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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Classy Transportation, LLC: 3 Of The Biggest Mistakes Brides Make And How You ...

Classy Transportation, LLC: 3 Of The Biggest Mistakes Brides Make And How You ...: Planning a wedding is a BIG task. There are bound to be some stumbles on the planning road that leads to the alter. While there are many mis...

3 Of The Biggest Mistakes Brides Make And How You Can Avoid Them

Planning a wedding is a BIG task. There are bound to be some stumbles on the planning road that leads to the alter. While there are many mistakes that you can make in the process of pulling the big day together, we've chosen to highlight three big mistakes that we see on a regular basis.

Big Wedding Planning Mistake #1 -- You've FINALLY gotten the ring and you're over the moon with excitement! Don't make the mistake of sharing all of the details of your wedding day with your co-workers. Many brides plan their weddings while at work, so it's natural to chat with your co-workers about your ideas. Maybe you ask their opinions on your wedding colors. Or maybe you ask for input on your wedding gown choices. The mistake is that you are slowly pulling them into your wedding planning world, which is fine IF you plan to invite them all to the wedding.

These days, brides are looking to save money wherever they can and that usually starts with the guest list. Once you've gotten your co-workers emotionally involved in your wedding planning process, you can expect to hear this: Your wedding is going to be beautiful! I can't wait to get my invitation!

This is when reality sets in. You weren't planning on inviting your co-workers to your wedding. Perhaps you are only considering inviting your boss....maybe. But definitely not allllllll of the co-workers you've been involving in your various decisions.

While it may be difficult, refrain from dragging your co-workers into your wedding planning world. They're going to expect an invite and you won't want to have that uncomfortable convo with them about how you're not inviting co-workers.

Big Wedding Planning Mistake #2 -- Now that you've started planning, you need to find a venue. Don't make the mistake of selecting a venue that requires a big rental fee, but doesn't include anything except tables, chairs and walls. Those venues can be pricey and range from $2000-$7000 to rent...even more in some cases!

Consider a venue that doesn't charge you to rent their space (or they charge a very small fee.) Look for a venue that offers in-house catering and only requires a food and beverage minimum. For example, the minimum at some venues may be $3000 (minimums can vary based on time of day and day of week.) In this case, you would need to spend at least this amount on food and beverages for your guests.

Selecting this type of venue will save you tons of money. If you select a venue with a large rental fee, you might spend $4000 just renting the space. Then, you'd still need to hire a caterer, who could charge you thousands for food, beverage, wait staff, linens, china, silverware, glasses and much, much more. A venue with in-house catering will usually provide staffing, china, linens and other amenities. Look at hotels, country clubs and city clubs for affordable options.

Big Planning Mistake #3 -- Outdoor weddings can be beautiful, but not if it rains. We run across so many brides who plan outdoor events with NO BACKUP PLAN.

I've heard it all: "It won't rain on my wedding day," or "The almanac says it hasn't rained on this day in 12 years!"

Have a backup plan. As a wedding planner, I plan every outdoor event as though it's going to be raining sideways with gusting winds. If you're planning your wedding on your own, you need to think the same way. Consider a tent or a backup ceremony location. You won't want to be wet in your gorgeous gown and your guests will sit in their cars and watch from afar before they sit in the rain. Don't make the mistake that so many brides have made in the past!

Want to use this article in your E-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:

Karen Clark is a celebrity wedding planner who publishes the "Perfect On A Penny" weekly e-zine. Get your FREE audio seminar: "5 Super Secret Tips That Will Save You $5000 On Your Wedding" at www.PerfectOnAPenny.com

Facebook: Perfect On A Penny, Twitter: @PerfectOnAPenny

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Top 3 reasons to select Classy Transportation for your wedding

1. Our Cars.
You won't find better vintage wedding cars anywhere in North Carolina.

2. The Memories.
Your wedding car will be the talk from your guests for days and they will remember your wedding for years to come, because of the unusual vintage wedding car you selected.

