Taking a simple subway ride to a wedding is one thing. Getting from Manhattan hotel to SI wedding, then back to Manhattan, then later on to suburban NJ at Fri rush hour, then back to Manhattan at midnight is another. MomDDTravel doesn't want to spend 4hrs on public transportation on a Friday - I think she'd rather enjoy the wedding & reception relaxed & fresh. Seems like a very reasonable inquiry to me.

I took the subway to high school, college, and work daily for 45 years. When I worked I would wear jeans and a T-shiort and change at the office, since we were one of the last comapnies that required suits. Grand Central could get to 125 degress during the summer. The AC did not always work in all the cars. You could be jammed in together at rush hour. You could wait for a long time on a hot platform. People brough their bikes and food on the train. The trains may be swept but they are rarely cleaned.

Those are some of the so whats.

I'm still sitting in amazement at the idea of a ceremony on Staten Island followed by a reception in New Jersey.

Anyway, you might want to consider staying in Jersey City (Hyatt Regency is nice) or the new W Hoboken.

I'm guessing the bride/groom did the best they could. Even for those who live locally, all that time between the ceremony and the reception is inconvenient.

I, too, think your best bet is to rent a car and stay in New Jersey. We love the Hyatt Regency and will be staying at the brand new Westin (Priceline) next month. We'll be driving, but probably use public transit to go to/from Manhattan.

Adu - the problem is not how you are dressed while on public transportation - the problem here is the logistics involved regardless of how you are dressed. Subways are air conditioned - and a short subway ride is no problem no matter what. But there are specific logistical problems making public transportation sort of an impossibility. Thus - best solution is staying on S.I. rent a car and - go.

Joe-

Trust me Joe, there were many days one shirt was not enough.

Mclaurie - I find it is a puzzle as well... last year we had a ceremony on SI followed by a reception much later on Long Island... sigh. These Italian weddings ;-)

I've been to lots of weddings, but I have never been to one where the ceremony and reception sites are over 20+ miles apart.

And for those few weddings I went to that had huge time gap between ceremony and reception; I'd say 4 out of 5 times the OOT guests were invited over to the bride's parents' house for refreshments and a place to rest.

YK - I have to be honest...it baffles me. The wedding was in the late am - maybe 12 noon? The reception was at Crest Hallows or something like that in Long Island. It took a LONG time to get there with traffic..

All his family weddings were always at Russos by the bay (something close) - this is a "new" thing... :-?

So we have 5-6 hours between the ceremony and the reception. MANY people do not even come to the ceremony - the wedding reception will have upwards of over 300 people in attendance - maybe 50 will show for the ceremony. I confess... it is mind boggling to me.

Back to the issue at hand. I have no problem with public transportation in NYC (thanks be to this forum for that!) I took the subway, bus, train, cab and private car last time I was in NYC in October. (yes, all of the above!) I just would feel dirty and messy from the amount of time walking, going on the subway, then the ferry, then a cab?

I've had a discussion about wedding schedules with my local parish priest recently. Our church has on average 3 weddings per weekend for April through October, so on some weekends there are 4 weddings scheduled. Two on Friday and 2 on Saturday. Friday weddings have apparently become much more popular lately due to the cost/availability of reception venues - traditional Saturdays are apparently outrageous.

The number of priests is also declining everywhere and they have lots of other duties - they can't simply be on standby all day Friday & Saturday for weddings. It could very well be that the SI church had no other slot available for a wedding. I know, hard to imagine for October but it may be the case.

On a recent Saturday we had 3 major events back to back to back. First Communion, a funeral, and a wedding. The first and the last were pre-scheduled. The 2nd you can't predict but need to be able to plan for.

The number of priests is also declining everywhere and they have lots of other duties - they can't simply be on standby all day Friday & Saturday for weddings. It could very well be that the SI church had no other slot available for a wedding. I know, hard to imagine for October but it may be the case.>>

I am sure that they do the best they can do. $$$ is always an object - the family has large weddings and truly goes all out. I have honestly never seen weddings like this in my life... they have a Venitian <sp> hour at midnight...the cocktail hour is generally more then a reception has on the west coast... So they do try for the Friday night to help with costs...

I'm sensing an opportunity for a Fodors GTG MomDDtravel! What's a few more guests at a wedding anyway!

J62 - Do you look Italian? John Gotti Jr. was at one of the weddings at Russo ;-)

Well as it turns out - dh and younger dd are going to go to the event. I have class on friday's next term so cannot make it.

I ended up flying them into Newark and out of JFK - they will stay two nights in NJ (Thursday and friday) and head into the city on Sat am for a Dad/Daughter day/night - flying back to the west coast on Sunday.

Dh wants to rent a car in Newark upon arrival and drop it in Manhattan - I have to check the drop fees - he does not seem to believe me that they can be very high.

They will go to the wedding ceremony on Friday and then he is going to a family member's house on the Island to change for the reception later.

I will post back when I find out the hotel options in that area of NJ.

Thanks again!

The Marriott in Saddlebrook is a recommended hotel from the venue where the wedding is -

I can get one night free and the other for 100.00 a night - will map it out from Newark. They are getting in around midnight into Newark.

The car drop has no fee associated so dh was right - he can drop it less then a mile away from the Sheraton Time Square (spg reward for free) so I will go with that as well.

Now onto finding them a show to see!