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Arrive in Style

by Claire Bullivant

It used to be a simple case of ‘just get me to the church on time!’ But now adays, arriving in style is as important as the flowers, catering and venue you choose. Your choice of transport needs to tick several boxes. It needs to reflect your personal style. It should be in keeping with the theme of your wedding. It needs to look great in all the photos. It must be reliable, comfortable and functional. It also needs to impress your guests.

So when you look at it that way, it’s a tall order and with so many options available nowadays, how do you decide? Here at Your Wedding we’ve heard of couples hiring JCBs, fire engines, double-decker buses, pink Cadillacs, Hummers, go-karts, tandems, Harley-Davidsons… the list is quite creative! But it’s only you and your husband-to-be who can decide what will work for you.

For example, if you’ve got cash, why not flash? A helicopter is sure to do the trick. Very 007 and it will certainly take everyone’s breath away. Just make sure it doesn’t sweep any frail relatives or children away too! Or perhaps you’re mad about Minis or barmy about Beetles? Then why not celebrate in a way you know you’ll enjoy, by driving your own car to the ceremony? However, if you’re having a classy affair, nothing beats a beautiful, old classic such as a Bentley or Rolls Royce. Or, if you’re looking to star as the princess in your own fairytale (and what girl isn’t on her wedding day?), a horse-drawn carriage is surely the most magical option.

Of course your choice will be affected by the distances you need to travel, the number of people travelling, your route and even the good old British weather! For the cool couple, an uber chic convertible might seem like a good idea, but you don’t want to end up looking like a drowned rat if the heavens open.

Traditionally the bridesmaids should be the first to leave for your wedding ceremony either with your mother (if there’s room) or she will travel directly behind. You and your father (or the person who is giving you away) will then follow later, arriving just a few minutes before the ceremony is due to start. It’s customary for the bride to be a few minutes late, but anything more than fifteen minutes and everyone (especially your groom!) will start to get worried. Vintage and classic cars are always a popular choice but, with everything from fire engines to Ferraris and horse-drawn carriages to helicopters available locally, you needn’t feel that a traditional set of wheels is compulsory. But before you decide on anything too crazy, consider the practicalities first. For instance, how easy will it be for you to get in and out with your wedding dress on? Will your transport look good in all your photos? One common mistake is to choose a pure white car when you are wearing an ivory dress, as the dress can look grubby in comparison, especially in the photos.

It’s also important to personally examine any vehicles you’re considering before putting down a deposit. Booking a Limo on the internet may be convenient, but you need to make sure the car is the one in the photograph and free from rust, dirt and any other nasties.

It’s also a good idea to book your transport well in advance and, if a chauffeur is included, make sure he is provided with a full travel itinerary and route details. A week or so before your big day, it’s also wise to time the journey that you will be taking on the same day of the week and the time that you will be going to and leaving your ceremony venue. This will help flag any problematic traffic hotspots, so you can allow extra time for any hold-ups. There’s nothing wrong with arriving a bit early, you can always drive around the block a few times. But you certainly don’t need the extra stress of being stuck in traffic and running late for your own wedding – and neither does that gorgeous man of yours, waiting for you at the altar!

If you’re having a church wedding and only one wedding car, remember to make alternative arrangements to get your parents and the bridesmaids back from the church and to your reception venue. You and your husband should be the sole occupants once you’re Mr and Mrs and have driven off to party the night away at your reception or on to your honeymoon. Your first journey together as man and wife is a special one, so make sure it counts. We hope your road will be a long and happy one.