3. Price.
You won't find a better value anywhere. All we do is weddings, so our prices are based on your needs. Why would you pay to have a car sitting around for hours doing nothing!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Classy Transportation, LLC: The Mystery Wedding Dress Stain

After completing over a thousand weddings, I have had four incidents where the bride has mysteriously developed an oil-like stain on the hips of her wedding dress. The first time this occurred, I notice the clear (wet looking) stain on the dress prior to the bride entering the wedding car. My assumption was, it was hot outside and she had begun to perspire. By the time she arrived at the reception, it had gotten worst. I immediately started an investigation as to where the stain may have come from, since the car seat was being blamed for causing the stain. I swiped my leather seats with a white handkerchief, but nothing was on the seat. So, I figured what ever it was must have been absorbed by the bride's dress. I willingly paid for the bride’s dry cleaning expense and soon forgot about the incident, since there was no “evidence left at the scene of the crime”. It was a year later before it happened again. Still there was no evidence of any oil anywhere on the seat. It wasn't until the third incident that I had enough information to figure out what was causing this problem.

All brides wore gowns made of very thin, silk or satin-type fabric that fit very tight around the hips. And they all wore minimum under garments. Also, all weddings were in the summer, which means the brides would surely perspire at some point. REMEMBER LADIES, EVEN IF YOU DON’T USE LOTION OR OIL-BASED CREAM ON YOUR BODY, YOUR BODY IS NATURALLY OILY AND ANY PERSPIRATION WILL BRING ANY OIL IN THE SKIN TO THE SURFACE AND ONTO YOUR WEDDING DRESS. So, as soon as you sat down the oil-based perspiration on your body will be pressed into your wedding dress right around the hips, leaving a wet-looking ugly stain! This is especially true with silk, satin and rayon fabrics. These fabrics have no ability to absorb moisture, so any moisture on the skin will end up bleeding through the garment.

So why didn’t this problem occur with other brides? Because they all wore multi-layered dresses and under garments that absorbed any perspiration before reaching the surface of the wedding dress. Mystery Solved!

BRIDES, DON’T USE OIL-BASED CREAMS ON YOUR BODY IF YOU PLAN TO WEAR A TIGHT-FITTING WEDDING GOWN. AND MAKE SURE YOU WEAR SOMETHING UNDER THE DRESS TO ABSORB ANY PERSPIRATION, OTHERWISE YOUR WEDDING DRESS MAY BE RUINED BEFORE THE CEREMONY EVEN BEGINS!

For those brides that have selected the type of dress mentioned in this article and are willing to take a chance that this won’t happen to them, here’s how you can minimize the damaged this may caused. Every bride should have an emergency kit on their wedding day, so just add these things to your kit.

1. Baking soda
2. Talcum Power
3. A piece of chalk that is the color of your dress
4. Two clean white face cloth

Never rub or scrub at the spot, you may just make it spread or force the stain deeper into the fabric. First use two white cloths to blot up any excess oil and moisture. Place one on the under side of the dress and one on the out side and press firmly. Then sprinkle the cloths with talcum powder and repeat the process.
Let it absorb as much of the moisture as possible (2 to3 minutes). If there is still a visible sign of the stain, color it with the chalk. The chalk will cover the spot while continuing to absorb the oil and moisture.

IMPORTANT NOTE…IF IT’S HOT OUT SIDE, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY BE REPEATING THIS PROCESS ALL DAY, SO BE WARNED!


Article researched and written by Vern Bullock, March 2010.
Article researched and updated by Vern Bullock, November 2011

Monday, July 25, 2011

Best Time to Book Wedding Transportation

The absolute best time to book wedding transportation is during winter months (December, January and February) as this is the slowest time for limousine companies. They are more likely to offer a discounted price even for a spring wedding. Also keep in mind, the rules of "Supply and Demand". The greater the supply, the more likely the discount. For example, Stretch Town Cars and regular Town Cars are in the greatest supply, so you will always get the best deals on these types of cars. For those of you interested in a super stretch SUV, a Hummer or vintage/Classic car, the supply is very limited, so discounts maybe harder to come by, but not impossible. Just book it during the winter for a summer (July & August) wedding.

