HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN

Va Va Vroom

Tips and advice for choosing your big-day wheels

Perhaps choosing your big-day transport won’t be above the priority of finding your dream wedding venue, flowers, dress or honeymoon, however, as it’s the key factor in the one-the-day proceedings – getting you to and from your desired locations – it really should be high up on the agenda. After all, the ceremony can’t start until you’re there to say ‘I do’!.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Once the wedding venue has been chosen, then all the finer details can follow. For rustic settings, such as barns and teepees in fields, a classic Rolls Royce may look a little out of place. You can be inspired by your surroundings and choose your transport accordingly; opt for a Land Rover, or a retro VW Campervan ‒ a great choice for al fresco bohothemed days and will look super-cool in the photos giving that ‘70s-vibe.

If you’ve decided you want a classic country house mansion for your big-day venue, then a classic vintage car will epitomise the feel of the day. However, as beautiful as these cars are, they’re vintage for a reason, so check with your chosen supplier that the distance to the venue and its setting is suitable for your classic ride. If choosing a fleet of cars for your bridal party, plan with the venue that driveways are kept clear and that there’s plenty of room for each car to arrive simultaneously. Does your venue have an area where the cars can wait between the ceremony and reception? Is there a picture-perfect spot for the all-important bridal portraits with the car?

When it comes to location, if your ceremony venue and reception venue are not the same, have you factored in transporting your guests from one to the other? Have both venues’ locations been given out in the invites for people to plan their route in advance? If you’re tying the knot in the city, or busy town, are there parking restrictions? It’s worth giving guests a list of taxi numbers in the surrounding area so that they are well prepared ahead of the day.

Your wedding day transport can be another aspect of the wedding that you utilise to reflect your personalities. If you’re music-loving Rockabillies think about a Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Skyliner or Cadillac Coupe deVille. Movie fans? Then go-all out with a James Bond-syle Aston Martin, or John Wick’s Mustang. There’s a whole host of movies to be inspired by so if you need an idea, arrange a date night and get watching!

Two of our real wedding brides really went for the personal touch, over on page 35 Natalie and John have a lovely story of how their neighbour came to the rescue and helped them out in a vintage car aptly in red – which perfectly matched their colour scheme; while over on page 51, Caroline and Gary’s ‘60s/ Beatles-themed day was complete with a vintage bus and 1967 Rolls Royce Phantom John Lennon Psychedelic Rolls.

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CHECK LIST

♥ Safety – always work with a reputable supplier who can look after the insurance and safety guidance for you! Some vintage cars don’t have seat belts – great for not creasing the dress but not great for little ones travelling with you. ♥ Extras – having your favourite bottle of bubbles, music of your favourite songs, colour matching ribbons etc are all ways to personalise your vehicle. Check what the supplier can and can not supply and whether you are allowed to BYOB? ♥ Space – how many adults are travelling? Who’s sharing with who? If there’s a change over, i.e the wedding couple come back in the car the bridesmaids were in, then don’t forget to arrange alternative transport for the bridesmaids to get to the second venue – you can’t leave them at the church! ♥ Backup – this is where hiring a professional company will be worth it’s weight in gold as they will have more than one car and chauffeur in the event of unforeseen circumstances! Yes taking your friend up on the offer of driving you is a nice idea, but you don’t want that stress on the day if they can’t do it, the car’s broken down or they now have Covid! ♥ Plan – check out routes, are there road works, allow time for running late and hold-ups, yes your car hire company will do this, but will your guests? Remind them!

RETRO BRIDE & VROOMS

A family run business, Retro Bride & Vrooms was started late 2020 by Michelle and Marc Narbrough. Franky is a 1964 VW Splitscreen Campervan, with front opening safari window, it’s been lovingly restored inside and out with purely weddings in mind. With a seating capacity of seven he comes chauffeur driven with flowers, bows and ribbon to match your colour scheme and a bottle of bubbles kept cold in a built in ice bucket! There’s also Doris, a 2009 Mini Cooper convertible in a complementing colour, just in case you have a larger party and need some extra seats! Check out https://retrobrideandvrooms.co.uk YOUR A-Z OF LOCAL SUPPLIERS

Anglian Wedding Solutions | www.weddingcarscolchester.com Arrow Vintage Cars | www.arrowvintagecars.co.uk DipDubs Wedding Campervan Hire | www.dipdubs.com East Coast Classics | www.eastcoast-classics.co.uk Essex County Cadillacs | www.essexcountycadillacs.co.uk Klarners Executive Travel | www.klarnerscoaches.co.uk Lewis Car Hire | www.lewiscarhire.co.uk Retro Bride & Vrooms | https://retrobrideandvrooms.co.uk Vdub Rides | www.vdubrides.co.uk