At what point do you decide not to go to a wedding as it's too expensive?

tatabubbly

Just to let you know, the quotes are quite high that you've given. budget.ie is a car hire firm that I use when going home. Quite affordable and definitely under your budget.

Look beyond Ryanair for flights, there are bargains to be had.

I'd stay at a B&B, much cheaper than renting out for the week and you will find most are really kid friendly.

I'm from Ireland so I'm biased but it isn't that expensive to go from England to Ireland, even with Kids. By the sounds of it, you don't want the hassle and want an excuse more than anything else not to go.

claire16c

£500 for car hire seems ridiculously expensive. I've rented a car abroad for like 2 weeks for that price!

I'd try to go so your kids can meet their family too and make it a holiday but try to cut down on some of those prices you've listed.

Mojisola

tatabubbly wrote: »

By the sounds of it, you don't want the hassle and want an excuse more than anything else not to go.

It's an invitation - choosing to go is optional!

It doesn't matter why someone doesn't want to go - if they don't, they don't have to.

thorsoak

Would it be cheaper to hire a car over here, and then go over by ferry? No3 son and wife did that last year when they were best man/matron of honour to their friends' wedding. They made it their main holiday, took a week, Saturday-Saturday (so they booked a cottage) and then were able to enjoy the area (which they didn't know) after their "responsibilities" at the wedding.

Might work out cheaper, especially if you go halves on the car hire/cottage hire with mum and dad - and you'd also have built-in babysitters. And, it's just occurred to me, if you got accommodation that is dog-friendly and make sure that vehicle accepts dogs, then doggy could go too!

Of course - that is all assuming that you really WANT to go - if you would rather do something else - then it's a no-brainer - its a case of "we'd love to be with you, but sorry, we just can't afford it".

CRANKY40

Just thinking...how about flights to where your friend is so you can stay with her...all of you to same airport, hire a car, drive you and mum and dad to wedding, stay one night, drive them back to where your friend lives, drop them at the airport, drop off hire car and go back to your friend's house where accommodation is free.

duchy

The only car hire company I know of that will allow you to take a car abroad on the ferry to Ireland without a huge surcharge is Dan Dooley who have very limited UK locations. (Remember there are insurance implications with taking a hire car to a different country)

£1000 for a week for a minibus sounds about right though -it would probably work out cheaper to hire two cars -one for you and the kids and another for Mum &Dad rather than a people carrier or minibus.

tatabubbly

Mojisola wrote: »

It's an invitation - choosing to go is optional!

It doesn't matter why someone doesn't want to go - if they don't, they don't have to.

I understand it's an invitation, I just think it's funny that the OP is here looking for validation not to go.

If your invited, don't tell someone you are going and then back track cos it sounds like too much hassle. To me, it's rude.

If you don't want to go or think it's out of your budget, then just say so. !!!!!footing around it doesn't help anyone.

thorsoak

Dan Dooley appears to be a car hire company in Ireland. No 3 son hired from Enterprise and were allowed to take the car by ferry to Ireland.

Spendless

For me I'd have looked into the feasibility of doing it, by classing this as our family summer holiday, asking parents to accompany us and share in the cost of car hire and accommodation. Am not entirely sure from your posts why a sat - sat cottage wasn't suitable, but if the logistics didn't work out, looking at going the saturday before the wedding to the holiday cottage and staying overnight at a hotel on the night of the wedding, then going home the day after.

If the costs once this was done was way over my comfortable budget amount, then I'd decline the invitation.

cazziebo

Do you want to go?

I was on my own with two young children and went to Athens, Georgia for a wedding of a distant cousin! Yes, it was expensive but it was wonderful to be in amongst family. Lovely for the family to meet my kids, and for the girls to meet them. You never know how long they'll be around for...

If you want to make it happen you can. There will be cheaper deals in car hire, and B&Bs will be a better deal than self catering. (in fact most hotels will let kids stay free if they are young).

But if you don't want to go, then don't go.