Just don't try to negotiate a discount too low, as these companies still must make a living and there is a price/point in which it doesn't make sense to even start a limousine up.

For example: Anything less than two hours or $250 is just not worth it to most limousine companies. The cost of fuel, chauffeur, insurance, detailing and vehicle maintenance will likely exceed $250, so be reasonable in your requests for a discount. Also, "you get what you pay for". If the agreed upon price is too low, you have to question if the limousine will even show up or be on time or clean or driven by a quality, safe driver, etc, etc, etc.

Also, keep in mind, that weddings during April, May and June are always competing for good quality transportation, so discounts for these months are less likely, but again, not impossible. It often depends on the date, time and location of your special event.

Good quality limousine companies are able to take your date, time, location and number of hours needed into account to help them determine the likelihood of booking another event in that time slot. If this is not likely, you should receive discount.

Also, keep in mind, that during April, May and June you are likely to pay a premium or be required to book more hours.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Transportation etiquette for grooms

What is expected...
1. The bride should select the type of transportation she wishes for the trip to the wedding venue for her and you dad and/or mother or maid of honor. The groom or the father of the bride is expected to pay for this transportation.

2. The bride and groom (together) should select the mode of transportation from the wedding to the reception. This transportation should be paid for by either the best man, groom parents, bride parents or as a gift by family members or friends.

3. Limousine transportation for the bridal party should be paid for by the bridal party collectively and coordinated by the best man and maid of honor. These two may also coordinate ALL other transportation needs as well. However, they may enlist the help of the parents of both the bride and the groom to assist.

4. Transportation for the bride and groom from the reception to their honeymoon suite should be arranged for by the best man and maid of honor and can typically be a surprise. Just make sure it is something you think couple will like.

5. Having the honeymoon suite specially decorated is always a like surprise for the couple. The best man and maid of honor can also share this responsibility.

6. NEVER LEAVE TRANSPORTATION OR ANY OTHER IMPORTANT TASK TO ONLY ONE PERSON, AS THEY MAY FORGET! HAVING TWO OR MORE PEOPLE INVOLVE IN A TASK WORKING TOGETHER WILL HELP ENSURE IT DOESN'T FALL THROUGH THE CRACK.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

WeddingWire Rated 2011

Classy Transportation, LLC: Classy Transportation WeddingWire Rated 2011: "Classy Transportation, LLC is now WeddingWire Rated for 2011 Raleigh / Durham, NC – July 5, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation's leading weddi..."

Classy Transportation WeddingWire Rated 2011

Classy Transportation, LLC is now WeddingWire Rated for 2011

Raleigh / Durham, NC – July 5, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding technology company, is pleased to announce that Classy Transportation, LLC is WeddingWire Rated 2011 for transportation. WeddingWire Rated is an annual award program that distinguishes wedding vendors across the country for their excellence. Based on hundreds of thousands of recent wedding reviews, WeddingWire Rated is the most recognized and trusted brand among engaged couples looking to find the best local businesses for their wedding.

Classy Transportation, LLC has over 30 reviews on WeddingWire from WeddingWire brides. Also, Classy Transportation, LLC provides transportation for over 300 brides annually. Reviews by our newlywed clients include detailed ratings and insightful descriptions about their experiences working with our business and staff. Our reviews provide transparency for potential clients, assisting them in making the most informed decisions for their big day.

"We are delighted to unveil the 5th annual WeddingWire Rated program," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire, Inc. Classy Transportation, LLC has made a commitment to capturing their clients experiences on the nation's leading wedding review site."

As the largest site for wedding reviews, WeddingWire empowers engaged couples with the most comprehensive and trusted review system available. The WeddingWire Rated program Classy Transportation, LLC with a simple platform to capture customer feedback from their wedding planning experience. Newly engaged couples can easily access all of the reviews Classy Transportation, LLC on WeddingWire.com. We would like to thank our newlyweds for our WeddingWire Rated 2011 recognition.

