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RIDE IN STYLE
WRITTEN BY ERIKA GENOVA
Planning Your Wedding Day Transportation
M
onths of planning would all be in vain without a way to
get to your wedding. Arranging travel to the ceremony
and reception is important and careful planning will help
assure that your wedding day transportation will go as smoothly as
possible.The transportation you choose for your wedding day should
make a statement that expresses your style. This ride also allows you
time away from the day’s celebrations giving you the opportunity to
spend some intimate moments with your spouse and wedding party.
Here is our guide to help you arrange smooth transportation from the
start of your day until the end.
THE STARTING POINT
Before choosing the type of transportation you will be using on
your wedding day you need to first decide who you are providing
transportation for and to where. There are no specific rules when it
comes to choosing transportation as long as it represents the style
of the wedding. Will you arrange separate transportation to the cer-
emony or will you and your groom be in the same vehicle? Will the
entire wedding party join you or will they have their own vehicle?
Will it be necessary to provide transportation for family members
and guests?
Once you can answer these questions it is imperative to deter-
mine the amount of passengers, as well as the routes to be taken in
order for you to decide on the types of vehicles you will need for your
wedding day.
Keep in mind that the amount of people you choose to provide
transportation for, whether it is the wedding party, family or your
guests, will have a great impact on your choice of vehicles. To make
the transportation run as smoothly as possible it is important to select
a practical vehicle or vehicles that will accommodate all of your
passengers.
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TRANSPORTATION
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Once you have decided on your date, sites and the size of your
wedding party you should book the transportation about eight –
twelve months prior to your wedding day so that you can have more of
a selection of vehicles. If your wedding will be taking place in May or
June or if you are looking for a special vintage vehicle it is a good idea
to book even earlier since they may be in shorter supply.
In order to find out how much you will be charged for the day, it is
essential to calculate the hours between the initial pick-ups until the
end of the night. Most transportation companies require a minimum
timeframe and charge by the hour. All times and rates that you agree
upon should be outlined in the contract. About two weeks prior to
your wedding it is recommended that you should call and confirm all
the transportation details in order to make sure your wedding day is
trouble free.
When planning the transportation it is wise to add an extra 20 to 30
minutes to each trip and do a run through of the route. By factoring in a
little extra time you can be calmer on your wedding day if there is an unex-
pected traffic delay or confusion in placing everyone into the appropriate
vehicles. A test run of the route will provide you with an estimate of the
time needed to get from point A to point B, as well as an opportunity to
alter anything in your schedule that may need to be modified.
THE NEW CLASSIC
In the past, tradition has shown that couples would hire two lim-
ousines; one for the bride and her bridal party and the other for the
groom and his groomsmen.
Another traditional choice was a limo for the bride and groom and
one for the wedding party. With today’s larger variety of vehicles to
choose from; couples are now selecting the transportation that best
enhances their wedding style.
For couples wanting to stick with tradition, the choices of vehicles
include: Classic limousines, Presidential Packards, Rolls Royce Phan-
toms, Vintage Cadillacs, and the Madam X Bridal cars. The new classics
for weddings include more modern choices such as a variety of stylish
sports cars, Mercedes sedans, the new Cadillac Deville, luxurious Bent-
leys and Escalades or Yukon Denali SUVs.
Couples providing transportation for their wedding party is one
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TRANSPORTATION
tradition that hasn’t changed. Choosing to do this expresses your
appreciation for the wedding party’s contribution in preparing for your
special day. The latest trend is hiring limousines or party buses to trans-
port their guests safely from one location to the wedding site and back.
Spacious modern vehicles have become popular since they allow
the bride and groom to ride along with their wedding party. Some of
these vehicles include party buses, the Mercedes Benz GL 450, Mer-
cedes Benz Sprinter Van and new BMW limousines.
When deciding on the transportation for your wedding it is essen-
tial to do research on the various options available. Ask for referrals
and recommendations from family and friends.
Checkout the vehicles in person to make sure the transportation
you choose is well maintained, is in top notch condition and is what
you envisioned.
Your wedding day transportation should enrich the theme, style
and fit with the season of your wedding, as well as being adequate
enough for the size of your wedding party.
MAKING IT YOUR OWN
You have personalized all aspects of your wedding so why leave
out the transportation when you can play up your theme with the
vehicles you choose. A horse-drawn carriage can add a princess touch
to your ceremony and reception if you are having a fairytale celebra-
tion. The Gatsby look can be achieved with a Presidential Packard, a
Princess Rolls Royce and other antique cars that would embellish this
popular 1920’s feel. Sports cars can amplify more modern themes
such as glitz and glam.
For a special touch ask if your driver can wear something specific
such as a chauffeur’s hat or a pinstriped suit in order to go along with
your theme. Some companies even offer the “Red Carpet” treatment
where they will roll out a red carpet from the vehicle up to the door of
your ceremony/reception location.
You can customize the music in the vehicle by creating your own
playlist to keep you calm before the ceremony and later pump every-
one up for the reception.
Color can also play a role in developing your wedding theme.
Although, there aren’t many colors to choose from for your transporta-
tion, you still have the options of black, white and silver. You can stay
traditional and have the bride arrive in a white vehicle and the groom
arrive in a black vehicle or you can have either all white or all black
vehicles for your wedding day.
If your wedding theme is full of crystals and sparkles, including sil-
ver in your vehicles is a great added touch. For departing, the tradition
is usually a white vehicle, but for those looking to stray away from the
classic look, a black getaway vehicle is another option.
READY FOR YOUR CLOSE-UP
It’s your wedding day which means there will be picture perfect
moments when you are on your way to the ceremony and when you
are leaving for the first time as husband and wife. Recently, couples
have had their photographer in the car with them to capture the more
intimate and emotional moments away from the crowd.
THE FINISH LINE
By hiring a professional transportation company for your wedding
you and your groom will be more relaxed knowing that your chauffer
will get you where you need to be on time while arriving in style. ■
ONE FINE DAY PHOTOGRAPHERS
Once you have
decided on your date,
sites and the size of
your wedding party
you should book
the transportation
about eight – twelve
months prior to your
wedding day
tip
