The tone of your wedding day all starts with how your arrive. Will you be rolling up in a classic wedding car? Or climbing out of a limo like you just arrived at an award show? Or perhaps your wedding planning was a bit more avante garde, and you plan to parachute down from a helicopter. While most overlook your transportation, the detail is actually immensely impactful on the rest of the days events.
My first piece of advice, for whatever your mode of transport shall be, is to start looking early! Once you decide upon the date, time, venue, and perhaps the theme as well, you ought to also look into your transportation to and from the wedding. If you have your heart set on something, get a move on! As unfortunately vintage Bentleys are not available to hire from Hertz! There are even specialist wedding transport firms to help you. They offer a wide variety from which you choose - from romantic horse drawn carriage through to hot air balloons and luxury cars.
There's a wealth of options when considering cars, such as Rolls Royce and Cadillac, classic cars (built between 1917-30) or veteran cars (built before 1916). If your choice is an open top car or a horse drawn carriage, make sure the vehicle has an easily closing roof in case it's a drizzly day (and you're prone to frizzy hair!). If your wedding is in winter, remember, it can be pretty cold in a vintage car -as most don't have heating, so make sure you have a shawl or faux fur wrap ready and waiting inside - goose bumps are never a good accessory to a gorgeous wedding dress!
It's a good idea to consider at least three similar vehicles before booking one. And don't believe the photos in leaflets! Rehearse getting in and out of your car, making sure there is enough space inside for the bride's train, veil and dress, especially if it's all rather sizeable (you don't want it to get crushed in the car or obstruct the windows hiding you from your guest's glances and cameras.
Once you've chosen your style of car, make sure you get a recommendation for the company from a previous bride and groom, and ensure that it will be delivered in pristine condition on your wedding day. Keep a copy of your contract to refer to and make sure you know about insurance details stipulated within it.
Does it compliment your dress? Do you need to have a purse?
Your wedding transport should usually suit the rest of the event - be as traditional or contemporary as the whole of the wedding. When considering colours, and since you will have the car at the photos, its colour shouldn't clash with your bouquet or your bridesmaids' dresses. A white car can be a risk if your dress is ivory or creamy as it can make the material can appear dirty in your photos.
Many wedding transport companies offer ribbon and flowers for the front of the car included in the package, but if they don't then you can easily buy the ribbon or flowers and practice attaching them to the car. Ask about additional services included: music for the journey, uniformed chauffeurs, an umbrella in case of rain, or even Champagne for a post-ceremony celebratory drink on the road to the reception.
Above all, make sure that there are no hidden extras and the total cost includes the hire of the car, the chauffeur, the travel cost and VAT. Ask about company's policy for tipping the driver – were you even considering carrying cash with you?! Confirm all the booking details in writing, including addresses and pick-up times.
Working to a Time Plan on The Day
Time is a vitally important factor during your big day. You should only have to hire the car, which should remain at the church during your ceremony and not go off to another wedding ceremony in the meantime!
Be prepared for the worst to happen...What if your car breaks down in the middle of the road? Does the company you have chosen offer an alternative car in this case? To make sure that you will not be late to the church, have a practice drive between bride's home to the church etc. a week before wedding.
Remember about traffic jams and about slower journey for a horse drawn carriage. If you live far from the church, it may be better to travel by car and change it to the carriage only for the final part of the journey.
And last but not least, don't forget about the transport for the other attendants of the ceremony! Traditionally the bride's mother and bridesmaids travel to the church first. The groom arrives to the church driven by the best man, who also takes his car to the reception. And then the bride arrives last, perhaps with her father - but if her train or veil must be treated carefully, a bridesmaid can also go with them.
After the ceremony newly weds usually leave first for the reception. After all the excitement of the service you can take it as an opportunity to a drive just to enjoy the time alone together. The bride's parents leave next, and then the rest of the bridal party and guests. It's often the best man's duty to arrange this so make sure he is briefed in advance and is also the last person who leaves the church.
So enjoy looking around at the hundreds of fabulous options from Harley Davidson to Rolls Royce and remember to confirm any booking the week before wedding! Finding your dreamt classic car double-booked on a wedding day morning could certainly be any bride's worst nightmare!
