Choosing the right car for your wedding can be a daunting task for some people. There are so many types and styles of cars available, from authentic vintage “vintage” cars to modern saloons and limousines. The choice can be huge and where do you start?
Deciding what style of car you want is important first, and this can often be determined by the bridal theme of your wedding. If your wedding will have a traditional theme with a church ceremony, followed by a reception in a grand hotel or hall, you may prefer to choose a classic or classic style car, such as a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Beauford, that is in consonance. with the traditional style. However, if your theme is more modern, perhaps a civil ceremony at a registry office followed by drinks at a local hotel, you may feel that a more modern or functional sedan car like a Mercedes, Jaguar, or Baby Bentley is more appropriate.
Once you have decided what style of car you want, calculate how many people you need to drive from A to B and this will help you decide how many cars you will need. There is no point choosing a single two-seat vintage-style car if you have 8 bridesmaids. Ideally, all of your bridesmaids arrive together just before the bride arrives. A two-seat car would have to make multiple trips transporting the bridesmaids two at a time and this is clearly not ideal. Even a simple 5 minute trip to church can take about 15 minutes of response time for each couple, meaning your first bridesmaids may have to go to the venue an hour or more before the ceremony just to allow time. enough to make the remaining trips. … and of course we must also allow time for the bride to arrive at church on time. The best option here, if you have a few bridesmaids, would be to take a two-car pack. A main wedding car for the bride and father, or whoever accompanies her to church, and a second car to take the bridesmaids. There are many companies that specialize in two-car packages with matching colors or styles of cars, although keep in mind that the main bridal car is the one that will appear in your wedding album.
Ideally, the second car should match the wedding car in style and color and offer flexibility to ensure that everyone arrives at the venue on time. There are many cars available, but it is often best to choose a limousine that seats seven.
For example, the modern 7-seater Mercedes limousines or a “classic” Daimler DS420.
Or you might even be in the mood for an 8-seat American limousine, ideal for children.
You may not have as many bridesmaids, but it will give you flexibility if you need extra space. Don’t forget the mother of the bride !! And remember that the father of the bride may need a seat to go to the reception site after the ceremony.
Many companies will also offer a small discount for reserving two cars.
The color of the cars you choose may be a secondary concern and, of course, a matter of personal preference. White, cream or ivory is very traditional, but silver is also proving to be very popular these days. One thing to keep in mind is how the brides dress will look with the cars in the photos. If the bride’s dress is white, next to a white car, the dress may not stand out and the photos will look nude. A white dress next to a cream or ivory car may work better. On the contrary, an ivory dress will look better against a white car. Also think about car upholstery. Again, cream or beige / brown or neutral colors look better in photos, while green leather, for example, may not look very suitable. Gray is an ideal neutral color, but it’s all a matter of personal taste. Most companies take a lot of time and effort to keep their cars spotless inside and out, so this brings us to the next point …
Always go see the cars that interest you, or ask for lots of photos if you can’t make it in person. It’s easy to disguise problems with carefully taken photos, so looking at the cars up close is worth it. That way you can see the cars, sit in them, check their condition inside and out, and be in a much better position to make the right decision on which car (or cars) is best for your needs on the big day.
Just a comment on replicas or ‘kit cars’ – many brides will want the ‘genuine’ item, so maybe they will go for a classic Rolls Royce, Daimler, or a Bentley, all very popular and very traditional for weddings. But keep in mind that these cars can be 40, 50 or 60 years old or older and may suffer mechanical or electrical problems due to their age. Most companies will spend fortunes on maintaining their fleet, but you never know when the unexpected can happen and the older the car, the more likely it is to suffer problems or, in the worst case, a breakdown.
There is an alternative in “replica” cars. These are cars built on modern chassis with modern engines and mechanics but built in a vintage style. A typical and very popular example is the Beauford. These are based on modern chassis Ford or Nissan engines and are built with fiberglass panels to mimic the look and feel of the 1920s / 30s. The car is actually designed to mimic the 1929 Duisenburg, but it also looks a lot like an old Bentley.
The advantage of these cars is simply that you get the vintage look but with modern mechanics and electricity, making them much more reliable with much less risk of breakdown. Most companies will have contingency plans in place in case the worst happens, but it is often better to choose a car with less risk and these replica or kit cars are a very good option. They look good and are very reliable. Another example is the ‘Regent’ wedding car, which is based on an FX4 Black cab chassis.
So you’ve chosen the car style, type and color you want and decided how many cars you will need, what’s next? Choose a reputable and professional firm and fully discuss your requirements with the company of your choice; be sure to include details of each trip required, how long the cars will be needed, how far the church and reception venues are, or if the ceremony and reception takes place in one location, whether you want to go to a park for additional photos or visit a cemetery to place a bouquet on the grave of a loved one and the number of passengers on each trip. If you are having a ceremony at a hotel, do you want the car to wait until after the ceremony so you can take photos with the car or even a short trip? Want a celebratory drink in the car for your trip to the reception venue? All these factors are important and can influence the final price agreed for the rental. Additional trips requested later after a price has been agreed may incur an additional charge, so it is important to include everything in advance.
Once you have agreed on a price, it is normal to pay a deposit when reserving the cars and get a receipt. The company should then contact you about a month before the wedding to go over all the details again and confirm the schedules, etc., and you are normally expected to pay your final balance at this time, although all companies operate slightly. different. Some may prefer the ending cash balance for the day, which is not uncommon, but how you want to pay is your choice.
If you need unbiased advice on any aspect of your wedding day transportation, you can speak to any reputable company. They will be happy to offer their expertise and guidance on what is the best option for your big day. If they don’t have the cars you are looking for, most companies will know someone who does and will be able to give a recommendation or referral.