 09:42 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

I am in the same boat...same area too...Guests at the Marriott and need shuttling to Woodbury CC. I don't think 20 min is so long. By the time people say their goodbyes and gather their things, the shuttle will be back. Although I think I am going to look into a limo bus for pick up and drop off service in the beginning / end of the night.

Ivansgirl Posted: Apr 28, 2009 09:49 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

I am having a similar situation. My friend is getting married this July call for prices. Some places wanted to charge $100 each way so if 2 trips were needed it would be $300. $100 to the hall with guests, $100 to go back to the hotel, and another $100 to go back to the hall/ I heard through this friend and another to price out US Limo. I am considering using my Limo Bus. I have to price it out but it can hold 40 people and its an hourly rate versus a a rate per trip.

Nina1010 Posted: Apr 28, 2009 10:04 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Can you FM me names of companies/prices? I'm feeling the $100 each way bit...

TIA!!!

BCM2009 Posted: Apr 28, 2009 10:16 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

I am in the same boat and I am having a second group wait for the bus to come back but this is my plan. i'm asking my close friends, my sister and her bf, my cousins, my bridal party etc to wait until the second bus. I know they won't mind and we're all young so we'll just hang out and have a good time.

That way the people i'm not quite as close with and the older people (who are more inclined to get cranky about waiting) can just get on the first bus and be on their way.

Hopefully it all works out!

FutureMrsG Posted: Apr 28, 2009 10:49 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

We are using Classic Coach we rented a 55 passenger bus for the entire day for $1175- Our Limo company wanted more than that for drop off and pick up service to and from the reception hall only- The charter bus is going to take our guests to the church back to the hotel (we have a long break) and then to and from the hall with an additional round trip at the end of the night.

Mel912 Posted: Apr 29, 2009 10:31 AM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Wow...so a lot of us are going to have this issue. We need to hear from some brides who have already lived through this!!
One limo co. told me I should let ppl know there are two shuttle times...say 5:20, then 5:50. So that they are not in the hotel lobby just waiting. But then I'm afraid EVERYONE will opt to take the later shuttle! haha

ALSO, does anyone know what the reception halls do if guests arrive 15 minutes early? Do they make them stand outside?? haha

alli3131 Posted: Apr 29, 2009 11:09 AM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

First do whatever your budget allows. The very fact you are even offering a shuttle is a bonus. You are not in any way required to provide a shuttle. I ahve only been to one wedding where they provided it. Do not worry abut if the guests have to wait. if they dont want to wait they can drive themselves

GinaZ Posted: Apr 29, 2009 11:12 AM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

well if you haven't blocked the rooms yet, you could have them stay at the executive inn on jericho turnpike. They have a free shuttle to and from the weddings. i used them for my wedding and it worked out great.

Mel912 Posted: Apr 29, 2009 11:18 AM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Posted by alli3131

First do whatever your budget allows. The very fact you are even offering a shuttle is a bonus. You are not in any way required to provide a shuttle. I ahve only been to one wedding where they provided it. Do not worry abut if the guests have to wait. if they dont want to wait they can drive themselves

I think you are ABSOLUTELY right!!!

Ivansgirl Posted: Apr 29, 2009 03:32 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Here is the information for the place two of my friends ( 1 already and one this July) used.
U.S. Limousine
(516) 874-2117

Toll Free: 1-800-962-2827 ext 6, 2

www.uslimoservice.com

gonzalezm3 Posted: Apr 29, 2009 04:53 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Some hotels will have shuttle service to the venue already. Make sure you check first. Almost all of the venues we saw offered a shuttle service for all of our guests to/from the airport and to/from the venue.

Shellymd Posted: Apr 29, 2009 05:19 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

I decided to use JOe from Camelot and i got 2 14 passanger buses for the end of the evening. The buses will make drop off/pick ups over 2 hours. My reception is at the Woodbury Country Club and my guests are at the Melville Marriott. There was a charter bus company that gave me great rates though. I just needed to book that day and they weren't avaliable until the following day. FM me if you want their info. Or just ask for a quote from the vendors page

drivwal Posted: Apr 29, 2009 05:33 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

Posted by Mel912

Posted by alli3131

First do whatever your budget allows. The very fact you are even offering a shuttle is a bonus. You are not in any way required to provide a shuttle. I ahve only been to one wedding where they provided it. Do not worry abut if the guests have to wait. if they dont want to wait they can drive themselves

I think you are ABSOLUTELY right!!!

I couldn't agree more!

Nitania13 Posted: Apr 29, 2009 07:05 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

If its only a 10-20min wait and your going to take 30-40ppl per shot then I think it's fine, but if you're only taking like 14ppl at a clip and some ppl will have to wait over an hour then that's bad.

lauraandrob2009 Posted: Apr 29, 2009 07:06 PM

Re: NEED ADVICE on Shuttle Buses!

We went to a friend's wedding and they needed to make two pickups so she staggered it out and had some hors douvres and champagne/water for those wh o had to wait a little extra. Nothing fancy but it was nice.