For more information, please visit Classy Transportation, LLC on WeddingWire at www.classytransportation.com

For more information on WeddingWire Rated 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including ProjectWedding.com, MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Weddingbee.com, and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Classy Transportation, LLC: Classy Transportation, LLC: The Mystery Wedding Dr...

Classy Transportation, LLC: Classy Transportation, LLC: The Mystery Wedding Dr...: "After completing over a thousand weddings, I have had four incidents where the bride has mysteriously developed an oil-like stain on the but..."

The Mystery Wedding Dress Stain

After completing over a thousand weddings, I have had four incidents where the bride has mysteriously developed an oil-like stain on the butt of her wedding dress. The first time this occurred, I notice the clear (wet looking) stain on the dress prior to the bride entering wedding car. My assumption was, it was hot outside and her butt had begun to sweat. Being a bit embarrassed, I didn't say anything. By the time they arrived at the reception, it had gotten worst and some of the stain had transferred to the groom's white jacket! I immediately started an investigate as to where the stain came from, since the car seat was being blamed for causing the stain. I swiped my seats with a white handkerchief, but nothing was on the seat. So, I figured what ever it was must have been all absorbed by the bride's dress. I soon forgot about the incident until it happened again about a year later. Each time I could not find any evidence of any oil anywhere on the seat. It wasn't until the fourth incident that I had enough information to figure out what was causing this problem.

All four brides choose very thin, white silk or satin gowns that fit very tight around the hips. They all choose to wear very thin under garments under the dress. And they all had applied baby oil or a oil-based cream to their body prior to getting dress. As soon as they sat down (anywhere) the baby oil (along with any perspiration on the skin) began to bleed through the dress leaving a wet-looking ugly stain!

But why didn’t brides with large multi-layered dresses have this problem? Simply because the oil (if used, by the bride) was absorbed by several previously layers of garment and dress and never made it to the outer-most layer of the dress fabric. Mystery Solved!

BRIDES, DON’T USE BABY OIL OR OTHER OIL-BASED CREAMS ON YOUR BODY IF YOU PLAN TO WEAR A TIGHT-FITTING WEDDING GOWN. OTHERWISE, YOUR WEDDING DRESS MAY BE RUINED BEFORE THE CEREMONY EVEN BEGINS!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Who's responsible for the wedding transportation?

It's getting close to the wedding day, so who's responsible for the wedding transportation? Well, this question can be answered in a number of ways. First of all, which part of the wedding will transportation be needed? Traditionally, the bridal party limousine transportation is often the responsibility of the bride's dad and the best man. Don't forget transportation for the bride and groom after the wedding. And most importantly (and often overlooked) transportation for the bride and groom after the reception.

As a standard rule...

1. The father of the bride makes transportation arrangements to the wedding and to the reception.
2. The best man makes transportation arrangement from the reception to get the couple to their honeymoon suite.

However, the father and best man should work together to get all transportation logistics synchronized.

Consider the following...

1. You will need transportation for the bridal party to the wedding.
2. You will need transportation for the bride and her father and/or mother to the wedding.
3. You will need transportation for the bride and groom after the wedding to the reception.
4. You will need transportation for the bride and groom after the reception to their honeymoon suite.
5. You may need shuttle transportation for some of the wedding guests as well.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Best Wedding Discounts

Too often, the first thing a couple will do after announcing their engagement is to set a wedding date. If you set your wedding date without doing the necessary research, "you will pay too much"! If you have an unlimited budget (like Prince William), then by all means, GO FOR IT. However, if you are like most young couples, you are definitely on a budget. So, before you set that date, do your homework. Here are some things to remember...

1. A Saturday wedding is the most expensive, so if you MUST pick a Saturday, try an early spring (March/April) or late fall wedding (November/December) wedding. You will get the best price on everything during this period.

