When you imagine your grand getaway, do you envision a sleek classic car or a formal stretch limo? Maybe you’ve always dreamt of escaping on the back of a scooter or horse-drawn carriage! Whatever your vision, there are a few questions you need to keep in mind before booking. Who is riding with you? Note that the ceremony departure and the reception departure happen hours apart, and you may have two differ- ent visions of these getaways in mind. Most newlywed couples leave before the reception is officially over, but if your wedding party rode in a party bus with you, they’ll be stuck with no way back to their cars or hotel. You’ve probably also had numerous visions of you and your new spouse riding off in the backseat of a vintage car or driving a sleek sports car. If you want to celebrate with your wedding party after the ceremony, but share an inti- mate moment with your new spouse after the reception, you may want to hire two different vehicles. How long should you hire the service for? If you plan to use the same vehicle for your ceremony and reception depar- tures, you’ll need to hire a service for 4-6 hours. This will ensure you have enough time to get from the ceremo- ny to the reception, enjoy dinner and dancing, and depart your reception. Note that if you plan to go to a sepa- rate photo location between the cere- mony and reception, you’ll have to add at least another hour and a half to the contract. How far are you traveling? When choosing a vehicle, consider the distance between your ceremony location and your reception site. If they’re more than 10 minutes apart or you have to get on a highway, quaint vehicles like a vintage bike or a horse drawn carriage aren’t practical. You should also consider the path you’ll take, as serpentine roads and party bus dancing are ingredients for a dis- aster. Figuring out the details for your wed- ding transportation and planning an itinerary is key to making sure that everyone is where they need to be, when they need to be there. Ask yourself... Ross Harvey 128 | TELL VENDORS YOU SAW THEIR AD IN TODAY’S BRIDE TRANSPORTATION TipstoRemember 1. Make sure your transportation company is registered with the Department of Transportation and has all the required insurance. 2. Your contract should specify the details of the vehicle you’ve chosen, including the make, model, and license plate number. 3. Demands for limos go up around prom season, so consider choosing an alter- native vehicle if you’re having a spring wedding. You should start looking for transportation companies about 4-6 months before your wedding and reserve your vehicle no later than 3 months ahead of time. Before signing a contract, here are a few things you should keep in mind! K a t e W o l fram , Today’s Bride