Of all the suppliers you book for a wedding, transport is the one that has to work to the minute. The photographer can wait, the cake can arrive early, but the bride cannot be forty minutes late because a car was double-booked. These ten tips come from years of Melbourne wedding days and will help you book wedding car hire in Melbourne with confidence.
1. Book early, especially for spring and autumn Saturdays
Melbourne's most popular wedding months are in spring and autumn, and Saturdays in those months book out first. Once your date and venues are confirmed, book your wedding cars. Three to six months ahead is sensible for a peak Saturday, and even more for a long weekend. Shorter notice is sometimes possible, but you will have less choice of vehicle.
2. Work out how many cars you actually need
Couples often book one beautiful car for the bride and forget everyone else. Think through who needs to travel, and when:
- The bride and whoever is walking her down the aisle
- The bridesmaids and flower girls
- The groom and groomsmen
- Parents and grandparents
- Guests moving between the ceremony and the reception
Many weddings need two or three vehicles, often a mix of a luxury sedan for the bride, an SUV or people mover for the bridal party, and a van for guests. Our wedding chauffeur service can combine vehicles for the whole party.
3. Build a written run sheet
A run sheet lists every pickup, every address and every time for the day. It is the single most useful document for your transport, and a professional wedding chauffeur will build it with you. Everyone knows where they need to be, and your chauffeur follows the plan without needing to ask anyone on the day.
4. Add a buffer for Melbourne traffic
Saturday traffic in Melbourne is unpredictable. There are football crowds, roadworks, events in the CBD and weekend congestion on the freeways. Build at least fifteen to twenty minutes of buffer into every leg of the run sheet. Arriving early at the ceremony is never a problem. Arriving late always is.
5. Plan the photo stops
If you are stopping for photographs between the ceremony and the reception, whether in a park, on a laneway or by the bay, include the location and the time on the run sheet. Your chauffeur can wait with the car and position it in the background of the photos if you would like it there.
6. Choose the car to suit the dress
A voluminous gown needs room. Sedans with generous rear legroom and wide doors are easier to get in and out of gracefully. SUVs sit higher, which some brides find easier. Ask to see the vehicle's interior if you are unsure, and let the chauffeur know about the dress so they can help at every stop.
7. Ask about ribbons and decoration
Ribbons are a wedding tradition, and many companies fit them as standard. Tell your provider your colour scheme when you book. If you would like flowers on the car, check with both your florist and the chauffeur company about how they will be attached without damaging the paintwork.
8. Look after your guests
Guest transport is the most overlooked part of wedding planning. If your ceremony and reception are at different venues, especially if one is out of town, guests either drive (and then cannot drink) or scramble for rideshares in a place with poor coverage. A people mover or luxury van solves both problems, and it gets everyone to the reception at the same time. For guests flying in, airport transfers and hotel transfers can be added to the same booking.
9. Plan for regional and winery venues
The Yarra Valley, the Mornington Peninsula and the Bellarine are hugely popular for weddings. They are also a long way from the city, and late-night rideshare availability there can be poor. Plan transport for the end of the night as carefully as the start: who is going back to the city, who is staying locally and when the last car leaves. Our guide to day trips from Melbourne by private chauffeur covers these regions in more detail.
10. Ask the right questions before you pay a deposit
- Is the price fixed, and exactly how long is the car booked for?
- What happens if the ceremony runs late?
- Are the vehicles licensed and insured for commercial passenger use?
- Will I get the actual vehicle I booked, or "a similar model"?
- Are ribbons included?
- What is the cancellation and date-change policy?
A sample wedding day timeline
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1:15pm | Groom's car collects the groom and groomsmen |
| 1:30pm | Bridesmaids' car collects the bridal party |
| 2:00pm | Bride's car arrives, with ribbons fitted, and waits outside |
| 2:20pm | Bride departs for the ceremony |
| 3:00pm | Ceremony |
| 3:45pm | Couple departs for photographs; guest van departs for the reception |
| 5:30pm | Couple arrives at the reception |
| 11:30pm | Newlyweds' car to the hotel; guest transfers home |
Every wedding is different, but notice the pattern: every leg has room to breathe, and transport is planned for the end of the night as well as the start.
What to tell your chauffeur before the day
A short briefing a week or two before the wedding makes a real difference. Share the final run sheet, the name and mobile number of the person coordinating on the day (usually a bridesmaid, a parent or your planner), and any access details for each venue, such as gate codes, driveways or where the car can safely wait. Mention anything the chauffeur should know about the dress, flowers or anyone in the party with limited mobility. Confirm how many people are travelling in each car and whether you would like drinks or music. The more your chauffeur knows in advance, the less anyone needs to think about on the day.
Enjoy the day
Good wedding transport is invisible. Nobody should have to think about it on the day, least of all you. Plan early, write it down, allow for traffic and book a company that has done it many times before. Find out more about our wedding cars and chauffeurs in Melbourne.
Frequently asked questions
Check availability for your wedding date
Send your date and venues. We will confirm availability, the right vehicles and a fixed price.