2. There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting married the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. You may already be the host of the family gathering anyway. This could save family members travel costs since they are already in town anyway. And the price for EVERYTHING will be DISCOUNTED!

3. If you must have that May/June wedding, consider Friday evening (7pm - 11pm) and consider having your wedding and reception at the same venue. You will get a great deal on MOST services.

4. Sunday weddings are always good if you are not getting married in church. Often churches will not allow weddings on Sundays as they interfere with Sunday service. If you can plan your wedding after Sunday church service, it may work out. Otherwise consider another wedding venue.

5. Find an experienced Wedding Planner that has lots of connections with different wedding services. A GOOD wedding planner can get you great discounts on just about EVERYTHING! Calculate the possible savings your wedding planner can provide. They should be 20% or greater.

6. Finally, DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR DISCOUNTS or special consideration based on time. Often a different start-time or end-time can change the pricing without affecting the wedding experience.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Wedding Transportation By the Mile?

Wedding Transportation By the Mile? - As a limousine service, we get a fair amount of calls from brides and grooms regarding the need for "Just a quick pickup and a short drive to their wedding/reception venues". Of course this is their way of saying, "I don't have a lot to spend on transportation". Although many limousine companies will vary from their 4 hours minimum on specific cases, many couples just want "an hour worth". You can't buy one hour worth of limousine service. It often takes longer than that to make the trip to/from the pickup location.

We conduct about 300 weddings per year and it's the largest part of our business, so we know how long it will take to complete the entire process without running out of time. Therefore, we have price several packages to accommodate the "frugal" bride and groom. So I am still amazed when I hear "It's only a short distance". It's not about the distance. It's about the huge wait-times, waiting on the bridal party at the hotel for 30 minutes and waiting on the photographer for 45 minutes. On average, a limousine spends two hours waiting and one hour transporting and one hour traveling to/from the Limousine Company garages. This is why there is a four hours minimum.

Case Study: Mary has twelve people in her bridal party. Her wedding is at 2pm, so Mary wants to make sure everyone is at the church on time, so she requested a 12:30pm pickup from the hotel. The limousine time started when it left the garage at 12:00pm. Everyone is at the church by 1pm. The ceremony started at 2pm and lasted ½ hour. Afterward lots of wedding photos are taken, which take ½ hour inside and 15 minutes outside the church. It is now 3:15pm and the bridal party is headed for the reception site, which is ½ hour away. With loading and unload, the bridal party arrives at the reception venue at 4pm. The limousine heads back to the garage and arrives at 4:30pm. The entire process takes 3.5 hours to complete. This assumes everything is on schedule. Mary has ½ hour of additional time she didn’t use. Anything less than four hours and Mary is paying a premium for over-time.

What If… The limousine had to make two trips (one of the guys and one for the ladies)?
What If… The photographer had trouble getting everyone in place and took longer for pictures?
What If… There was a traffic delay getting to one of the venues?

If a couple can streamline the above Case Study into three hours, then most limousine companies are flexible. Anything less and they are just fooling themselves and will end up with sub-standard quality, being pushed and paying a premium for extra hours.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

What Brides & Grooms Wedding Transportation

1. Don't impose on your friends or family to drive you to your hotel. You can select from a stylish vintage get-away car or just a standard sedan to get you to your destination safely. All at an affordable price.

2. If you are following tradition, then you will need a car to get the bride & groom to the wedding venue on time. The groom may opt to ride with the bridal party, but the bride will need separate transportation for her and one or two others. Often the groom and best man will need their own transportation, as they will need some time to sure up their game plan and settle nerves.

3. Keep in mind, the only opportunity the bride and groom gets to be alone on the wedding day is the ride from the wedding to the reception. Its always a good idea to have that time to reflect after the ceremony and it is the first opportunity for both of you to relax a little before the big reception festivities begin.

4. You may want to consider a short detour to a favorite spot to take some memorable photos, which will give your guests plenty of time to arrive at the reception before you. A botanical garden, park or historic site is a great spot for photos.

