Rules of the Road, by Randy Hively, A Touch of Class Limousines
Imagine: The day you've been waiting for is finally here. You walked down the aisle and married the person of your dreams. Now, you're stepping out of the church as husband and wife to a chorus of cheering family and friends. You're ready to embark on a wonderful life. And waiting to whisk you away is a shiny stretch limousine with a red carpet rolled out in your honor.
Dreams can come true.
To help insure that your dream is calm and peaceful, I'd like to shed some light on the limousine industry, as it relates to weddings. After all, the last thing newylweds want on their wedding day is to end up with a limousine they're embarrassed to ride in. (Or to endure a slovenly dressed chauffer.)
Here, then, are 10 Rules of the Road to help insure that you have a smooth ride.
1. Look Before You Buy. Many people simply pick up the phone book and reserve a wedding limousine sight unseen. Unfortunately, not all limousines are equal. Some companies maintain their vehicles in pristine condition, while others...well, let's just say you wouldn't want to be seen riding in one of their vehicles. You no doubt met with prospective photographers and caterers before making your selections; do the same when reserving a limousine.
Becky and Steve Hildebrand of Blue Sky Media wish they'd heard this advice prior to their wedding. Their limousine had no air conditioning (on one of the hottest days of the year), and the windows wouldn't roll down. On the way to the church, the groomsmen had to ask the chauffeur to pull over just so they could get out for some fresh air. They were able to open the moon roof, but when it started raining a short time later, it wouldn't close. The chauffeur was professional and courteous, but the whole experience is the one blemish on their special day that Becky and Steve will never forget.
2. Testimonials. There is no better recommendation than happy testimonials from satisfied clients. With that said, keep in mind that word-of-mouth should be considered in conjunction with everything else your research discovers. If the company can offer no testimonials, ask yourself why. If, on the other hand, a company has numerous testimonials from satisfied clients, it must be doing something right.
3. The Power of Referrals. Referrals go hand in hand with testimonials. The latter is something you usually read, while the former is something you hear. Most wedding professionals have a preferred vendor list through which they recommend other competent professionals with whom they've worked. Use it.
Another great source for referrals is photographers, since they see and deal with limousine companies and chauffeurs all the time. Bob Rosensteel of Friend of the Family Wedding Photography takes his referrals one step further: He links to them on his website (www.RosensteelStudio.com).
So, before you start flipping through the Yellow Pages, ask for referrals from everyone you meet: photographers, videographers, reception site staff, caterers, wedding planners, and florists. After asking several professionals for suggestions, one or two names will emerge as the most frequently recommended.
4. Wedding Shows. Word of a wedding show/expo/extravaganza is enough to grab the attention of every bride in town. And what better opportunity to meet wedding professionals? There is no substitute for experience, and the professionals attending these shows have countless weddings to their credit. Seek their advice on finding a reputable limousine company.
5. May Weddings. May is a beautiful time of year for weddings. The weather is not too hot, and flowers and trees are in bloom. But May is also prom season. What do proms have to do with weddings? If you don't want a limousine, then absolutely nothing. But if you do want one, May is the busiest month of the year for limousine companies.
My advice for May weddings is to schedule everything early in the day. Instead of a four o'clock wedding, have it at two. This way, you will not be competing against proms, as most prom limos start rolling at five o'clock. Friday and Saturday evenings in May are the busiest, and there simply aren't enough limousines for everyone. Consequently, they're in high demand, and any limousine rental after five o'clock goes for a premium. Instead of spending $300 on a limo for a late day wedding, you could easily end up paying twice that.
6. Scheduling a Limousine. Reserving a limousine for a specific time sounds easy. You want it to pick up the bridal party at the house, take them to the church, and then take the newlyweds from the church to the reception. Simple, right? Most of the time, yes.
But not always.
A key player in your wedding is the photographer; so much hinges on this person's schedule and your photography requirements. For example, if you want 10 pictures taken after the ceremony, the photographer will be done in 15-20 minutes. If, however, you want 30 posed shots, it could take up to an hour. So, when reserving your limousine, check with your photographer to see how long he'll need to shoot the after-ceremony photos. Then figure out how long it will take to get from the church to the reception, and reserve your limousine accordingly.
Reserving the proper timeframe is also crucial. For example, if you tell a limo company that you want a vehicle from one to four o'clock, it will then accept reservations on that same limousine on or after five o'clock. But what happens when the ceremony and photos take longer than anticipated? If you're not sure of the time, it's better to err on the side of giving yourself too much rather than not enough.
7. Picking the Right Limousine. As noted earlier, not all limousines are alike. Besides a well-maintained, clean vehicle, you also want the right kind of limousine for your wedding. The most prominent wedding limousine is a Lincoln Town Car, a traditional vehicle that serves 99 percent of all weddings. Occasionally, I get a phone call for an SUV limo. One thing to consider with these larger vehicles is the fact that the ladies will have to step up to get into an SUV limo, and this can be cumbersome in formal attire.
Another popular wedding vehicle is a classic car, like a vintage Rolls Royce. While these cars usually only carry two passengers, they are ideal for taking the father and bride to the church, and for whisking away the newlyweds after the ceremony.
Either way, how you coordinate your wedding transportation is a personal preference. Keep in mind also, that you do not want a 10-passenger limousine if you have 10 people riding in it--no one will be comfortable. Always get a larger-capacity limousine. Of course, a lot depends on the depth of dear ol' Dad's pockets!
8. You Get What You Pay For. The adage is particularly true in the limousine industry. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. For example, the low price you're quoted is possibly the base price; it may not include a driver gratuity or refreshments in the limo, or there may be other hidden charges.
I know of companies that charge a three percent "booking fee." This fee represents paper and phones and ink and--well, you get the idea. It's honestly nothing more than a way to charge clients extra. Likewise, some companies will charge as much as $1.50 for a soda.
9. What About Amenities? Some limousine companies do not provide any refreshments. Others will stock the bar with one or two choices of sodas. A few companies, however, not only stock sodas, water, ice, snacks, and mints, but also provide your choice of sodas. What if the newlyweds want a bottle of champagne in the limo? Some companies will provide it. (They cannot, however, charge extra for doing so; limo companies do not hold liquor licenses.)
10. Character Counts. Most people in Frederick are familiar with the "Character Counts!" program in our schools. But what about the character of your limo company? Testimonials tell part of the story; but what about the chauffeurs? Are they well-groomed? Do they wear tuxedos? Will they assist the bride with her train? Are they punctual? Even more crucial, do they show up early to give the wedding party peace of mind?
And is the company above-board? With Frederick's proximity to three state borders, limousines often cross state lines for weddings. However, any limo that does so must be in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) guidelines. In all likelihood, this will not impact you. However, if your limousine is pulled over for not having a USDOT number, your magical wedding day could suddenly disappear (along with your ride). Besides, who would you prefer be in charge of your wedding day transportation, an illegitimate company operating by the seat of its pants, or one operating legally and properly (USDOT requires $1.5 million in insurance coverage; some illegitimate operators squeak by on $300,000)?
The best consumer is the well-informed consumer, so ask questions. Your wedding day is special, and everything--from the flowers to the cake to the limo--should be special, too.
(This article was published in Frederick Magazine, January, 2004.)
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