When it comes to transport, there’s more to consider than simply getting you to the venue on time
Words by Claire Moulds
Traffic control
Firstly, decide who you need to transport, where from and where to. Although there are groupings who traditionally travel together – the best man and groom, the mother of the bride and bridesmaids, and the bride and her father – don’t feel constrained if you’d prefer all the female members of the wedding party to travel together in one limousine and all the males in another, for a final chance to share advice, calm nerves and raise a glass.
If your ceremony and reception venues aren’t far apart, it might be possible for one or two cars to make multiple trips rather than having to hire additional vehicles. Put together a detailed timeline of the day – allowing for photos and people running late – and ask your supplier what would be possible within those constraints.
“Our wedding cars travel at a sedate pace so we always carry out timed runs beforehand,” says Clare Niven of Something Old. “We also look at alternative routes in the event of an emergency. Google Earth may work for some, but it will never be the same as trying out a route in person.”
And what if you’re both getting ready at the venue, as well as holding the ceremony and the reception there – do you need transport at all?
Location, location
Although your priority will be how the main wedding party will travel between the venues, you also need to think about the comfort of your guests. If your venues are remote (which can make hiring a taxi both difficult and expensive) or hard to find (which can run the risk of guests getting lost and missing the ceremony altogether) or if you have lots of people travelling from different parts of the country, you might want to consider laying on guest transport to put their mind – and yours! – at ease. Simply include an additional section on the invite asking them to indicate whether they require transport so that you can plan accordingly.
You could even make your choice of guest transport a standout feature. “Our three vintage Routemasters brings a certain style to your big day,” says Clunie Phipps, director of The Red Bus. “At a recent wedding, guests literally ran to board our bus, rather than go on the ‘ordinary’ coaches provided.
“Each bus can transport 64 people (hire is £730 for up to three hours) and comes decorated with ribbons and fresh flowers. Our uniformed conductor is on hand to help guests on and off, and each couple gets their own printed destination blind that we send to them afterwards as a souvenir.
If your budget won’t stretch to offering transport for guests, at least ensure you provide them with a detailed map, clear directions, approximate distances and the time taken to cover them (taking into account travel conditions), suggestions of where to park (especially in a busy city centre) and a number to call if they get lost – the latter should belong to an usher or the venue (never to you or the groom!).
Also supply numbers for local taxi firms. If these are few and far between, ring them in advance to discuss the date. It might be advisable to make a block booking if they don’t have many cars or drivers.
On your marks…
In most cases it will be cheaper to hire transport from a local company as this will cut down on the mileage, so start your research close to home.
Your venue and photographer will be a great source of recommendations as they will have seen most suppliers in action and will be able to give you an impartial view on the standard of the vehicles and the calibre of service provided.
“There’s no regulation in relation to providing wedding cars so care should be taken in finding a supplier who has been in business for a number of years,” says Gareth Ware, owner of Ecosse Classic Wedding Cars. “To ascertain whether a company is reliable, check if they have been recommended on wedding forums, look for reviews on their Facebook page, Yell and Google, and see if they have been nominated for, or won, any industry awards.”
Once you’ve compiled your shortlist, arrange to go and see the cars in the flesh. Take time to sit in them – not least to see if your dress would fit in and how easy it is to get in and out.
When you discuss price, ask if they offer a discount if you hire more than one vehicle and also ask about extras such as fresh floral displays in the back window. Don’t assume that there will be champagne provided after the ceremony either, as this may also be an additional cost.
Crucially, ask what contingency plans are in place should a vehicle break down. Is the driver also a mechanic? How quickly could they get a replacement vehicle to you? How often does this happen?
“We’ve heard horror stories of brides being left at the side of the road, hitching a lift with the photographer or arriving in a police car because their wedding car broke down,” says Clare. “We always provide a back-up car, just in case, to ensure this never happens.”
Get set… GO!
A car remains the most popular form of wedding transport. But should you go for something old, new or a little bit different?
“You have a choice of a modern car, a vintage/classic car, or a ‘kit car’, where the mechanics of a modern car are combined with a body that is designed to look like a classic car – the most common example being a Beauford,” explains Gareth. “Modern cars have the benefit of being more luxurious and far more reliable. They are often cheaper to hire as well, as they’re used during the rest of the week for executive travel. The downside is that they can lack the wow factor.
Safety first
While the way a vehicle looks is important, you also need to ensure that your guests travel in safety and comfort as well as in style. “The law requires any child under three to be suitably restrained, meaning they cannot travel in a car without seatbelts, which many classic cars may not have,” says Gareth. “A child above three can legally do so if the car was not built with seatbelts. Just make sure the parents of your pageboy or flower girl are happy with that.”
And it’s not just your younger guests who might have specific transport needs. “Classic cars are generally better than modern cars for people with mobility problems,” explains Gareth.
Alternative horse power
For the quintessential grand entrance, nothing compares to a horse-drawn carriage. It does, however, bring with it additional considerations. “The maximum route covered by our horses is between six and seven miles, and we allow eight minutes per mile,” says Lorraine McIndoe of McIndoe Horse Drawn Carriages. “If the venue is much further away, the start and end of the journey – the most important parts – can be done by carriage, with the bulk of your trip done by car while the horses are transported by lorry.”
As with car hire companies, it’s important to make an appointment to visit the owner’s premises to view the carriages and to see that the horses are healthy and well cared for.
Finally, when deciding which form of transport will take you on your last journey as a single girl or guy and your first journey as newlyweds, remember that, in keeping with every aspect of your wedding, your choice should reflect you as individuals, as well as a couple. And that might just mean putting your best foot forward and walking to the church on your big day!