5. If you wish to make a grand exit at the end of the evening, a little exit planning will ensure a grand get-away. Your guests will be of all ages, so planning an early exit is a good idea. A 9pm to 9:30pm exit is a great time to end the evening for the young and older guests and will ensure everyone is still there for the grand get-away. Don't forget how long the wedding is (6am - 10pm non-stop * 16 hours).

6. If you are flying out on your honeymoon the following day, make sure your airport hotel is only about 30 minutes from your reception venue. Driving several hours to get to your hotel late at night or early in the morning may cause you to over-sleep and miss your flight!

Classy Transportation, LLC: What Wedding Planners Should Know About Classy Tra...

Classy Transportation, LLC: What Wedding Planners Should Know About Classy Tra...: "1. We are the largest wedding transportation provider in North Carolina. 2. We specialized in vintage wedding cars and stretch limousines. 3..."

What Wedding Planners Should Know About Classy Transportation

1. We are the largest wedding transportation provider in North Carolina.
2. We specialized in vintage wedding cars and stretch limousines.
3. 99% of our business is dedicated to weddings.
4. We provide transportation for over 300 weddings annually.
5. We have had the same chauffeurs for over 3 years.
6. Our chauffeurs all wear tuxedo for weddings and suits for reception.
7. We have a 100% on-time record. We arrive 15 to 30 minutes early.
8. We have over 1,000 satisfied clients and zero complaints.
9. We have the rarest vintage cars available anywhere.
10. Our prices are less than any area limousine company.
11. We have a two-hour minimum, but we are flexible when needed.
12. We have a fully refundable policy if we can't deliver your service.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Classy Transportation, LLC: Classy Transportation Facebook Home Page

Classy Transportation, LLC: Classy Transportation Facebook Home Page: "Classy Transportation Facebook Home Page...Come join us! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Classy-Transportation-LLC/238896319084?v=wall"

Classy Transportation, LLC: Press Release - Raleigh/Durham, NC

Classy Transportation, LLC: Press Release - Raleigh/Durham, NC: "Raleigh/Durham, NC – January 25, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Classy Transpo..."

Classy Transportation, LLC: Planning Your Theme Wedding Transportation

Classy Transportation, LLC: Planning Your Theme Wedding Transportation: "A Vintage Theme Wedding – What is a vintage theme wedding? It is often a combination of traditional and non-traditional features and activit..."

Classy Transportation, LLC: Classy Transportation Facebook Home Page

Classy Transportation, LLC: Classy Transportation Facebook Home Page: "Classy Transportation Facebook Home Page...Come join us! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Classy-Transportation-LLC/238896319084?v=wall"

Classy Transportation, LLC: TIPS FOR RENTING WEDDING LIMOUSINES

Classy Transportation, LLC: TIPS FOR RENTING WEDDING LIMOUSINES: "What should I budget for my wedding transportation?This depends on the type and number of vehicles you are planning to rent. Plea..."

Classy Transportation, LLC: Press Release - Raleigh/Durham, NC

Classy Transportation, LLC: Press Release - Raleigh/Durham, NC: "Raleigh/Durham, NC – January 25, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Classy Transpo..."

Press Release - Raleigh/Durham, NC

Raleigh/Durham, NC – January 25, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Classy Transportation, LLC has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for transportation services!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Classy Transportation stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

"WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community," said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. "With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Classy Transportation for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year."

We are happy to announce that Classy Transportation is among the very best limousine companies within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading
wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. "We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011," said Vern Bullock, Classy Transportation Chief Executive Officer. "We look forward to continuing our excellent service to the wedding community".

