Wedding transport tends to get booked late, after the venue, the dress and the photographer, when the budget is already tight and the good cars are already taken. It is also the one supplier that touches the most nervous parts of the day: getting the bride there on time, and getting everyone away afterwards.
We do a lot of Waikato weddings. Here is what actually matters when you book a classic car, in the order it matters.
How wedding car hire is priced
Almost all classic wedding car hire in New Zealand is chauffeur driven and charged by the hour, with a minimum booking. Self drive is rare because insurers do not love the combination of an irreplaceable car, a nervous driver and a champagne breakfast.
Rates vary by vehicle rather than by day of the week. Ours run from $150 an hour for the Jaguar Mark II up to $200 an hour for the Thunderbird and the Mercedes SL55 AMG, with ribbons, a suited chauffeur and photo stops included.
- 1966 Jaguar Mark II from $150 per hour
- 1964 and a half Ford Mustang from $180 per hour
- 1955 Ford Thunderbird from $200 per hour
- Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG from $200 per hour
- School balls and formals from $150
How many hours do you actually need?
Most couples underestimate this. The car is not just doing one trip, and the gaps between trips are where bookings go wrong.
A typical three hour booking covers the bride and party to the ceremony, a photo session afterwards, and the transfer to the reception. If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue you may only need two. If you have a first look, a separate photo location or a big gap between ceremony and reception, four is safer.
Two hours
Ceremony and reception at one venue, minimal travel, photos on site. Tight but workable.
Three hours
The standard. Bride to ceremony, photo stops, transfer to reception. Suits most Waikato weddings.
Four hours or more
Separate photo location, a long gap in the schedule, multiple trips for the wedding party, or a rural venue with real distance involved.
Choosing the car for the dress and the photos
This sounds superficial and it is not. The car appears in a significant number of your photographs, and some combinations work better than others.
Convertibles like the Thunderbird and the SL55 photograph beautifully with the roof down, and they are the best choice for a dramatic arrival, but they are unforgiving of wind and rain and they do not suit a very structured veil. A saloon like the Jaguar Mark II is easier to get into in a full skirt, keeps the hair intact, and gives you the classic door-opening shot.
- Full ballgown or a long train: a saloon with wide rear doors is far easier
- Fitted or shorter dress: a convertible works and looks spectacular
- Windy coastal venue: think hard before committing to roof down
- Colour: check the car colour against your palette, it will be in the photos
The questions to ask before you pay a deposit
- Is the chauffeur suited, and is that included in the rate?
- Are ribbons and decoration included, and can they match the palette?
- Will the driver stop for photos, and is that time inside the booking?
- What happens if the car breaks down, and is there a backup vehicle?
- Is there a travel charge for a rural venue outside the usual area?
- What is the cancellation and date change policy?
- Can you see the actual car, not a stock photo of the same model?
- How many trips are included, and is waiting time charged?
Timing on the day
Build in more slack than you think you need. Waikato venues are often rural, the last few kilometres are often gravel, and photographers always want ten more minutes.
The single most useful thing a couple can do is give the driver the photographer's contact details. When those two are talking directly, the schedule holds together on its own.
Booking ahead
Peak wedding season in the Waikato runs from late spring through to autumn, and Saturdays in February and March go first. Twelve months ahead is not unusual for a specific car on a specific date.
If your date is flexible, a Friday or a Sunday opens up availability considerably. If it is not, book the car early and treat it like the venue rather than an afterthought.
