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When you’re planning a proposal, popping that big question can seem like the most important thing in the world. But once they’ve said yes, you’ll realise that there’s a whole host of decisions that need to be made. And along with the dress and the venue, one choice that will have a big impact on your special day is the time of year that you pick. So if you’re struggling to choose between a winter and a summer wedding, here are some tips to help you decide.

Statistically, the vast majority of weddings take place during the warmer months – and it’s easy to see why. You’ll (hopefully) be able to get married in the sunshine – or at least in weather that doesn’t require heavy coats – and the possibility of celebrating outside means a wider choice of venues. Late spring and summer weddings also open up more opportunities for budget weddings – a barn and camping for guests can be charming when the sun is out, but much less so in colder temperatures. Also, some caterers and other services only operate during these months of the year, so you’ll have more choice too.

Given all these positives, why would someone choose a winter wedding? Luckily, there are lots of advantages to getting married during the colder months. For starters, many venues are cheaper around this time, so your budget is likely to stretch further. And while the weather might not seem as appealing, wrapping up warm for your celebrations can be romantic – and there’s even the chance of snow for some really dramatic photographs. Also, essential wedding services like car hire are usually less popular at this time of year, so there’s more chance of getting exactly what you want.

In short, both summer and winter offer great opportunities for celebrating your special day. If sunshine and warmth are important to you, then it obviously makes more sense to tie the knot when you have more chance of good weather – although in the UK nothing is guaranteed! Similarly, a winter wedding can be great looking for those to get married on the cheap without making compromises on all the things that you’ve dreamed of. So if you’re struggling to choose between the two, the best approach is to sit down and think about what your priorities are – and you’ll soon be on your way to enjoying a celebration that you’ll never forget.

Photo Credit: LucieWatsonPhotography.com

When planning a wedding, there are so many choices to make: what dress to wear, what type of venue to choose, how to entertain your guests. And whether we like it or not, each choice says a little bit about who we are – and what we want our marriage to be. But what about the transport for your big day? We take a light-hearted look at what the most popular types tell us about the couples that pick them.

Vintage wedding cars

If you’ve chosen a classic vehicle like a Rolls Royce or a Bentley to whisk you to the venue on your wedding day, you’re a hopeless romantic who wants to pull out all the stops. Timeless and elegant, you and your loved one have bags of style and aren’t afraid to show the world. Teamed with avintage wedding dress for the bride and a cute, retro-themed reception, this choice is one that will never go out of fashion.

Sports cars

Who wouldn’t want to arrive at their wedding in a sleek Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini sports car? Stylish, sophisticated and effortlessly cool, these are vehicles with the real wow factor – a choice that will blow your guests away. The couples that choose these are dynamic and exciting people with lives that make others green with envy – and a ride in a wedding sports car will likely be followed by a honeymoon in some far-flung and exotic location.

Stretch limousine

The choice of the party animal, the stretch limousine is a vehicle for the couple that can’t decide between their loved ones – and opts to invite everyone along for the ride! If you’re travelling to your wedding in a stretch limo, you’re fun, sociable and like to let your hair down. And on your special day, we know that the celebrations won’t stop until the early hours!

Horse and carriage

For some people, it’s all about tradition – and even a motorised wedding car is too much of a concession to the modern age. If you’ve chosen a horse and carriage for your wedding day, you’re likely an old-fashioned sort of couple that wants your celebration to be all about the romance. You’re definitely not in a hurry, of course, and we predict that your day will be filled with precious moments to treasure for the rest of your lives.

It’s the eternal wedding debate… one of you wants to arrive at the venue in an elegant, vintage vehicle, while the other is dreaming of the sleek lines and powerful engine of the latest sports car. So how do you decide between the two? Luckily, it’s not just about the aesthetics – there are practical considerations that can help lead you in the right direction.

In order to make the best choice, you need to look at the pros and cons of both options. So let’s look at vintage cars first. With their classic good looks, romantic appearance and elegant interiors, older model vehicles like Rolls Royces and Bentleys are a popular choice of wedding car. And in many ways, they live up to the hype. You’ll definitely feel like a million dollars on board one of these charming vehicles, and they’re sure to make a beautiful backdrop to your special day.

However, classic cars have their limitations too. For example, they often have little power behind them, and might struggle with particularly hilly or difficult terrain. Plus, there’s a higher chance that they could break down – leaving you stranded en route to the biggest day of your life.

