Grooms in Cornwall and Devon
Wedding Transport Cornwall
Finding the perfect way to get to your wedding begins your day on the right note.
Here's how to plan your wedding transport to offer you and your guests a memorable and magical experience
It can be head-spinning trying to figure out all the options for your wedding transport: what will suit you, what will work with the weather, what will fit into your budget. And it's not just about getting yourselves to the ceremony - you might also need to move your guests between multiple venues. But deciding on a special mode of transport is worth it - and can often become the much-loved part of a couple's day. One bride, Maeve, told us that her favourite memory from her wedding day was a beautiful moment with her father, arriving to the church after a serene and special journey in a vintage car, where he shared his support and hopes for his daughter's marriage. It started her day off in the most positive and meaningful way, and she says she'll be ever grateful she opted for a mode of transport that gave the two of them that precious time together.
One popular and oh-so-gorgeous choice is a classic car. Treverbyn Cars (treverbyncars.com) offers a 1930s-style open-top Beauford Tourer, with a female chauffeur, Nikki, who's renowned in wedding world for helping to calm nerves, hold flowers, take photos and keep both the bride and groom relaxed. "Nothing is too much trouble: photo stops, toilet stops, any stop in fact!" says Nikki. And the couples who book with Treverbyn Cars couldn't be happier. "I travelled to our wedding venue with my six-year-old daughter and it was just the most magical experience, one we will never forget," says Maddy. "Nikki waited for us whilst we got married and then took myself and my husband for a drive around so we could have some time together and he could enjoy the car too."
An elegant and classic choice, a vintage vehicle is sure to attract attention from well-wishers, while ensuring you arrive in style. Deer Park's Classic Car collection offers ten incredible vehicles, most of which are suitable for wedding use. "The most popular are our two vintage red and black Rolls Royce Phantom cars, marketed as 'Mr and Mrs'; one hard-top the other being an open touring car," says Steve, custodian of the collection (deerpark.co.uk). "In addition, we have a glorious green 1937 Packard V12 car, another red and black open touring Chevrolet dating from 1930, and a modern Bentley Continental GT." Plus the collection now has a new addition: an exquisite primrose yellow Alvis open car dating from 1959.
Matt Sumii Photography
"The feedback we get from our customers is always glowing, as the cars are really spectacular as is the level of service that we provide," says Steve, who explains that, while the cars are mainly for the use of guests at the Deer Park, he does allow their use for a small amount of external weddings.
Or why not take advantage of the glorious coastline and riverbanks this part of the world offers, and opt for a boat trip, like Cornish bride Sarah did?
"We asked our guests to meet at a jetty, where they boarded a large private boat we'd hired. They had a short boat trip along the river, then it took them to our wedding venue on the other side, where we were waiting," she says. "Even though it's accessible by road, arriving by water just made it feel so much more magical."
Ashley Hampson Photography
Jess, who recently got married in Truro and had a reception in Mylor, agrees. Their guests travelled to the reception venue on the 'Enterprise' boat down the River Fal (falriver.co.uk).
"The atmosphere was so good, everyone was up on deck enjoying the sun, drinking prosecco and listening to music. It had a real party feel to it and everyone was just so happy," she says. "Leading up to the wedding, I obviously had concerns about rain, but there were various boats available, some with more indoor cover. On the day, the weather was perfect, but even if it had rained, I still think it would have still been brilliant. The entire boat trip exceeded our expectations, and both of us said it was our favourite part of the day."
Jess also used taxis to transport her 75 guests at various points of the day, and to get them home at the end of the night. "I contacted my local taxi firm, A2B Truro (a2btaxistruro.com), who were amazing. Of course, using taxis you don't get the luxury of some of the other wedding cars, but they get you where you need to be and on time, and they were clean and efficient," she says.
Paul Keppel Photography
Combining modes of transport means that saving in one area can allow you to splash out a little on something special. Nikki from Treverbyn Cars even tells of one particularly memorable wedding, where there was more than one mode of impressive transport!
"I was booked by the bride's father, and the bride and groom thought that I was taking them from Scorrier House to the Carnmarth Hotel in Newquay. They were all settled in the car with the roof down and I literally drove for about two yards, stopped and asked them to get out of the car as they had another form of transport to take them to Newquay," explains Nikki. "There was a helicopter waiting for them - a surprise, booked by the family! There were tears, shocked expressions and laughter. I then drove some of the wedding party to Newquay and collected the bride and groom from the drop-off point and took them onto the Carnmarth. Their faces were an absolute picture."
Lizzie Churchill Photography
If it's not too far between ceremony and reception venue, you could always do what one bride did, and get everyone walking. "We all walked the mile or so between church and reception," says Ella. "We'd hired jazz musicians to play along the way, so it had a really fun element to it, and all the guests were rewarded with a glass of champagne when they arrived."
Ideal for transporting a lot of guests, buses are a practical option, but can also add a touch of style. King Harry Coaches (kingharrycoaches.com) has a fleet of three vintage buses of varying sizes, allowing a nostalgic element to complement a vintage theme. Specialising in weddings, the King Harry Coaches team will even decorate the coaches with flowers and ribbons that coordinate with your theme, with a chauffeur to navigate those narrow country lanes!
Khalile Siddiqui Photography
And don't be afraid to think outside the box. As well as VW campervans, open-top buses and rowboats, we've heard of couples getting from their ceremony to reception on everything from tandem bikes to skateboards and scooters. And we often hear of couples opting for a tractor as their transport of choice!
As a nod to Muji's farming background, her groom Chris arrived in a tractor provided by a local farmer, while Katie and Sam had a much more practical need for their tractor. "There was a blizzard on our wedding day!" laughs Katie. "There were so many people arriving on tractors, the groom and his party had to push cars out of the way en route to the church, and the vicar abandoned his car and walked to the church!"
Matt Sumii Photography
words Lucy Higgins
main image Lizzie Churchill Photography
Copyright Wed magazine 2018
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