Wedding Car Hire - Arriving in style

Whatever the selected vehicle for your wedding day, it should say something about you. It should make you feel a million dollars as you arrive at the venue to exchange your vows. 

So what is available?  Practically anything goes now: London buses,  vintage buses, fire engines, lifeboats, veteran cars (pre 1903), vintage cars (between 1903 and 1933), classic cars (post 1933 and at least 15 years old), limousines, horse drawn carriages, high performance cars - the list is endless. 

The important thing is to feel that “this is the one”. Try to picture the vehicle on the day, especially if you plan for it to be an integral part of the wedding photographs - some vehicles are more photogenic than others.

Choose an individual or company who really care about their vehicles and the service they provide.  You can usually gauge the commitment and “care factor” by the initial response to your enquiry - enthusiasm goes a long way. 

Ask questions about the vehicles, the most important ones being:

•    Are they reliable and are they well looked after? It’s all well and good hiring the best looking car, but will it get you to the church on time so to speak?  If a car is well maintained and serviced regularly regardless of its age it should not let you down.

•     Ask if you can view the vehicle, most companies will welcome your visit and it will reassure you about the state of your proposed Bridal car and it’s proportions it would be a shame to leave it to the last minute and then start worrying about whether your dress will fit in the car! 

•    It’s so important to get the right feel for a vehicle, just the same as you would when you book your venue checking for atmosphere and a certain ambience.  Ask if you can be taken for a drive, this is a great way to get the measure of how it will perform on the big day.  It will give also you the opportunity to meet the people who are helping you on your special day. 

•    Also ask to see any testimonials, you know cards of thanks, letters of recommendation, a recommendation is always a good place to start.

When you make your enquiry have the route that you’ll want the driver to take you on mapped out. It is important to go into as much detail as you can about your requirements. For example, how long you anticipate the wedding ceremony to last, whether you will want to have wedding photographs taken, do you require the driver to escort you from the wedding reception to another destination - these are all important points that could (a) save you money and (b) save you and the driver from embarrassment on the day, and let’s face it no one needs any extra stress on their wedding day!

Photo: T Michael Weddle