For more information, please visit our website and our WeddingWire Storefront today at
http://www.classytransportation.com/id20.html


About Classy Transportation, LLC.
Classy Transportation, North Carolina leading vintage transportation company serving the North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia wedding industry, is the only vintage wedding car and limousines resource in the Raleigh/Durham, NC area, specializing in classic and antique wedding cars as well as stretch limousines. For engaged couples and wedding planners, Classy Transportation offers the ability to select from a variety of unique transportation options, such as the rare and stylish Excalibur convertible, Rolls Royce classic sedan, 1928 Essex Super-Six Coach, Trolley Buses and Limousines.
www.WeddingWire.com.


About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from
wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS). http://www.classytransportation.com/

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

TIPS FOR RENTING WEDDING LIMOUSINES

What should I budget for my wedding transportation?This depends on the type and number of vehicles you are planning to rent. Please understand that most limousine services have a rental minimum of 3 hours. Most services do not offer "pick-up" and "drop-off" service as this only consumes 1 hour of time.

A typical wedding rental package runs from $300 - $500 for 3 hours of service depending on your vehicle preference. Exotic vehicle choices cost much higher. For example, a standard white 8-passenger stretch limousine would rent in the $250-$350 range while an exotic vehicle, such as a Stretch SUV Hummers and Excursions would rent in the $600 - $900 range - a big price difference!

When should I start shopping?A good time to begin your wedding limo shopping is 6 to 9 months before your wedding date. Delays in your shopping could result in not finding your vehicle of choice. Conversely, most companies do not handle inquiries for service which extend beyond 1 year. To be taken seriously by a limousine service, it is best to begin your shopping duties within a year of your wedding date.

Can my bridal party fit in the limo?Most stretch limousines simply are not big enough to accommodate 12-14 people. Exotic vehicles can accommodate larger parties but are more expensive and limited. When shopping, make sure you consider the number of passengers and their size. Although a limo might be designated as a "10 - passenger" limousine, it may be difficult to squeeze 10 adults dressed in formal attire in such limos. If you have several large members in a 8 to 10 person bridal party, you may want to go with a "14 – passenger" SUV for comfort.

Should I get a contract?Having a contract with your chosen limo company is a wise decision which will help avert any problems in the future should your hired service not perform to your expectations. Sadly, many firms do not put their services in writing - you should require it! Some companies use online contracts that specify their Terms & Conditions.

When is a good time to host my wedding?If you haven't yet planned a wedding date, we strongly advise picking a date which DOES NOT occur in the springtime. Why? During prom season (March - June) prices are exorbitantly high because the demand for limo service skyrockets. Prom attendees scoop up all available services and many bridal parties are left without limo service options.
In the spring, bridal parties may find themselves with limo options that require 8 hours minimum and rental rates 30% higher than normal. If your wedding date is in the spring, we suggest starting your limo search 1 year before your wedding date. You should also plan on making reservations 1 year in advance as well. For wedding dates during other seasons, 6 months is adequate.

However, to get around this problem, plan an early afternoon wedding, say 1pm or 2pm. This will give the limo company plenty of time to complete your wedding and prep the limo for a night prom! Then have a vintage wedding car pick you and the groom up after your reception. This is the most cost effective way to host a spring wedding.

Why do I pay while the limo is waiting?You still have to pay for the rental time during your wedding even if you aren't physically using the vehicle. Although the vehicle is not in use, it cannot be used elsewhere; even when there are 2 or 3 hours in between the drop-off and pickup. However, exceptions do exist when there are 6 to 8 hours between a pick-up and drop-off.

Can I rent a limo for one hour?No. Most companies require a minimum 3 hour booking to rent a limousine. During prom season, expect this minimum to increase; as much as 8 hours minimum. High demand vehicles such as Stretch Excursions will often rent at full price with an 8 hour minimum. Unfortunately, you are more likely to get struck by lightning than getting a limousine rental for 1 or 2 hours during prom season. Limo prices explode during prom season, incuding weddings!

Can I get a discount for my wedding?Depends on the day and length of time rented. However, limousine services do not offer discounts during prom time. Why? The demand for limousines during the spring exceeds the supply. This shortage causes an increase in prices and hourly minimums. Some companies may offer a discount for a rental which exceeds 8 hours.