Another consideration is what you want in the way of technology. If your idea of the perfect ride to your wedding is relaxing with a glass of bubbly in hand, chatting while some soft music plays in the background, then a vintage vehicle could be just what you’re looking for. But if you’re the
sort of person who wants a state-of-the-art sound system and plenty of gadgets on board, you’re better off looking at a more modern option.

While they are a more unusual choice, modern wedding cars can be just as glamorous as their vintage counterparts – although they won’t give off the same traditional vibe. But what they lack in old-school charm they more than make up for in effortless cool, and your guests are sure to be impressed if you arrive in the latest Ferrari or Porsche model. And with the latest luxury vehicles, you’ll need to worry far less about any mechanical failings.

However, it’s worth noting that modern wedding cars are often less roomy than classic ones – although if space is a consideration you could always opt for a ‘stretch’ version of your favourite car. As you can see, there are pros and cons to each option – so take some time to weigh them up and decide which one is right for your big day.

Wedding planning is an exciting time, but one that always comes with a certain reservation too. And when you have to fork out for everything from the dress and the flowers to the venue and the catering, the costs soon start adding up. Of course, sensible wedding budget is the key, but it can be difficult to know how much to set aside. That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide to wedding transport costs.

First, do a headcount of everyone you’ll need to sort travel for on your big day. Traditionally, you’ll be responsible for organising transport for the bride and groom and their respective wedding parties, plus both sets of parents and any other close family members. However, you don’t need to stick to this if it seems to costly – just talk to your guests honestly about what’s right for you.

Generally speaking, an out-of-season, basic car hire package will start somewhere in the region of £200. And if you only need a vehicle for an hour or two, you shouldn’t have to budget much more than this – although bear in mind that summer wedding transport will come with a higher
charge.

Confusingly, different companies operate different methods of pricing, with some charging by the hour and some charging a set fee. With this in mind, it’s difficult to predict exact prices, but if you want full day hire of a luxury vehicle you’ll need to be putting aside a budget of around £300 to £500. And if you need to transport your guests from the ceremony to the venue, coach hire usually starts at around £200.

At first, these prices can seem a bit daunting, with the possibility of paying over a thousand pounds just for transport on your big day. But luckily there are some things that you can do to bring these costs down. For example, some companies will offer a discount for couples booking multiple cars, while others offer special packages that will bring prices down. And don’t forget to negotiate either – often you can get extras like flowers and champagne thrown in for free.

With the right wedding budgeting, you can plan your perfect wedding transport – with no nasty surprises once the final bill arrives!

Your wedding day is the happiest day of your life – but it’s likely to be the most expensive one too. And as well as the obvious expenses like the venue and the dress, there are countless smaller costs that will probably take you by surprise. And before long, you might find yourself worryingly over budget. But don’t panic! There are some areas where it’s relatively easy to make savings – such as hiring your wedding car.

Like many aspects of your wedding, transport can be cheaper when booked out of season – so consider having your celebration in autumn or winter to keep costs down. Also, many hire providers also supply vehicles for events like proms or graduations, so choosing a date that doesn’t fall during these seasons will help you get the best price.

Already settled on your date? Don’t worry, there are other things that you can do to help cut costs. For example, do you really need to provide luxury transport for the whole bridal party? A common money-saving trick is for the groom to travel with other guests to the ceremony, while a wedding car picks up the bride and her party. Then, once the ceremony is over, the happy couple can travel onwards in the vehicle – eliminating the need to hire multiple wedding cars. And if you do need to organise transport for a larger party, a minibus or coach is obviously a more affordable option than a fleet of luxury limousines.

If you’ve already got your heart set on your dream car, there’s limited flexibility, but it’s still worth shopping around for the best deal. In some cases, even choosing a different colour or a slightly older model can make surprising differences in the hire cost. And if you haven’t decided yet,
you’re in luck! Obviously, the most popular wedding cars like Rolls Royces and Bentleys are the most in demand, but if you’re happy with a more unusual choice there are some fantastic savings to be made.

Finally, you can slash the costs of wedding car hire if you only need a vehicle for a few hours, rather than a whole day. So if you’re on a tight budget, why not hire something just for your grand entrance and the photographs, then catch a taxi or to any later engagements? It might not be as glamorous but it’s convenient and affordable, freeing up your finances to spend money elsewhere.