Choosing wedding cars for your day is a very personal decision and can be governed by so many factors. Car choice in the past has often been the domain of the groom, one area where ‘he’ can feel like he’s actually had some input into the day. I believe times are changing though and it’s the girls that are having more and more of a say in the style of car for their wedding.
Want to know all the things you should be asking, what to look out for, and other considerations when booking wedding cars for your Newcastle, Hunter Valley or Central Coast wedding? Natalie from our Newcastle studio sat down with Ally from Absolute Vintage Elegance Limousines for a chat about all things cars, the video is below.
If you’d rather read the transcript, you can access that here.
Obviously car choice is such a personal thing for your wedding and you will have to factor in things like:
- Size of your bridal party
- Distance to be travelled – if you have long distances, vintage style cars may not be the best choice
- The style and theme of your wedding
- The time of year – open topped cars may not be the best choice in winter and in summer, air-con may be a good idea
- Budget
- Colour of cars
To get some more information, advice and tips, I’ve sought the help from some of the leading wedding car companies that service the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and Newcastle areas.
Vintage cars look fantastic and are a little different from your everyday transport.
Since wedding cars are so unique and individual and it’s certainly not a case of one model foots all, the best way to make this post more valuable when deciding on your wedding cars was to seek some extra input from some of the leading wedding car companies that service the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and Newcastle areas.
It does seem from the comments I received that you must be careful when booking cars for your wedding as there can be quite a few traps to catch out unsuspecting couples.
Both Patricia from Natalie’s Limousines and Jonathon from Arrive First Class suggest that you actually take the time to see the vehicles you are considering for your day and not to rely solely on photos from websites. Not only can the photos be deceiving when it comes to hiding flaws (good for people photography, not cars) there are many car business who cross hire. They advertise vehicles that do not belong to their company and two things can happen as a result. You receive a lesser vehicle than expected, for example, cars with dated or dirty interiors or you are forced into a less desirable vehicle if there is nothing left available for your wedding date.
Jonathon also suggests that you note the number plate on the vehicle as a reference once you have booked to make sure that is THE car that you’ll be having for your day.
Chryslers and Hummers have become the ‘modern’ wedding car.
Many car companies only have a few cars available, so if you have your heart set on a certain look, it’s important that you source and book your cars quite early in your planning stages. Both Debbie from Hunter Valley Cadillacs and Col from Coastal Classic Bridal Cars suggests you book cars more than six months in advance especially in popular months. Often the wedding magazines recommend booking 3-6 months out which is often too late. This is particularly important when you are looking for wedding cars that have unique characteristics or are in short supply.
Wedding cars come in all shapes, sizes and models. You will be sure to find something that suits the theme of your wedding with a little searching.
Everyone I spoke to also agreed that it’s super important to deal with reputable car companies that specialise in weddings and all had examples of couples trying to book at the last minute because they had been let down. Here’s what a few of them had to say:
- Your weddings cars are very important on your wedding day, they are not just something to get you from A to B. We have had those stressed brides and grooms call for last minute cars as their private ones have fallen through. Natalie’s Limousines.
- Choose an accredited operator. The wedding car industry has many “fly by night” unaccredited operators who enter the wedding industry with dollar signs in their eyes. These operators may not have the correct insurance or maintenance standards which are a legal requirement under public passenger vehicle legislation. Ensure you check your wedding car operator is accredited and has the necessary insurance. IMPORTANT Note: An unaccredited operator will not be covered by Fair Trading should there be a financial dispute. Large companies are not always the best choice for a wedding. They can be a conglomerate of contracted cars with numerous owners which supply their car to the company. Often they’re not in the wedding industry, the cars are not dedicated wedding cars and maintenance and reliability can be compromised. Hunter Valley Cadillacs.
- Choose experienced professionals who specialise in wedding car hire and have the reputation for reliability and quality service. Also ensure the supplier has ownership of all vehicles offered for hire to avoid the worries of not having the car you want available for your day.
Great looking cars can really add something special to your wedding day.
As Ally mentioned in her interview with Natalie, prices can vary depending on your requirements but the cheapest option may not be the best. It’s important to check exactly what is supplied when you book your transport in regard to umbrellas, drinks and nibblies which can all go a long way to making your photo session a success. Some companies will provide champagne and some beer as well. Most car companies will have either some food involved or you may have to add that to your package. Bear in mind though, you will want something to eat and drink (even if it’s water) after your ceremony, once the nerves have calmed. Some car companies will also offer late night pick ups to take you from reception to your accommodation for your wedding night. This may or may not be included in your package price.
You have to consider it’s usually an early start to the day combined with nerves and anticipation, often you don’t eat well before your ceremony to find you are famished by the time you’re on location for some photos.
Make sure a week before your wedding you touch base with your selected car company to go over your booking form and check what they will be supplying on the day, such as umbrellas, drinks, nibblies and emergency kits. Also double check your pick up times, make sure you always leave a little extra time to get to your ceremony, as you can never tell what the traffic will be like, your driver can always pull over or go around the block if you arrive early. Natalie’s Limousines.
A further consideration is to book cars that are local to the area you are having your wedding as local knowledge can often be a big help if you encounter traffic, bad weather or that your chosen location for photos is already taken. Together with a local photographer, you should have a great team that will get you through any dramas without you even being aware.
Limousines are the ‘classic’ wedding car and remain popular today. They are competitively priced, offer plenty of room and all have air-con. An important consideration for a summer wedding.
The last thing you need on your wedding day is your transport to be late or not turn up because the driver isn’t familiar with the area. A local operator will also have ideas up their sleeve for a special photo location you weren’t aware of or they can call on their local contacts for help with photos if the weather turns nasty. When it rains on a wedding day, there’s often several bridal parties trying for the one undercover photo location. A local operator with local contacts could save the day by finding a private undercover location. Hunter Valley Cadillacs.
With so many choices in car styles, colour, shape and size, it’s easier than ever to match your car to the theme you have chosen for your wedding. You’ll find that having the right car and just as importantly, the right company looking after your transport that your wedding day will be that much better.
Wedding cars are more than just about the outside look. It’s all about a little luxury on your fairy tale of a day.
Good luck in choosing the cars for your wedding! I’ve added the contact details of all the services that helped put this post together, of which all are highly recommended by us at Impact images both in Newcastle and the Central Coast. I’ve also added a few more photos featuring some of the most popular wedding cars below.
Absolute Vintage Elegance Limousines
Contact: Ally (02) 49 207 826 or 0458 495 649
Website: www.absolutevintage.com.au
Arrive First Class – Stretch Hummers & Chrysler
Contact: Jonathon 0421 036 280
Website: www.arrivefirstclass.com.au
Silver Classic Limousines
Contact: Steve Whittaker 0421 373454
Website: www.silverclassic.com.au
Hunter Valley Cadillacs
Contact: Debbie & Dave 4996 4059
Website: www.huntervalleycadillacs.com.au
Coastal Classic Bridal Cars
Contact: Col & Sue 4332 7085
It’s hard to go past the fairy tale look of a horse and carriage but you will be limited by the distance you can travel.
You won’t get a funky interior like this with a vintage car.
The Rolls Royce… a classic if ever there was one.
Hummers are fast becoming the new modern wedding car. They certainly make a statement.
Sandstone buildings, weddings and vintage cars are the perfect match.
The number of cars you require will depend on the size of your bridal party, your taste and whether or not you want to travel alone with your new husband/wife or with your bridal party.
One of the Hunter Valley Cadillacs that features 3 rows of seats, all facing forward!
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