Limousines. A stretch Humvee. A Bentley. A Rolls Royce. All cost a pretty penny when you book them for your wedding. You may have dreams of arriving for your ceremony in a classic car – or in a horse and carriage. It’s part of your wedding fantasy, and you already know which pictures you want the photographer to take of you emerging from your dream car, or the two of you waving goodbye through the back window. But the price….it can be quite overwhelming.

Here, you’ll find out how you can book these dream rides for less, using some smart tips, or create another plan that offers you something far more personalized. Or, how to arrange it so that your transportation costs you nothing. It all depends on what you want, if transportation is a high priority for your wedding day, and where your wedding will take place.

And don’t forget that wedding transportation is not just for the two of you. Your parents, bridal party and guests will also need rides. So how do you plan to arrange all of that? Read on for the top tips in transportation budgeting…
 
1. Save a fortune by using smart timing -- know that the clock (and your charges) start the minute the car leaves the home lot, so consider having the limos take you from the ceremony to the reception only, rather than waiting during your ceremony. When you emerge as Mr. and Mrs., those dream cars can be waiting for you and your bridal party. Just one quick ride to the reception, and the price is 1/3 of what it otherwise would have been. And you get those great pictures.

2. Negotiate extras -- like a red carpet, champagne service, drinks and snacks in the cars -- out of the package. In some cases, you can save hundreds of dollars.

3. Hire a regular limousine, not a stretch limo. They’re just as elegant and suit your needs…and there’s no feeling of ‘why did we book this?’ when you’re sitting alone in a car that seats 12.

4. Just get the one limousine for you both and for your parents, and have the bridal party travel in a separate car or two. Ask the hotel if you can get free use of their shuttle to give your bridal party a 'party bus' feel as they travel to the reception. Most hotels are very happy to allow you use of their fleet and drivers. For free.

5. Check with classic or antique car clubs to see if any of their members offer their 'babies' for weddings. Many owners make extra money this way, and they often charge much less than busy limo companies. Just investigate thoroughly so that you know the car is in good working order and look at referrals from previous clients.

6. Decorate YOUR car, or a friend's convertible and have a reliable driver take you around. You often can't decorate a limo or rented classic car, so this is one way to personalize your trip and get great photos as well as saving thousands of dollars.

7. If you'll have your ceremony and reception in one site, you won't need to rent any transportation.

8. Some brides and grooms choose a reception location that's in walking distance from the ceremony site, and they have a walking procession that's very fun and eye-catching. Just have rides available for guests who can't walk the distance. 2-4 blocks is ideal, so remember that your idea of 'walking distance' may be different from others'.

9. Stick to your timeline. Overtime is very expensive. So have someone notify you at the reception when it's time for you to leave. Brides and grooms who stay for a few more dances wind up paying hundreds more for a waiting car.

10. When shopping for luxury cars, go outside of the 'bridal' choices (limos, Bentleys, Rolls Royce) to see what the rental prices are for other types of cars.

11. See what your wedding coordinator or other wedding vendors can find you in their own partner referral programs. You may get a great discount if a referral turns out to be a great one WHEN YOU RESEARCH THE COMPANY WELL.

12. Ask the hotel if they can get you a discount from the limousine company that they use for their VIP or top business guests. If you ask, you might just get a deal for being a wedding client.

13. Make good use of the hotel's shuttle services to transport your guests to and from the airport, train station, and even wedding weekend event sites like spas and shopping malls. It's great manners to look out for your guests' transportation budget too.

14. Check your contract for gratuity rules. Most transportation companies automatically include a 15% to 18% tip for the driver. So being aware of that will prevent you from tipping the driver again at the end of the night.

15. If you’ll hire a horse and carriage, don’t expect to save much. This fantasy ride is one of the most expensive options out there, and there are lots of weather and traffic rules to obey. If you do wish to book this type of ride, you can save some money by making sure the ceremony and reception sites are close together, and that you hire a reputable company that’s nearby. Again, the clock starts when they leave their lot. Check www.cona.org to find a carriage company near you.


Sharon Naylor is the author of 1000 BEST WEDDING BARGAINS and 30 additional wedding books, www.sharonnaylor.net