One of our go-to vendors for wedding transportation is Lifestyle Limousine Company, so we reached out to them to get some insight on how to have picture-perfect wedding transportation on your big day. We are excited to share the following tips from the owner of Lifestyle Limousine Company, Heidi Beaudoin.
Although your wedding is one of the most exciting times in your life, it’s no secret that planning a wedding has the potential to be a very stressful process. It involves making many specific choices, from gowns to boutonnieres, every detail is important and selected carefully. The quality and aesthetic of each component play a unique role in creating a memorable experience for you, and your guests. Picking the perfect wedding limo is no different! And knowing how to select the right one for you can both ease the stress of planning and ensure that your personal needs and preferences are satisfied. As the owner of Lifestyle Limousine Company, I’m proud to say we’ve provided hundreds of wedding limos over the years and know exactly what to focus on to make sure you get the limo of your dreams! And now I want to pass on some of that knowledge to you. So, here are our top seven tips for selecting picture-perfect wedding transportation.
Set A Transportation Budget
Similar to choosing a venue, a great first step in deciding your limo service is establishing a budget. Having this foundation can help immensely with narrowing down the wide range of feature-specific options that you might encounter in your search. With a predetermined budget, you can easily figure out which options are viable for your needs, whether you want to optimize cost-effectiveness or luxury. Because either scenario might require some flexibility, structuring your budget as a range of a minimum and maximum spending can be a great strategy to achieve quality and adequate accommodation for your party.
Experience of the Limo Company
Making sure your limo service can meet your expectations is well worth the due diligence. Do some research on the companies in your area and find out how long they have been around, how many weddings they have serviced, and how reliable their staff is. In many cases, your first phone call or email to ask about their services and features can be quite telling of how they value their customers. If your initial inquiry is not handled well, it is usually a good idea to consider other limo services that genuinely care about you and the quality of their service.
Who Are Their Drivers?
Any quality limousine service will have quality drivers, so if you follow the other steps, you shouldn’t have to worry about this! Nevertheless, you should make sure the company does background checks and drug testing on their drivers. And last but not least, ask what the drivers wear – because you don’t want a man in shorts or ripped jeans showing up on your wedding day!
Read Reviews
While the experience of the limo company is important, the experience of their customers is also an invaluable resource that cannot be emphasized enough! Read reviews from people who have used their limo services and look for any common complaints and praises to get a better idea of the strengths and weaknesses of each company.
However, you need to make sure that the information you are using for these considerations is authentic. There are several fraudulent limousine services listed right here in the Raleigh area. As you get more involved in your research, you might experience targeted ads and pop-ups, which are often from fraudulent companies claiming to offer exceptional deals. As a rule of thumb, look for companies that have at least 30 reviews and use websites like WeddingWire.com, Yelp, and Google to cross-reference information to ensure that your options are legitimate limousine companies.
Look for Real Photos
Much like fraudulent companies and reviews, it’s not uncommon for companies to use stock photos for their websites, profiles, and advertisements. Or even worse, use their competitor’s vehicle photos – we’ve had it happen! Make sure to ask limo companies if the vehicles that appear in their photos are the ones that you’ll be reserving.
What to Look For?
Company Logo: Unfortunately, another sneaky trick some companies will do is rent the vehicle from a 3rd party, in order to provide the service to you. This may not seem like a big deal, but if they don’t own their car, it’s much more likely to hit a snag on your wedding day if that car breaks down. One way you’ll know it is their car – it should have their logo on it! If it doesn’t that is your first red flag.
For Hire (License Plate): This “For Hire” will ensure they have the proper insurance to be driving a limousine. If the license plate does not state it, they are not a legal limousine company and you definitely do not want to do business with them.
US DOT/MC Numbers: A US DOT Number identifies carriers operating in interstate commerce meaning they are crossing over state lines. An MC Number identifies a carrier who transports regulated commodities for hire but stay inside their own state. If you see these numbers you know that they are under the Federal Bureau of Safety Administration and have the correct insurance because they are being watched.
Evaluating the photos on the company website, or asking for photos on your first inquiry is a best practice, to help you qualify the legitimacy of the company and to ensure you know the condition of the actual vehicle that will be showing up on your wedding day!
Size of the Party
Although it might seem obvious, it’s worth mentioning that the size of your party should be kept in mind when making decisions about your wedding transportation. You want to make sure that you and your guests are comfortable and enjoying themselves, and that your transportation can accommodate the party accordingly. Consider the ease of entry and exit from the vehicle as well if you have any elderly guests, and/or a large wedding dress. The last thing you want is a wardrobe malfunction during your picture-perfect arrival!
Small Party (two to nine passengers)
For smaller parties, a classic stretch limo like the Chrysler 300 or even a Mercedes Sprinter Limo Van is an excellent option that offers sleek and stylish transportation with a luxurious vibe.
Medium Party (10 to 13 passengers)
For medium-sized parties, stretch SUVs are usually the best option or the Larger Mercedes Sprinter Limo vans, offering a little more space than stretch limos – you want to make sure that you and your guests feel comfortable on this once-in-a-lifetime ride, so it can be wise to err on the side of accommodation if the size of your party is somewhere between small and medium.
Large Party (14 to 26 passengers)
Finally, for large parties, the super stretch SUVs such as Escalades and Yukons or Luxury Limo Party Buses are a must. They offer the most space, comfort and usually have additional features that complement the energy of larger parties, such as LED ceilings and flatscreen TVs. Be sure to factor in the size and personal needs of your party when deciding which option will curate an amazing experience while keeping your budget in check.
Find Your Style
Aesthetics play a significant role in weddings, and your limo should match the theme you’ve worked so hard to create. Make sure the limo you choose contributes to the cohesion of your wedding theme by considering how it meshes with the other visual elements of the wedding, such as the venue, color selection, and attire. For example, more rustic or traditional weddings might call for town-car or vintage limousines, while more contemporary themed weddings demand sleek and modern limousines. Creating an unforgettable experience is all about attention to detail, and being consistent with your theme is an important aspect of selecting the right limo for your wedding.
Book Your Limo Early
No matter what time of year your wedding is, it is important to book early. It is even more important if you’re getting married between March – June, as there is overlap with prom season and limousines will be extremely limited this time of year. Doing your research on the previous points as early as possible affords you the advantage of booking your limo early, which means more options with regards to vehicles and companies. Simply put, you will have more at your disposal and adequate time to plan accordingly. More important booking early allows more opportunity for correspondence between you and the company, ensuring that details will not go overlooked. Any potential unforeseen issues can be addressed and resolved without the possibility of being left with insufficient space or lack of transportation altogether. Planning ahead is the best way to make sure all your needs are met within the limits of your budget, which means you and your party can fully enjoy your ride, knowing that everything is accounted for!
It’s important to ensure your wedding day goes according to plan and runs on schedule. Now, we can’t guarantee that everything will go as planned, but choosing the right limo service for your wedding will help ensure that you get to and from the wedding in style, and on time. All you need to do is follow these seven tips and you will be on your way to picture-perfect wedding transportation! If you have any questions please feel free to call us at Lifestyle Limousine Company anytime at 919-332-3676.
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