by Cadbury Cars
Safe to say, one of the biggest and most important decisions to make for your wedding will be selecting the dress – you know exactly what you want and once you have found it, the rest of the planning should be all downhill, right?!
The reality is you still have lots of (important) decisions to make…like finding the right wedding car.
This can be a challenge in itself – horse-drawn carriage, stretch limo…local taxi! OK, perhaps booking a local taxi is a little extreme, but the process of finding the right one for you, and making the booking safe in the knowledge that you have made the right choice, should be as easy as booking a local taxi for a night out.
To help you through the process, we’ve put together our ’10 Top Tips when making enquiries with prospective wedding transport companies’ – this is what you should expect from any reputable wedding car provider.
1)Firstly, decide on what type of transport you would like – do you want a different type of car for the wedding as you do for the reception? Perhaps you do not want or need the flamboyance of a carriage or classic car, in which case an executive car may be just the ticket. Also decide who will require a wedding car and reception car. Transport for the wedding ceremony is traditionally arranged for the bride and groom, father and mother of the bride, the best man and the bridesmaids.
2)Ask about their pricing structure, deposit and cancellation policy – also check the details of when the balance must be paid by.
3)Check whether or not the driver and car remain on site during the day. Will they be on call throughout the day should you need them or will they only be there at the pre-arranged times?
4)Check for any hidden costs – a reputable company should be able to give you a detailed quote and a fixed cost that will not change after the event, so ensure that there are no hidden costs in the agreement.
5)Ask for a confirmation that they have received and understood the pick-up and drop-off locations, times and most importantly addresses of each. A reputable company will have an excellent knowledge of the local area and roads and can advise you on the best route to help plan your journey.
6)Confirm everything – you should expect your booking to be confirmed by the company in advance. We confirm all of our bookings one week prior to the big day.
7)You should always be able to preview the cars ahead of time – beware if they are hesitant to let you view the car/s you will be booking.
8)Will the car be dressed? We always dress the car with ribbons and flowers of your choice at no extra cost, however, some companies charge for these items so check at the time of booking about any included extras.
9)Ensure that they have the necessary insurance cover to operate wedding cars – they should be able to provide you with this if you request to see it.
10)Ask to see as many letters of endorsement as possible from previously satisfied companies – a reputable company will be able to show you these, proudly, on request.
Whomever you chose will hold a great deal of responsibility on your big day, so only go with someone you truly trust can deliver on your expectations.
For those that wish to follow the traditional approach to wedding cars, here is the typical wedding car running order.
Typical Wedding Car Running Order
The groom and best man leave from the groom’s house or overnight location and are normally the first to arrive at the venue.
The bridesmaids and mother of the bride leave from the bride’s parents’ home or overnight location and arrive at the wedding ceremony venue shortly after the groom and best man.
The bridesmaids will wait for the arrival of the bride whilst the mother of the bride is escorted to her seat by one of the ushers, who are expected to make their own way to the wedding ceremony.
The bride and father of the bride leave last from the bride’s parents’ home or overnight location and arrive at the wedding ceremony last. They will normally arrive just a few moments after the bridesmaids and mother of the bride, but if the cars are being shared there will be a small gap.
Typical Wedding Reception Car Running Order
The bride and groom leave together and arrive at the wedding reception venue first.
The bridesmaids and best man leave together in the same vehicle and arrive at the wedding reception venue shortly after the bride and groom.
The father and mother of the bride leave together and arrive at the wedding reception venue last.
About the author
Cadbury Cars started in 2008 and in this time have been the trusted choice for hundreds of weddings.
Our range of wedding cars has been hand-picked to balance luxury, style and affordability, making them the ideal choice for any wedding or civil ceremony.
For more information on our Wedding Car service, or to request a detailed quote for your wedding, please visit
Cadbury Cars are one of our fantastic wedding suppliers at our upcoming Autumn Wedding Fayre, Sunday 8 October – come and see their fantastic cars!