May 26
Wedding Transportation Ideas: 19 Must-See Options
By Wedding Spot
When you think of wedding transportation, what comes to mind? Do you imagine valet guest parking, arriving in a limousine, the classic “Just Married” send-off car, or are you on the hunt for wedding transportation ideas with a little more flair?
If you’re looking for out-of-the-box transportation ideas for the big day, we can help. In this post, we explore elegant entrance ideas, creative group travel options, and some of the coolest wedding transportation ideas we’ve ever seen.
Explore one-of-a-kind wedding transportation ideas
Wedding transportation ideas for two
We start our list with some of our favorite wedding transportation ideas that are fit for two. Make a grand entrance, travel between wedding events, or get sent off in style using a unique mode of transportation.
1. Antique luxury car
Don’t arrive to your wedding in just any old car; roll up like royalty in a luxury antique automobile. Wow your wedding guests when you arrive or depart in a vintage Rolls-Royce or a 1937 Bantam.
2. Golf cart
If you or your partner are big fans of golf, are getting married at a country club, or are hosting a wedding reception that requires a long walk from the ceremony location, use golf carts as wedding transportation.
Some venues are quite large, and hosting events in different venue locations could require an uncomfortably long walk for some of your guests. Additionally, golf carts make it easy to move around quickly without breaking a sweat.
3. Vespa
Ride off into the night on the back of a vespa! Easy to maneuver and environmentally conscious, vespas are affordable to rent and fun to ride.
4. Sports car
If you’re a fan of fast cars and turning heads, book a sports car to drive on your wedding day, or book a small fleet of sports cars with accompanying chauffeurs to transport the wedding party. Guests are sure to be impressed watching as they watch the newlyweds rev their engines and zoom off out of sight.
5. Sleigh
Are you planning a winter wedding? Getting hitched at a winter wedding venue or ski chalet surrounded by a fresh blanket of snow?
Put a seasonal spin on the horse and carriage combination by substituting the classic carriage with an elegant, decorative wooden sleigh. Arrive wrapped in wool, faux fur, or with an escort of sled dogs to stun your guests and remind them why they’re freezing for you in the first place!
Wedding transportation ideas for groups
Are you hosting wedding events in different locations or at different venues? Do you have a lot of out-of-town wedding guests in attendance? Are you looking for awesome wedding transportation ideas for the wedding party? If so, explore these unique group transportation methods for your wedding travel needs.
6. Shuttle service
It may not be the most unique wedding transportation idea on this list, but it may be the most tried and true. Take the guesswork out of wedding transportation by booking a shuttle for your guests. Many hotels offer shuttle service to and from local venues, or couples can research local shuttle companies operating in the area. Additionally, group shuttles come in a variety of sizes and price options, making them suitable for a variety of wedding budgets and sizes.
7. VW bus
If you’re hosting a ‘70s-themed wedding, or are a lover of nostalgia, use a vintage Volkswagen bus for wedding transportation. Reserve a classic bus, which can hold up to 12 passengers, or book the newest version of Volkswagen’s electric microbus, which can hold up to eight.
8. Double-decker bus
Holding between 60-120 passengers at a time, double-decker buses are great for large weddings with guest transportation needs. Double-decker buses are available for rental in many larger cities including Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Richmond, and many more. Give your wedding guests a truly memorable experience as they travel to and from your wedding and take in the sights.
9. Trolley
Taking a trolley ride used to be reserved for San Franciscans and other downtown dwellers. Thanks to the modernization of cable cars, however, many modern travel and ride services offer trolley transportation.
On average, trolleys can accommodate between 20-35 people, making them excellent options for carrying your wedding party or the entire guest list for a small, intimate wedding. Larger trolleys are available, with the ability to accommodate 50 people or more, but bookings can carry a hefty fee.
10. Hayride
Ride to your gorgeous rustic wedding with the rest of the wedding party on an old-school country hayride. Hitch a wagon to a tractor or truck and see your guests smile as they watch you arrive in true farm fashion.
Keep guests from getting their shoes muddy and offer a ride from the parking lot to your outdoor ceremony location. Keep the wagon hitched up during the ceremony and offer guests a ride to the reception afterward.
11. Party bus
The ultimate wedding transportation idea for couples who appreciate a great party and an epic entrance, traveling in a party bus ensures the wedding weekend festivities never stop.
While this mode of transportation has the potential to transport your wedding guests to the next level of fun, it's only recommended for relatively responsible groups. If you anticipate that party bus passengers at your wedding will go overboard between events, save the party bus for post-wedding transportation to the after party, where the fun keeps going.
