Wedding Transportation…Things to consider

When planning your wedding, there are lots of things to research, plan and execute. At Classy Transportation, we provide transportation for more than 300 weddings per year. So we see the GOOD, the BAD and yes, the UGLY!
Our topic today will focus only on “Wedding Transportation”. There are actually six areas of transportation that should to be considered…
1. Transportation for the bridal party
2. Transportation for the bride and groom
3. Transportation for the immediate family members (moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas)
4. Transportation for out of town guests
5. Transportation for those who had a little too much fun at the reception
6. Transportation for pre-wedding activities (bachelor/bachelorette parties & wedding day preparations)
Of course, you may not planned to provide transportation in all of these areas, but you have to at least consider them as part of your planning process. Keep in mind, “it is your wedding” and the important thing to member is what is required to keep you and your future spouse stress-free, on schedule and happy doing this very long day. So, lets take each of the above transportation options and explore them a bit closer.

Transportation for the bridal party – If you have a large bridal party, it is usually traditional to provide stretch limousine service for them to the wedding and the reception. Most limousine companies have a four hours minimum service charge, which is perfect for the typical wedding duration. Depending on the type of vehicle and the number of participants in your bridal party, you should plan to spend from $750 to $950 for this service.
Transportation for the bride and groom – Whether you provide a stretch limousine for your bridal party or not, keep in mind, the bride and groom will want something special for them. Also consider vehicles for the bride and the groom grand arrival to the wedding venue. However, after the wedding ceremony and photos, the only time you will have alone with your new husband will be the ride to the reception. This is a precious time for you two to reconnect and relax for a little before the reception festivities begin. Plan to spend from $250 to $500 for a luxury sedan or vintage wedding car.
Transportation for the immediate family members – Often it is a good idea to provide transportation for the parents and grand parents of both the bride and groom. This will ensure they remain close to the bridal party and will be able to take their proper places during ceremony seating and reception seating. Plan on spending from $300 for a standard sedan to $500 for a luxury sedan.
Transportation for out of town guests – If you have lots of out of town guests that are not familiar with the area, you don’t want them getting lost and arriving late (or not at all). You may want to consider a shuttle bus service from a specific hotel to the wedding and reception. This service can also provide service back to the hotel after the reception. Of course this service can get expensive, so logistical planning of hotel, wedding and reception venues will be important to keep costs down. Be prepared to spend from $2000 to $3000 for shuttle service (depending on how long it is needed). This service will also take care of the needs of those “who had a little too much fun at the reception” also.
Transportation for pre-wedding activities – If your plans call for pre-wedding parties for the bride and groom, a couple of stretch limousines will do the trick. Keep in mind, stretch limousines are most expensive on Friday and Saturday nights. So, if you would like to keep the cost down, pick a Wednesday or Thursday night for these activities. Plan some specific activities, such as dinner and a movie or comedy club show or the theatre. This will be a lot more fun than just getting wasted. Put about $1000 to $1500 in your budget for two stretch limousines for four to six hours on the town.
In summary, you can easily spend from $1200 to $1500 on the low-end to $3000 to $5000 on the high-end to cover all your transportation needs. Saturday weddings will always be the most expensive. However, if you still want a Saturday wedding and want to save some REAL money, sat your wedding vows to start late morning or early afternoon. Weddings at 3pm, 4pm, 5pm are in great demand and will cost a premium.