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If you are like many brides, you are probably planning to hire a limousine company to transport you to your wedding. Before you start interviewing companies, you should think about what type of car or limousine you would like to rent, for how many hours, and write down the questions you would like to ask the company.
First, calculate how many people will be traveling in the limo or how many in each limo. There are several types of limousine cars, each one that can accommodate a specific number of people comfortably. These are some standard cars available, however not all limo companies will have the same cars available.
- Sedans (mostly city cars, but sometimes Mercedes or specialty sedans)
- Limousine for 6 passengers (4 seats comfortably)
- Limousine for 8 passengers (6 seats comfortably)
- Limousine for 10 passengers (8 seats comfortably)
- Limousine for 12 passengers (10 seats comfortably)
- 14-22 SUV limousine (typically a Navigator, Escalade, or Excursion)
- 18-20 Passenger Hummer
- Small shuttle bus (22-35 passengers)
- Coach (45-55 passengers)
- Small limousine bus (14-22 passengers)
- Coach Limo Bus (28-35 passengers)
- Classic Cars (Rolls Royce, etc).
Once you know how many people will be in the limo, you need to find out how long you need it. Most limousine companies charge by the hour, so it is important to decide how many hours you will need. Also, most companies have an hourly minimum on Friday and Saturday nights, so if your wedding falls on one of these days and you only want a limousine for one hour, you may be charged the minimum rate. . Also, ask about their overtime rates. If your photography session is slightly over-scheduled, additional fees may be charged at the time of service if the reservation was exceeded the allotted time. When inquiring about packages, many limousine companies offer a wedding package. Typically, a wedding package includes 3 hours, red carpet service, and often a champagne toast. Three hours of limousine service will cover your transportation to the ceremony, transportation to the photo location, and delivery service at the reception. You can also think about transportation home after the reception. The limousine company can schedule a pick-up time after the reception without waiting for you during your reception.
You’ll want to book the business at least four to six months before your wedding. If your wedding falls between the months of April to September, you may want to book your transportation even earlier as the most popular wedding months fill up quickly. Keep in mind that during the months of April to June, depending on the area, limousine companies also book dances, which can get in the way of your booking plans.
Call several companies in the area and see how responsive they are to your questions and inquiries. It is important that they are responsive and courteous to your requests. When requesting their rates, also ask about the inclusion of tips, cancellation fees, and how overtime rates are charged. Limousine companies generally allow a fifteen minute grace period to allow additional time, however once your grace period has passed you may be charged overtime. Also ask what the vehicles, alcohol, music, smoking or not smoking, refrigeration and / or food come with. If possible, make an appointment to view your fleet of vehicles.
Book your limousine with the company that you think will arrive on time, have the best vehicle and driver, and have the best price. For most people, the price is not as important as the service, so don’t automatically choose the lower rate, often in the limousine business, you get what you pay for. When booking, make sure you get a copy of the contract, confirmation / reservation number, as well as their written cancellation policy. Confirm with the company if they will hand over the job or if they will transfer the job to another company. If they plan to sell the job (which is common practice among limo companies, especially for ‘hot’ booking dates) get the name and address of the company so you can check its reliability, car condition and service . If you are not comfortable having your wedding transportation handled by another company, please let them know.
One week before your wedding, call and confirm your reservation and request a contact number for the driver. Make sure to verify that the pickup route and addresses are correct. On the wedding day you can also call and confirm that your limo is scheduled to arrive on time.