How Can Guests Get To Your Event Venue?

Have you ever received an invitation where you looked at the reception location and groaned, "Oh God, how on earth are we supposed to get there?".

If someone has to drive, then of course that guest cannot drink, which may put a dampener on the event for them unless they don't drink anyway, they're pregnant, unable to touch alcohol, or they're a P-plates.

When you're choosing your special event venue, there are so many deciding factors such as whether it fits in with your theme, your budget and also of course, if it is available when you want.

But another factor you must consider is how guests can get to it. If it is a destination event interstate or overseas, they may need to fly, drive, take a train or sail there.

When we were planning our wedding, in one weekend we did five site visits in Sydney.

Our first venue visit was to the beautiful Balmoral Bathers Pavilion. Its transport options included coming by car, taxi, water taxi or by bus 244 or 247 from Wynyard with a 900-metre walk. (That's nearly a kilometre in heels, people.)

Handily adjacent to each other are the historic beachside Neilsen Park Restaurant & Cafe and the nearby vintage-style tearoom charm of Vaucluse House - both of which are accessible by car, taxi, buses 324 and 325, or by ferry, with a seven-minute walk from the Watson's Bay ferry terminal. 

The exclusive waterside restaurant Catalina in Rose Bay, which was once the flying boat terminal is very well serviced with an adjacent Rose Bay ferry stop, buses 324 and 325, taxis and car parking. However, we would have needed at least 150 guests to fill it up.

Our final choice was the stunning Aqua Dining at Milsons Point next to Luna Park, looking straight at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and through to the Opera House. Guests could arrive here via water taxi, ferries, taxi, car, bus or train.

Quite apart from the fabulous views and the three dishes per course dining option, it was so easy and flexible for guests to get there.

If you're putting a shortlist of venues together, why not create a spreadsheet with columns not only for ambience, location, guest numbers and budget, but also transport options.

You'll quickly see what venues are the easiest for your guests to get to.

Check out our blog about 10 reasons you should book a corporate daytime event.