Wedding Transport
Whether you want to arrive in a traditional car, by horse and carriage or dare to be different there’s hundreds of ways to make sure your
arrival at your wedding wows your guests. Amanda Griffiths discovers just some of them
MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: NEIL HICKSON
ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: LISA ALDERSLEY
I think he was joking, but years ago my Dad said when I got married we’d be travelling to the church on the back of his breakdown lorry. My response was a look of sheer terror; I’d always imagined the horse and carriage fairytale arrival or at least a sparkling clean ‘fancy’ car, not the oily back of a lorry. Thankfully that hasn’t happened but as I’ve been exploring the various methods of transport for your wedding day the idea has begun to sound less frightening and more plausible should you dare to be different, after all people arrive in all manner of vehicles these days so why not a recovery vehicle?
There’s a 50-50 split between brides (and grooms) who want the ‘traditional’ wedding and those who want to stand out from the crowd. Whatever you want there’s someone, somewhere who can cater to your every whim and make your wedding transport as special as you want it to be.
Here are just a few ideas for you.
Horse and carriage
Want to feel like a princess? Look no further than a horse and carriage. It’ll look great in the photographs and adds an air of romance that a car can’t. As you clip, clop down the street heads will turn, people will wave and you’ll feel like royalty as you wave back. Be warned though, they are slow moving and maybe its best to make sure you have an umbrella handy just in case the weather isn’t on your side!
Cars
A gorgeous car is probably the most traditional way to arrive and there’s lots of choices. For the ultimate wow factor choose a limousine, perfect for big dresses and if you go for a stretch version you’ll feel like a celebrity. For a traditional look go for a Rolls Royce or a Bentley. Both have an elegant feel.
Northern Ferrari Hire in Chester offers a Ferrari 360 Spider convertible or Aston Martin DB9 Coupe for hire. A driver can pick up the bride or groom, take them to the ceremony and then to the reception. The Ferrari is only a twoseater so can only take one at a time but the Aston Martin has two small back seats so bride and groom can travel together. Cost starts from £895 for car and driver for up to four hours.
Helicopter
Arriving by helicopter will be an experience you’ll never forget – as long as you’ve got the budget to pay for it. Pennine Helis in Saddleworth fly into Yorkshire and around Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire and deck the helicopter out exquisitely with silk flowers, cushions and headrest covers to add to the experience. A typical wedding flight transferring the couple from the church to the reception, the reception to the airport, or even as a surprise flight at the venue, costs from £1,800, depending on location.
If this is the choice for you don’t forget to check with your venue first as there may be landing restrictions, and if you’re worried about your hair, it might not be the best choice!
Boats
Want to arrive at your Lakeland wedding in style, do it by boat. The ideal scenario is to hold your wedding at one of the hotels which front the lake. Charter ‘Mistress’ from Lake District Boat Charter on Lake Windermere to deliver groom and best man as well as the bride. You can arrange for the boat to take guests out for short trips on the lake during the day to keep them entertained. Charters cost from £550 for a half day booking.
Stand out from the crowd
The category for anyone who wants to be different; from bikers who might want to arrive on their trusty motorcycles to girls who envision pink cadillacs. A VW Beetle is perfect for a beach themed wedding or anyone who loves this unfussy car while an Asian style cab would be a funky choice for a modern or Bollywood themed wedding. Doncaster based coach company, Wilfreda Beehive, can take you and your guests from church to reception on a bright red London bus. Holding up to 72 passengers the bus can be decorated with flowers and ribbons to match the wedding party, provides an alternative backdrop for photographs and comes accompanied by a chimney sweep for extra luck.
Walk
If you’re part of an eco-friendly couple who want a memorable journey then why not swap your high heels for a pair of comfortable shoes and walk from church to reception chatting with guests along the way. It’s free, but probably best done only when the venues are fairly close together otherwise some guests might be left behind. Like the horse and carriage you might also want to make sure you have an umbrella handy just in case.
Useful contacts
Northern Ferrari Hire: 0845 260 8360,
www.northernferrarihire.com
Horse Drawn Carriages: 01257 422618,
www.horsedrawncarriages.biz
Carriages of Distinction: 01274 870029, ~
www.carriagesofdistinction.co.uk
Bridgefield Carriages: 01606 853282,
www.bridgecarriages.co.uk
Pennine Helis: 01457 820152,
www.penninehelis.co.uk
Cheshire Helicopter Charter: 0800 030 4105,
www.cheshirehelicopters.co.uk
Brian Seedle Helicopters: 01253 342754,
www.bshelicopters.co.uk
Lake District Boat Charter: 07717 207583,
www.lakedistrictboatcharter.co.uk
Keswick Launch: 017687 72263,
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Wilfeda Beehive: 01302 330330,
www.wilfreda.co.uk
