You want to start your wedding day by putting your best foot forward. Whether you’re leaving a hotel or your childhood home, getting in your wedding car is the first part of your big day. It sets the tone for your wedding and takes you on one of the most important journeys of your life.
Wedding transport should be one of the first things on your to-do list. There are lots to consider when booking wedding cars, from how many to book to which type of cars to choose.
You want to book a wedding car hire company with a reputation for excellence. The last thing you want to be doing is worrying about how to get to your venue on time.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when choosing your wedding cars. We’re breaking the process and answering the most common questions about how to book cars for your wedding. We’ll help you decide how many wedding cars you need and what to consider when choosing your wedding transport.
Wedding Transport 101: How Many Cars Should You Book?
The first decision you must make when booking your wedding transport is how many cars you need to hire. There are several questions to answer first. Most couples will hire a fleet of vehicles for the bridal party and occasionally for other family members.
How many cars do you hire for your wedding day?
The number of wedding cars you need will depend on the size of your wedding party. You’ll be expected to provide wedding transport for your entire bridal party.
At a minimum, you’ll need a vehicle for the bride and her father to take them to the ceremony. This car will typically be used again to take the newlyweds to their reception.
The bridesmaids will also need a car, although you can usually fit them all in one vehicle. The groom will also need a car, typically travelling with their groomsmen. You should budget for at least three cars. You may need more vehicles if you have a larger wedding party or want to provide transport for your close family.
If your reception is in a separate venue, you’ll need to consider transportation for your bridal party. You may also need to consider how to transport guests if there’s a large distance between the two venues. Don’t forget to consider your parents, who will often need a car as well.
Who should travel together in wedding cars?
The easiest way to determine how many wedding cars you need is by figuring out who will travel with who. The bride and her father will typically take one car, while the mother of the bride and bridesmaids will travel together. Another car will take the groom and his groomsmen.
Beyond this, there’s no wedding etiquette about who needs to travel together. The transport organisation will usually change when heading from the ceremony to the reception with the bride and groom’s parents travelling separately.
Do you have to provide transport for wedding guests?
It’s up to the couple to decide whether they should provide transport for their wedding guests. You’ll want to consider your venue when making this decision.
If your reception is a great distance from your ceremony venue, most couples will put on transportation by hiring a bus. It’s a great way to keep your wedding guests together and maintain momentum. Most guests will be expecting to travel themselves, so don’t feel forced to put on transport if it’s outside your budget.
6 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Wedding Car
How can you find the best wedding car for your big day? There are six things every couple should consider before booking their wedding transport. Add these six points to your wedding planner and start working on them 8 – 12 months ahead of your wedding day.
1. View Potential Wedding Cars
Some couples know exactly what wedding car they want. It might be their dream luxury or vintage car they’ve always admired. If you’re not sure where to start, it’s a good idea to visit a local Staffordshire wedding car hire company and view their fleet. Alternatively, you can explore websites to get ideas of brands and specific models available. Draw up a short list of models that catch your eye.
2. Don’t Forget About Your Wedding Dress
One factor that couples often overlook when choosing their wedding car is the bride’s dress. You want to make sure it fits! This factor isn’t typically a problem for brides wearing close-fitting dresses, but it is a potential issue if you’re planning a Cinderella moment.
The first time the bride will get into the wedding car in her dress is the big day, right before heading to the venue. You want to be comfortable on the journey, meaning contemporary sportscars might not work if you have a larger dress and trail.
3. Consider Your Colour Scheme and Theme
You spend months planning your wedding and you want everything to complement each other. Your wedding car is not only transportation – it’s a prop that will be used in hundreds of wedding photos. Consider the colour scheme or theme you’ve chosen to find a car that fits in with your wedding aesthetic.
4. Choose a Reliable Wedding Car Hire Company
You don’t want to be stranded on your wedding day with no transportation. Do your research and read reviews online for wedding car hire companies near you. You can also ask for recommendations from friends and family. Hiring a reliable wedding car company will take the stress and anxiety away from your wedding morning.
5. Book Your Wedding Cars Early
If you’re getting married in peak season, you want to get your wedding transport booked as early as possible. A wedding car is typically hired for the entire day, meaning it’s possible another couple books your dream car before you. Weekends and the summer will always be the most popular for wedding car bookings. Get ahead and book your wedding car early for the best availability.
6. Consider Your Bridal Party
Don’t forget about the rest of your bridal party. Decide how many cars you need and who will be travelling together to the ceremony and reception. It’s a good idea to draw up a list and detailed travel plans so you book the right number of cars.
FAQs about Hiring Wedding Cars
We’re answering the most common questions about hiring wedding cars. If your question isn’t answered below, leave it in the comments for our next guide to hiring wedding transport.
How long do you use your wedding car for?
It will depend on your specific wedding plans. Most wedding transport providers will only take one booking per day for a specific vehicle. It means there’s no specific time pressure on finishing with your vehicle.
However, most companies who provide a driver with your car will be working for a set number of hours. This question is one you should ask your wedding car provider.
How does wedding car hire work if your ceremony and reception are in the same venue?
It’s not unusual for couples to use the same venue for their ceremony and reception. This scenario means your car will only be used for one journey – going to the ceremony. You can still hire a car and make the most of it. Speak to your wedding car provider about using your car to travel somewhere else for photographs or for the couple to take a little time away with each other.
Don’t forget the role your wedding car plays in your photography. You want a car that matches the personality of your wedding to tie it all together in your photos. Your wedding car will be used in the same way for photographs, whether it’s doing one journey or three.
Do wedding cars come with a driver?
Most wedding car hire companies will provide a professional chauffeur as part of your booking. It’s typically easier to hire a chauffeur than to find a driver yourself.
Should I hire a vintage car?
Don’t be put off by the age of vintage cars. These vehicles are incredibly well maintained and cared for between use. Vintage cars can add a unique character to your wedding.
Who decorates your wedding car?
Most wedding car hire companies will offer decorations for your car. However, you may want to provide your own decorations if you have a unique look in mind.
When should the wedding cars arrive at the ceremony?
Your wedding cars will arrive at your venue at specific times. The groom and his groomsmen will usually arrive at the ceremony at least 45 minutes early to greet guests.
Ideally, the bridesmaid and mother of the bride will arrive at least 10 minutes before the ceremony with the bride and her father arriving five minutes before the start of the ceremony. It’s always best to plan to arrive earlier than necessary.
Don’t forget to account for time for your photographer to grab pictures of your bridal party with the cars. Factor in at least 5 minutes for photographs.
Choosing your wedding car should happen within 8 to 12 months before your wedding. Check out our wedding guides to stay on top of your planning. Contact one of our team today to discuss our wedding car hire options for your big day.
