Useful information - Cars - Guide to Hiring your wedding car- Car Styles

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Top 10 tips for hiring a wedding car

 1You need to hire a reliable and professional company for your transportation - The best way to do this is to ask for testimonials to good service and where possible get the company to show you letters of recommendation or supply phone numbers of previous customers.

2The cheapest may not always be the best - The last thing you want on your wedding day is a timeworn, under maintained car that looks tired and scruffy. Always view the actual car that will turn up for you on the day and get this confirmed in writing. Most vintage car owners are also enthusiasts and will be proud to show you their cars and share in the history.

3 Know what you are hiring – If you want to hire a vintage car make sure you are hiring the real thing! Be careful of cars being advertised as 1920’s or /30’s style. This means they are not vintage, but are just replicas of that era. Of course there are some people that want to hire a replica. A genuine vintage car will look, drive, sound and feel very different on the road from a replica.

Know your cars:

1905-1918 = Edwardian

1919-1930 = Vintage

1931-1939 = Post War

1940-1959 = Historic

1960-1979 = Classic

1979- Onward = Modern Classic

4 No one wants a disaster on their wedding day - Ask the hire company or car owner for their disaster recovery plan – e.g. what would they do in event of breakdown on or before the day? Would they have a comparable car available? How long would it take to organise?

5 If you are hiring only one wedding car – If you are looking to use the wedding car to have the Bridesmaids and Brides Mother taken to the ceremony before the Bride - check this is included in the price.

The best wedding car companies will ask to meet with you and talk through your transport requirements for the day (in detail) and then submit a signed schedule for you to approve. If they don’t offer this service as standard – then ask for a specifically written service schedule and tell the company what you expect to be included in the hire price beforehand.

6 Are you insured ? – Although you hope everything to go well on your special day - things do go wrong. Make sure the hire company has its vehicle/s covered for weddings and that you are insured while travelling in the car against personal injury. Ask for a copy or to be shown a copy of the insurance certificate.

7 How long is the hire for ? – Some companies will charge you the same for 2 hours as some will charge for 5 and 7 hours. Normally companies that offer a 2 hour hire will be undertaking more than one wedding on your day of hire. Ask the question – will the car be attending other weddings on your day of hire? The best option is to find a company that has the style of car you require, only book one wedding a day and can offer you the right price. This way you can be sure:

a) The car will be clean

b) It will not be late

c) You are not pressed for time and can relax with the car for photos

d) You will feel not like part of a production line - but someone special

Note: The best companies will arrive at your pick-up address at the very least 45 minutes before the first occupants need to leave for the ceremony - or earlier if requested by you - at no extra cost. This gives you piece of mind the car has turned up and is waiting and gives ample time for your photographer to catch the moment you leave for the ceomony with your escort.

What will the Chauffeur will be wearing ? – He should be wearing a full matching Chauffeurs Uniform and hat. Watch out for the suit and tie – which could be disappointing if you are expecting a Chauffeurs in Uniform. If you are hiring a Vintage Car the Chauffeur should be wearing a period uniform to match the age of the car.

Note: The best wedding car companies will have thought about this kind of detail.

Note: You will have certainly spent a great deal of time making sure everything is just right for your day – you should expect the same of your wedding car hire company and except nothing less.

9 Can you get into the wedding car - Can you get into the car and sit down in the car without creasing your gown? If you have a full gown the best vehicles for access are usually certain types of vintage or historic vehicles. Access is very good, many have foot plates and running boards which aid entry into the car and space in some types of tourer is ample. Note: A good reason to view the car first.

Note: watch out for protruding door catches that can tear a gown or soil a gown with grease or oil. These should be covered before you enter or leave the car.

10 If you choose a modern car - Cars manufactured with seatbelts the law permits all occupants of vehicles to wear seatbelts. If however the car you are hiring was manufactured without seatbelts, the law allows the occupants of the vehicle not to wear seatbelts due to an age exemption law. This is worth bearing in mind when booking a car.

From the Brides prospective not wearing a seatbelt may ensure the gown does not become creased, on the other hand you may prefer to travel in a car with seat belts. Although most chauffeurs will usually drive very carefully and measured at weddings, but keep in mind there are other users of the Queens highways that maybe less careful.

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This directory is to help you from your initial engagement, buying your wedding ring, dress, tiara etc. Booking your venue for the reception ordering the wedding photographer, cars, and flowers, booking the entertainment be it a magican band or singer. sending out invitations on your chosen stationery and the final touches such as choosing favours table decorations such as balloons etc. and of course planning for your hen and stag night parties. You can also download wedding planning software to make it all come to gether