Transportation ideas for weddings on the water
Are you getting married lakeside, on the coastline, or even on an island? Take advantage of the setting and travel to your wedding on the water.
12. Sailboat
Whether you’re hosting a lake wedding or getting married on the beach, you’re sure to leave your guests in awe when you arrive or depart on a sailboat.
13. Yacht
Any ceremony that includes travel-by-yacht is sure to impress your wedding guests. A fantastic option for destination weddings and seaside ceremonies, yachts come in many shapes, sizes, and styles. With the ability to host an entire wedding or carry the couple only, yachts are a luxurious and flexible wedding transportation option — if it fits within the budget.
14. Ferry boat
Book a ferry boat for coastal wedding transportation service. A popular choice for destination weddings, bring guests to your wedding ceremony or bid them farewell on a ferry boat.
Ferry boats vary greatly in size, from smaller commercial ferries transporting 300 people or less to massive boats than accommodate over 5,000 people. The Staten Island Ferry, for example, can hold 5,200 passengers at once.
Wedding transportation ideas for adventurous couples
We close out our list with wedding transportation ideas for couples who appreciate excitement and like to live on the edge.
15. Canoe
Another great transportation idea for weddings near the water, we’ve included travel by canoe in the adventure category. While there’s a higher-than-zero risk of getting wet any time you step into a canoe, making an entrance in one definitely makes a statement.
Use a small canoe for the bridal entrance or the newlywed send-off, or rent a larger canoe with multiple seats to accommodate the bridal party. For a wedding party entrance, however, we do recommend designating non-wedding party people to steer the canoe.
16. Tandem bicycle
After the reception, hop on a two-seated tandem bike and pedal away with your partner. A low-cost and fun wedding transportation idea for couples with some quirk, riding a tandem bike is sure to lead to adorable wedding photos. Be sure to practice beforehand to find your rhythm to avoid an unfortunate wedding day accident.
17. Horseback
You can certainly arrive at your wedding in the classic horse-and-carriage, but you can also choose to take it up a notch. Adventurous couples can opt to forgo the carriage altogether, arriving at the ceremony on horseback or literally riding off into the sunset.
We also love this idea for wedding parties who enjoy riding horses or have some experience. Picture the look on your guests’ faces when they see a line of groomsmen riding into a wedding on horseback with the groom leading the pack.
18. Helicopter
If you want a wedding day that unfolds like an action movie, make a grand entrance or an epic exit by flying in on a helicopter.
Helicopter travel options may be limited (or non-existent) depending on your wedding location. Start researching and preparing your budget early, as helicopter travel is relatively exclusive and reasonably expensive.
19. Hot air balloon
We’ve saved the most outrageous wedding transportation idea we could find for last: a hot air balloon. Thrill-seeking couples can bid their guests a heartfelt adieu as they travel up, up, and away in unforgettable fashion.
Tips for booking wedding transportation
To help get you started on the wedding transportation planning process, we’re including a shortlist of helpful tips to help you plan, book, and communicate wedding transportation details.
1. Brainstorm wedding transportation ideas and book early.
Confirm wedding transportation bookings, reservation information, and other details early. Experts recommend booking 4-6 months before the big day. Share transportation information with wedding guests on your wedding website, and encourage guests to confirm their travel plans early.
2. Offer transportation if there’s a change of venue.
If the wedding reception is taking place at a separate location, and the travel time between venues is more than 10-15 minutes, couples should plan to provide wedding transportation for guests. If there is a significant time gap between events, or the travel distance is significant, you may see the number of attendees drop between wedding events. Offering transportation can help prevent this problem, as well as ensure that the reception starts on time.
3. Book transportation for destination wedding guests.
Providing guest transportation is typically necessary for destination weddings unless the wedding venue and reception are within walking distance of the guest hotel or the guest hotel is providing a shuttle to the venue. In high-demand destinations, transportation demand is often high as well, and availability may be limited. Ask the planning professionals at your destination wedding venue for recommendations, and book wedding transportation early.
4. Don’t forget the wedding party.
Engaged couples have a million things on their plate on the day of their wedding, and wrangling members of the wedding party is not a task they should have to manage. They should be relaxing before the wedding, not keeping track of their party members. Keeping the wedding party together as you move from event to event can help ensure that the wedding day goes smoothly, and that wedding participants are where they need to be when they need to be there.
Choose wedding transportation ideas that fit your style and travel needs!
Are you struggling to commit to a wedding style or theme? Next up, we’re reviewing unique wedding themes you have to see to believe.