Wedding transport has more moving parts than people expect. The couple, the bridal party, the family and the guests all need to be in the right place at the right time, and then home at the end of a long night.
Couples spend months choosing the venue, the flowers and the food, and transport is often left until the end. Yet it is one of the things most likely to go wrong on the day: a car that arrives late, guests stranded between the church and the reception, or a queue for taxis at a country house at midnight. With a little planning, it all runs smoothly, and nobody notices it at all. Here is how to plan it, step by step.
1. Start with a timeline
List every movement: getting ready to the ceremony, ceremony to photographs, photographs to the reception, and the end of the night. Write down who needs to be where, and at what time. It is the backbone of the whole plan.
Start with the morning. Where are the couple getting ready, and where is the bridal party? Who needs to arrive at the ceremony first, and who arrives last?
Then plan the middle of the day. Will there be photographs at a different place, and how long will they take? How far is it from the ceremony to the reception, and how will the guests get there?
Finally, plan the end of the night. When does the party finish, and how will everyone get home or back to their hotels? Share the timeline with everyone involved, so they know the plan.
2. The couple and the bridal party
Book the key cars for the morning and ceremony by the hour, so they wait for photographs rather than dropping and leaving. A car that stays with you means there is always a way to the next place. It takes the worry out of the day.
The bridal party often includes parents, bridesmaids, groomsmen and page boys and flower girls. They need to arrive at the ceremony in the right order, and on time. Plan the cars so that everyone fits, with room for dresses and flowers.
Many couples choose a special car for themselves, such as a vintage car or a classic Rolls-Royce, from a specialist wedding car company. ZeroLanes cars are modern saloons, executive cars, people carriers and minibuses. They are ideal for the bridal party, the family and the guests.
Allow extra time in the morning, as getting ready always takes longer than planned. Tell your drivers the exact addresses and any special instructions, using the note when you book. Your drivers’ names and the cars’ details are on the journey pages before pickup.
3. Guests between venues
If the ceremony and reception are in different places, people carriers and minibuses move groups together. Guests do not have to drive, find parking or worry about directions. They can relax and enjoy the day.
Many weddings take place in a church or a registry office, with the reception at a hotel, a country house or a barn. The distance between them can be several miles, along country lanes. Moving guests together keeps the day on schedule.
Count the guests who need transport, and choose the cars to fit. People carriers take small groups, and minibuses take larger ones. Plan more than one run if you need to.
Tell guests about the transport on the invitation or the wedding website. Let them know where and when to be collected. It helps everyone plan their day.
4. Elderly relatives
A car to their door and back at a time that suits them, rather than the end of the night. Older guests may not want to stay until midnight, and many no longer drive. A car of their own lets them come and go in comfort.
Grandparents and older relatives are among the most important guests at any wedding. Make sure they can get there easily, and home again when they are tired. It is one of the kindest things you can do.
Book a car to collect them from home, take them to the ceremony and on to the reception. Then book a car home at a time that suits them, perhaps after the speeches or the first dance. Tell them the plan in advance.
If a relative has mobility needs, mention them in the note when you book. Choose a car that is easy to get in and out of. Allow a little extra time at each end.
5. The end of the night
Rural venues have no taxi rank. Book the late journeys home ahead, and share the details with guests on the invitation. At the end of a wedding, everyone wants to leave at once, and taxis are scarce.
Many wedding venues are in the countryside, miles from the nearest town. Local taxi firms may be busy, or not work late at night. Guests who have been celebrating should not drive.
Book cars for the end of the night in advance, at set times, to take guests back to their hotels or homes. Stagger the times, so that guests who want to leave early can. Minibuses can take groups staying at the same hotel.
Share the details with guests before the day, so they know how they will get home. It gives them peace of mind, and they can enjoy the party. Nobody wants a stranded aunt at the end of the night.
The couple’s getaway
Many couples leave the reception in style at the end of the night, or the next morning, for their first night together or the airport for their honeymoon. Book the car ahead, and tell your driver where you are going. If you are heading for a flight, see our airport guides.
For a day with many movements, a car by the hour keeps it simple. See 10 ways to use a car by the hour.
Every car is priced before you confirm, so the transport budget is known on the day you book it.
Ride with ZeroLanes. A car booked ahead, at a price fixed before you confirm, with the driver and the car on your journey page before pickup. Book a car by the hour.