Arriving at your ceremony is the first statement you make about your wedding, so why not do it in style? Perhaps your wedding car could be a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, a stretch limo that seat 15, or an enchanting horse and carriage?

Wedding cars are an important part of the wedding planning and an opportunity to enhance your day. While making your choice of how you want to make an entrance take the following into consideration.

Formal

If you’re thinking formal and sophisticated, there’ a wide choice of prestigious wedding cars from a Rolls Royce or Mercedes, to modern American limousines. Limos come in various sizes, including a super-stretch seating 15 people – even big enough to accommodate the wedding photographer!

Sporty

Sports cars and two-door coupes  are popular options in New Zealand where the wedding car usually features in the wedding photos, however, think practical with smaller modes of transport and consider the bride’s wedding dress – will it get crushed.

photo credit: big-ashb

Classic

Older vintage wedding cars look fantastic and are a popular choice, but remember older cars might not have seatbelts, air-conditioning or heating. Make sure your choice is also mechanically sound for the day and consider the distances it must travel. And if you are relying on friends or family for your transport, make sure someone is in charge of the detailing – particularly the seats and doorsills – you don’t want to stain the dress.

Horse and Carriage

A romantic choice is a fairytale-like horse and carriage with a coachman and footman. Just make sure your choice has a ‘top’ to put up if the weather is dodgy.

Arriving by air

Arriving at your ceremony and reception by helicopter or hot-air balloon is an exciting way to making an entrance – if your budget and the conditions permit. More adventurous entrances, such as skydiving, are best reserved for remote locations.

Hiring

A professional wedding car hire company should provide backup vehicles in case something goes wrong, and take care of little details such as wedding decorations and champagne! Take time to view the hire company’s options, and talk over contractual details (especially cancellation fees). Under the law, anyone who makes money from driving passengers around has to be commercially licenced.

Borrowing

If you are prepared to organise your own transport there are many classic cars in private hands. Ask around friends and family for options. Some car clubs, such as the American Classic Car Club, will provide a car and owner/driver in exchange for a donation to the club. Taxis can also be cost-effective, and some companies will take the markings off their cabs and provide a wedding car rental for a flat fee.

The bride’s grand arrival

It has become a popular trend at wedding ceremonies for guests to wait outside for the bride’s arrival, rather than be already seated. Some couples are also opting to rendezvous for photo opportunities before arriving at the ceremony. If the bride plans to arrive at the ceremony in an open-top vehicle, such as a horse and carriage or convertible sports car, think about how her hair and makeup might look after a 20-minute ride to the venue.