Recently I was a groomsman in a friend’s wedding. Everything from the speeches at the rehearsal dinner to the champagne in the limousine was planned and synchronized with precision. As the reception wound down, with the open bar closing and the DJ packing up, I found myself standing in the middle of an empty dance floor. Someone had driven me to the wedding and the limo had taken us all to the reception, but now that the music was over and the dancing was done, how was I supposed to make it back to my hotel room?
Organizing transportation for your wedding is not as exciting as finding the perfect dress or choosing the cake, but if you don’t consider this crucial component, all those months of planning can result in chaos and confusion.
What’s needed?
Driving on your wedding day can add a lot of stress to an already hectic occasion; not to mention that navigating a vehicle to your ceremony in a delicate white dress and matching pumps could prove difficult. While it can add to the budget, renting transportation for the whole day can eliminate obvious problems. According to Gretchen Culver of Twin Cities wedding-service provider Bellagala, forking over the extra dough for all-day transportation keeps everyone on schedule. “You can know where everyone in your wedding party is at all times and won’t have to worry about any oversleeping bridesmaids,” she says.
All-day transportation solves another problem: the overflow of cars at the ceremony site and the logistics of getting the wedding party’s vehicles to the reception venue. “Many brides don’t realize that someone has to be responsible for each car that belongs to someone in the wedding party,” says Culver. If the groomsmen and bridesmaids are immediately whisked away after the ceremony in a limo, someone has to take their cars to the reception so they’ll have a way home.
Worrying about getting a set of car keys to Uncle Joe just before you walk down the aisle can put a damper on the moment. Similarly, providing post-reception transportation can not only make life easier for all, it can be a public service, as it helps reduce the risk that over-served guests will take the wheel. And, of course, it will help that last groomsman who can’t find a ride back to the hotel.
Parking
Ample space for guests’ cars at both the ceremony and the reception is a huge plus when picking a wedding location. “Most Midwesterners value the convenience of close and easy parking,” Culver says. Consider the time of year you will be getting married if your wedding is in an area with limited parking—no one wants to march down Nicollet Mall in knee-high snow.
But Culver cautions brides not to give up that perfect place just because there’s minimal parking. In the Twin Cities, many downtown ramps will negotiate a voucher system, which makes parking and walking much easier; be aware, though, that out-of-town guests may risk losing their way in the skyway system.
Perhaps the easiest option is hiring a valet service. “Some reception locations actually require you to use a valet service,” says Culver. These venues have experience with numerous weddings and know how to run things smoothly; if you listen to them and even take a few suggestions, you can avoid many parking mishaps.
Booking your wedding transportation
A wedding isn’t much without the bride or groom, so figuring out how you and your attendants get from the ceremony to the reception is essential. Reserving that sweet stretch Hummer you found online is easy, but that doesn’t always mean it’s foolproof. To ensure the vehicle you want is available, book your wedding transportation early in the planning process. Scott Hebl at Renee’s Royal Valet in Plymouth recommends reserving a vehicle as far as a year in advance. “Summer is our busiest time, with the peak wedding season running from June through October,” while weddings in early spring compete with high school proms.
Before making the call, however, Hebl recommends doing your homework. “You should understand the company. Ask how long they’ve been in business and what type of vehicles they have in their fleet. Then go out and see them in person.” Seeing the car before you book is a must, because sometimes companies may list photographs of vehicles on their website without them actually owning the car pictured. There would be nothing worse than puttering up to your reception in something that spews dark smoke and sounds like a freight train, so Hebl stresses the importance of this task. “You just never know,” he says, “so it’s best to take a look.”
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