Thinking about getting to the ceremony on time? Today we’ve got just the thing you need, plenty of tips and advice from Ennis based, Declan from Occasion Cars. From deciding on how many cars you need, budget dilemmas and things you shouldn’t forget about, you’re about to be top of the class when it comes to wedding transport!
Thanks to Declan for sharing his well-earned advice, you can visit Occasion Cars profile, here.
Before ceremony transport: Using one car to do multiple trips to the ceremony can work if the journey time is quite short. For example, some Brides want us to bring Bridesmaids first, then return for the Bride. If the journey time from house to ceremony is 10 minutes, that’s a 30-minute total driving time before the ceremony (house to church, church back to house, house to church again), plus loading/unloading time. This would mean Bridesmaids would have to be ready 35-45 minutes before the ceremony time, which almost never works out in reality as they usually run out of time. A maximum journey time from house to ceremony of about 5 minutes is the maximum that usually works.
Outside the ceremony: When all the guests are in the church, and the Bridesmaids are all lined up waiting to walk down the aisle, there is nobody left to fix your veil & dress which has been blowing in the wind with the past 5 minutes! The only person left outside the church/venue at this stage is the driver. This is where the driver is vital, adding a service you never thought you needed; someone to spread out your dress again and fix your veil to ensure it looks stunning as you walk up the aisle. We usually hold the dress up, especially on damp/wet days, then leave it down as you get inside just before you walk up. We then make it look amazing, just like the way you have always imagined. Sometimes we even have time to get a quick photo from the back as you walk up the aisle; a photo nobody else is able to get.
After ceremony transport: Having a separate vehicle to bring Bridesmaids and Groomsmen is always a good idea, as it keeps the group together when travelling to various photo locations. If they are in their own cars, often they get delayed or stop somewhere they shouldn’t (like the pub!) or get lost along the way, and the photo session is delayed while waiting for them to catch up. Having a minibus to keep the Bridal Party together is a fun & inexpensive way of ensuring your day runs smoothly. The Bridal Party have a lot of fun in the minibus together and we can often give good deals when booking multiple vehicles. The minibus can also be used before the ceremony to collect Groomsmen then collect the Bridesmaids, as there is usually plenty of time between those two trips.
Couple’s car: After the ceremony, the time spent travelling together in the back of the car is one of the only times the couple get to spend a relaxing time together. They have time to catch up and find out how each other’s morning and previous evening went, and any funny stories that might have happened, all while sipping champagne! We often get told this was one of the most enjoyable and relaxing parts of their day, as the rest of the time is spent trying to entertain guests.
Are wedding cars expensive: Couples sometimes think asking a friend/relative with a nice car to drive them is a cheap alternative, but the reality is their day isn’t as relaxing as it might have been. We often get last-minute calls saying something like “My uncle was going to drive me but now he can’t make it, do you have any cars for tomorrow”.
The reality of asking a friend to drive you on your wedding day can sometimes work, but when it doesn’t it adds enormous amount of last-minute stress that nobody wants.
Even when it does work, will your friend/relative spend hours the previous day polishing the car inside & out, and a further 30 minutes re-cleaning when he is 5 minutes away from your house to ensure it hasn’t got dirty again? Will you be comfortable in the back of the car or will you feel the need to keep chatting to them instead of your newly-married partner?
Wedding cars are probably one of the cheapest wedding-suppliers you can get, yet they add so much to your day. They are much more than just a way of getting from A to B, they are a photographer’s assistant helping to get the best shots by holding the veil in the wind, as well as added hands carrying props, or bringing luggage.
Distances travelled: As we specialise in modern wedding cars, we can work nationwide, whereas companies with vintage cars are generally restricted to working within a small radius as vintage cars are slower and less reliable. We have done weddings everywhere from Cork to Donegal, Clare to Dublin, and everywhere in between! We have also had long trips during the day with trips of 1.5 hours from church to reception, so distance is never an issue for us.
What car should I get: Vintage cars may look nice in the 1 or 2 photos you take with it, but they lack modern conveniences that make your day less comfortable such as good heating or air-conditioning. They are also slower and less reliable.
We specialise in modern luxury wedding cars, and often get calls from people saying their wedding car broke down and cant make it, and do we have anything last-minute. Our cars undergo an NCT test every year (regardless of age) as well as a separate inspection to ensure cars are in good working order for air-conditioning, window operation, and interior visual appearance & comfort. This ensures your day is more likely to go without a hitch, and you can enjoy the run up to the big day knowing your car is well-maintained, and enjoy the day itself in optimum comfort & style.
Modern wedding cars are your best all-round option for the most important day of your lives.
