Your Ride Awaits
Shirley Velasquez
Though you may think that coordinating transportation for your wedding day falls at the bottom of your all-important “To-Do” list, it actually should be addressed as soon as you’ve set your wedding date.
If your ceremony coincides with prom and graduation season (May and June) or with holidays, you’ll want to start at least six months before your wedding to be sure you can get the transportation you want, when you need it. Finding the vehicle that matches your taste and fits your calendar requires some exploring. The good news is that securing your transportation can be done effortlessly. Here, Long Island Bride & Groom shares tips that’ll help you get to the church (or other ceremony site) on time and in style.
First, consider how you want to arrive to your ceremony, travel to the reception, and then depart afterwards. Traditionally, a limousine carries the bride and her father to the ceremony, and a second limo takes the bride’s mother and bridesmaids. After the ceremony, the newlyweds ride together either with their attendants or alone. The next step is to plan the transportation for your bridal party. Providing transportation for the wedding party is generally the bride and groom’s responsibility. It’s also customary for the couple to arrange travel arrangements for parents, siblings, grandparents, and in some cases the ceremony officiant.
Once you’ve set aside your budget for the wedding transportation, contact vendors and start asking questions. Be prepared with information that you’ll need to supply the vendor with, such as how many people you need to transport, the different pick up and drop off locations, as well as the time of the ceremony and other wedding functions. Some of the questions you’ll want to ask are:
1. What type of cars do you offer?
2. What are the years and models of the cars?
3. How many passengers will your various types of cars hold?
4. What colors do you have available?
5. How will the chauffeurs be dressed?
Will they be dressed in tuxedos? (Some companies send their drivers out with hats and white gloves!)
6. What is your policy on decorating the bride and groom’s car?
7. How are your prices based? Are they based on a time limit or minimum?
8. How much do you charge for overtime?
9. Is tipping included in the price?
Choosing your set of wheels is the fun part of arranging wedding-day transportation. Nowadays, you can find a slew of styles, sizes, colors, and amenities. Your options include: Classic (six to eight passengers), stretch (up to 14 passengers), vintage, and SUV and Hummer limousines (which can fit up to 24 passengers); antique cars; luxury cars (such as a Rolls Royce or Bentley); town cars; and even horse-drawn carriages. The size of your wedding party and family will dictate how many and which type of cars you will rent. And though it’s not the couple’s responsibility, you may opt for providing transportation for a large group of out-of-town guests. Consider renting a luxury limo bus, which can hold up to 35 passengers.
The least expensive option may not be the best choice when choosing a limo company. You’ll want to be happy with the service and the cars, as well as be sure that the drivers will arrive on time. Professionalism is key and you’ll be glad that you didn’t skimp on it.
Though many companies may require a three-hour minimum for rental, you can make more than one booking for separate times during the day. Another alternative is to ask whether you can schedule pickup and drop-off service, so that drivers aren’t sitting around waiting for their passengers during the ceremony and reception. And for those fun extras, be sure to ask about any “wedding specials”, such as complimentary champagne, a red carpet, or a “Just Married” sign.
It’s a good idea to prepare a contact list and a timetable for the driver, which details the name of each guest, their pick-up and drop-off addresses, and the times. Though professional drivers will have maps at their disposal, it is useful to supply directions to the ceremony and reception sites. To prevent lateness, add an extra 20 minutes to all pick-up times.
Be sure to get a contract from your limousine company. Get everything in writing, including the arrival and departure schedule, pick-up and drop-off addresses, types and sizes of the cars (as well as the colors and models of the vehicles), notation of your deposit, and their cancellation policy. Remember to also have any special requests you’ve made, such as a champagne-filled mini bar, included in the contract. And don’t forget to confirm everything with the limo company the day before the wedding day.
After it’s all arranged, your drive to the wedding should be as much fun as the wedding itself.