Enjoy The Ride: All About Wedding Transportation
By Alexandra Dillard | Feature Photo by Nicodem Creative
It’s true, wedding transportation often gets overlooked in favor of the more flamboyant elements of the day. But you can’t discount the luxury of feeling prepared and staying on-schedule. From arriving at the ceremony in style to making a grand exit with your beloved, wedding transportation ensures everyone is in the right place at the right time. To navigate the world of wedding transportation, take these tips and considerations into account. Before you know it, you’ll be riding off into the sunset with your spouse!
REFLECT YOUR WEDDING STYLE
Your choice of wedding transportation should harmonize with the overall theme and style of your wedding. If you’re having a traditional and elegant affair, consider renting a classic car, like a Rolls-Royce or a vintage Bentley. For a rustic wedding, an old-school trolley adds a touch of whimsy. And contemporary weddings pair well with sleek limousines or luxury sedans. When considering practical aspects of your wedding (like transportation), you don’t have to sacrifice the overall aesthetic!
PLAN FOR GUEST TRANSPORTATION
When it comes to wedding transportation, you can’t forget about your guests’ needs! If your ceremony and reception are taking place at different locations or in a remote area, arranging transportation for your guests is considerate. In a city like Chicago, your venue(s) won’t always have ample parking, which means guests will need to arrive in a manner other than driving themselves. Start the party with some fun and ensure everyone arrives together in style by hiring a transportation service or shuttle. A bus or a trolley can be a fun way to move your guests between ceremony and reception sites. Great photo ops and fun camaraderie!
If you need more flexibility, consider rideshare services like Uber and Lyft, which allow you to reserve pre-paid ride codes for your event. Just designate event start and end times, define a pick-up/drop-off radius and distribute the unique vouchers/ codes for your guests to redeem. Depending on your guest count, this option can compete with the cost of chartering a bus — and all the unused vouchers get refunded to your account after the code expires! This option is great for weddings that want their guests to have flexibility of arrival
and departure.
TIMING AND LOGISTICS
To avoid any logistical hiccups, plan your transportation schedule meticulously. Discuss the timeline with your transportation provider and factor in traffic conditions, photo session lengths and any additional stops you may need to make. Allow some buffer time between each leg of the journey to ensure your wedding timeline stays on track.
PERSONALIZATION AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES
Thinking of a classic wedding exit conjures images of a vintage car with tin cans attached to the bumper and a “just married” banner draped over the rear window. Whether you opt for this tried-and-true exit, or something more playful like a motorcycle ride, tandem bike or water taxi, remember that your wedding transportation can be a great photo-op. Playful exits can infuse personality into your getaway while capturing the joy of driving away into marital bliss.
As you take the wheel of your wedding planning journey, don’t put off transportation coordination. Since your transportation will guide the flow of your event, book your vehicles early on and keep them looped in on the day-of timeline construction. From your wedding style to the practical needs and logistics, a well-planned transportation plan can create an enchanting experience that’s more than just getting from point A to point B.
