Wedding Transport

A car is the most common form of transport hired for a wedding, but there are many different types of car and a wide variety of other forms of transport to choose from. Hiring an older style Bentley with driver will set you back around £350, whereas a horse and carriage could cost you up to £1,000.

You should try to book your transport 9-12 months in advance, especially if you decide on a specialist vehicle, such as a vintage Rolls Royce or horse and carriage, as these are in limited supply, and will be a case of first come, first served.

Types of Vehicle Available

Rolls Royce and Bentley limousines are probably the most commonly hired wedding cars but you could have a convertible Morris Minor, a bright yellow Morgan, a 1950s' Cadillac, a double-decker bus or just about any other sort of vehicle you can imagine. Brides and grooms have been taken to or from the ceremony or reception venue in helicopters, motorcycle sidecars, boats and every conceivable type of transport there is.

Horse-drawn vehicles are slower than cars, so journeys that may take a few minutes by car will take much longer in a carriage. Unless the horse is stabled very close to the bride's home, both horse and carriage will be transported to a convenient location nearby, such as a car park, where they can be offloaded, tacked-up and dressed. The procedure is reversed when the job is finished and the whole process, including the wedding itself, is likely to take two people five or six hours, plus travelling time from their base, which explains why carriages are more costly to hire than cars.

Making your Booking

When choosing your transport, take some time to visit the owner, or company, and view the vehicle. They should be happy to arrange a viewing and may even be able to arrange for the car to be seen 'dressed' ready for a wedding, if asked.

You should check the following things before making a booking:

• will the car be used for weddings other than yours on the day? There could be a knock-on effect of delays earlier in the day.
• if the car breaks down, preventing it from arriving on time or completing the job, what are the arrangements for an acceptable substitute?
• will the flowers in the car be fresh? Bear in mind that fresh flowers may be charged as an extra.
• will ribbons be new (i.e. not used before)?
• will an umbrella be available, in case it rains?

You should ask for the vehicle to arrive at least half an hour before it is due to leave the bride's house for the church, to act as a precaution against unexpected delays.

When booking your wedding car, remember that many vintage and veteran cars are very small inside, something you'll have to take into consideration if your wedding dress has petticoats, hoops or a train.

Additional Cars for the Bridal Party

A second car may seem like a luxury, but on the day itself, it may become a real help and, in some cases, an absolute necessity.

The second vehicle can take...

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