Getting There Is Half The Fun - Wedding Transportation Tips
Saturday, December 02, 2017
Over the years wedding transportation has transformed from horse and buggy to car with cans tied to the back to limo. We have now entered an entirely different era -- one in which getting to and fro the ceremony or the reception are a big part of the wedding experience.
Some are creating different transportation experiences for different elements of the wedding. Here is a guide to a number of the options for the couple, the wedding party, and the guests.
What are the latest transportation services that people book for weddings?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTWedding party specialty vehicles for travel to ceremony/photos/reception/rehearsal dinners/welcome receptions
Guest shuttles to ceremony/reception/rehearsal dinners/welcome receptions
Car service to and from the airport for honeymoon travel or out of town guests
“getaway car” options for the couple’s grand exit at the end of the night
Bachelor/ette parties
What are the most common vehicle types?
Trolleys
Stretch limos and stretch SUVs
Party buses
Antique cars
Coach Buses
Which vehicle options are starting to become more popular?
Luxury Vans
School buses
Black car service
What are the biggest challenges for couples when it comes to transportation?
Knowing when to book. Most wedding websites suggest 4-6 months in advance, but unfortunately, in our area, this is often FAR too close to the wedding to guarantee the customer will receive what they want or need.
If the wedding is Memorial Day-Thanksgiving, book 9-12 months in advance. Especially if a specialty vehicle or on a holiday weekend. Otherwise, 6-9 months is suggested.
Knowing how many vehicles to book for guest shuttles so far in advance. Here is a good rule of thumb to follow:
Both sides are from out of state – 75-90% will likely use the transportation
One side is from out of state – 50-75% will likely use transportation
Both sides live in RI – this is the most difficult to estimate, but it is safe to assume (for quoting and planning purposes) that at least 50% will use the shuttle service
What questions should couples ask when researching transportation companies?
The most common questions are about vehicle types, amenities, and color options. While these all reflect personal touches for someone’s wedding day, don’t forget to ask some of the other bigger questions:
How much insurance coverage do you have? The state of RI requires larger vehicles like trolleys and buses to hold a $5 million insurance policy, smaller vehicles like cars and limos require $1.5 million in coverage
What is your contingency plan in the event of a vehicle breakdown? Will they have other options for you, will they try and find other options for you, or will you be out on your own to scramble for transportation when you should be walking down the aisle?
Are chauffeurs trained on vehicles and customer service, what do they wear, and are they drug tested/background checked?
How do companies typically charge?
Some companies charge mileage, hourly minimums, zoned rates for different areas, or even price per passenger
Most include chauffeur gratuity as a convenience
Additional fees called a fuel surcharge, service fee, or STC fee are common. This covers the time and cost of fuel to get to and from you. It’s not always included in the cost of the vehicle because pickup/drop off locations vary.
Some companies charge for travel. This is the time it takes to get to and from your pickup and drop off locations.
Meagan Mann is the Wedding Sales Manager for ROCKSTAR LIMO
