Weddings have always been about bringing people together.
Today, that often means bringing people together from several cities, states, or even countries. If many of your family members and friends will be traveling to Jacksonville for your wedding, their experience is worth considering when you choose your venue.
The good news is that Jacksonville offers plenty of options for couples planning a celebration with traveling guests.
Here are a few details to keep in mind.
Consider How Guests Will Get to Jacksonville
Jacksonville International Airport makes air travel convenient for many out-of-town guests, while major highways make Northeast Florida accessible for those driving from other parts of Florida, Georgia, and the Southeast.
When considering a wedding venue, look at its location in relation to the routes your guests are most likely to use.
Bowing Oaks is located in south Jacksonville with convenient access to major roadways including I-95, I-295, and State Road 9B.
Look for Hotels Before Booking Room Blocks
Once you have chosen your wedding venue, research hotels in the surrounding area.
You may decide to establish one hotel block or give guests several recommendations at different price points.
Consider more than room rates. Guests may appreciate proximity to restaurants, shopping, and other activities, especially if they are staying for the entire weekend.
Be sure to include your hotel recommendations on your wedding website.
Make Transportation Easy to Understand
One of the most common questions traveling guests have is simply, “How do we get there?”
Provide the venue address prominently on your wedding website and include any transportation information guests need.
If you are providing a shuttle, clearly state the pickup location and departure times.
If guests will drive themselves, confirm that parking is available before the wedding day.
Bowing Oaks provides ample on-site parking, so guests do not need to search for public parking or travel to an off-site lot after arriving at the venue.
Hosting the Ceremony and Reception Together Makes Things Easier
When many guests are unfamiliar with Jacksonville, asking them to navigate from a ceremony location to a separate reception venue can add another layer of logistics.
Hosting both portions of the wedding at the same property makes the day simpler.
Guests can arrive, park once, attend the ceremony, enjoy cocktail hour, and move into the reception without returning to their vehicles.
At Bowing Oaks, ceremonies, cocktail hour, and receptions can all take place on our five-acre property.
Think About Your Guests' Comfort
Traveling guests may include grandparents, young children, and family members with varying mobility needs.
Consider how far guests will need to walk, whether the venue is ADA accessible, where restrooms are located, and whether climate-controlled indoor space is available.
Jacksonville's warm weather makes air conditioning particularly important during much of the year.
Bowing Oaks' 3,200-square-foot ballroom is air-conditioned, allowing guests to enjoy an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour before moving inside for a comfortable reception.
Turn the Wedding Into a Weekend
If guests are already traveling, consider giving them opportunities to spend more time together.
A wedding weekend might include a welcome party on Friday, the wedding on Saturday, and an informal brunch on Sunday.
You do not have to host every gathering. Simply providing a list of favorite Jacksonville restaurants, attractions, beaches, and activities can help guests enjoy their free time.
Your wedding website is the perfect place for these recommendations.
Give Guests a Little Jacksonville Flavor
Travel is part of the experience, so have fun introducing your guests to Northeast Florida.
Welcome bags might include locally made treats, a Jacksonville postcard, bottled water, sunscreen, or a short list of your favorite places to visit.
You could also incorporate regional flavors into your menu or favors.
Small touches can help the weekend feel connected to the place you chose to celebrate.
Keep the Wedding-Day Schedule Simple
Guests who have traveled to attend your wedding want to spend their time celebrating with you, not navigating complicated logistics.
A venue that offers ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, parking, and indoor and outdoor spaces on one property can simplify the experience considerably.
It can make things easier for your wedding party and vendors too.
A Jacksonville Wedding Venue Designed for Gathering
At Bowing Oaks, we believe hospitality is about more than providing a beautiful setting. It is also about thinking through how people will experience the celebration.
Our Jacksonville property offers ample on-site parking, ADA accessibility, indoor and outdoor spaces, two ceremony options, an air-conditioned ballroom, and room for up to 200 seated guests.
Whether your loved ones are coming from across Jacksonville or across the country, you can welcome them to one place and spend the day celebrating together.
If you are planning a Jacksonville wedding with family and friends traveling from near and far, schedule a tour of Bowing Oaks and see how the property could work for your wedding weekend.
