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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...about the cost of wedding cars!

40 replies

shellistar · 13/06/2017 13:32

I know I could keep it cheap and go to the registry office and out for a Macy's afterwards to celebrate and I know I could go to Maui... Grin but neither of those options is particularly us!

We're planning a relatively reasonabley priced wedding in a reasonabley priced location even though we're still going down the white dress traditional route (less than £5k for 60 day and 120 evening guests in a naice location). One of the things that's making me balk is the cost of transport for me and my bridesmaids! I only want to go 2 miles up the road on a Friday afternoon but I'm getting quotes for £500+

I've booked 2 local naice vehicles for £100 and I'm still a bit Shock at that!

AIBU to think that wedding cars are just a an extortionate rip off?!? I'm quite honest when the suppliers are chasing the quotes... or is it just that I'm cheap and they're totally worth the money?!?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 13/06/2017 13:35

Call a taxi then. They're charging what the market will bear or they would not be in business. If you find it a ripoff, get a taxi or ask a friend to drive you to the wedding.

PeaFaceMcgee · 13/06/2017 13:36

My friend rode on the back of a tractor!

tinytemper66 · 13/06/2017 13:37

Ask a friend and then put ribbon on the front of the car

expatinscotland · 13/06/2017 13:38

The vehicles have to come from wherever they are stored or parked. They have to be maintained, taxed, insured, valeted, so yes, they will be more expensive than a taxi or most private hire cars.

user1487941567 · 13/06/2017 13:38

If it's a vintage they want to keep the mileage down. Getting to you and home after all adds to that. But YANBU if it's just someone's jag or whatever.

Original poster
shellistar · 13/06/2017 13:56

Ok, for example one company less than 5 miles from me wanted £500 for their vintage car and £300 to hire their black Range Rover!

OP posts:
OffcialMalbecTaster · 13/06/2017 13:58

Sounds like you night have expensive companies near you. I had to search for a lot of quotes that were more budget friendly but have got 2 vintage cars for £600 and one of those will have parents and bridal party in so lots of space

steppemum · 13/06/2017 14:04

Find a friend with a nice car, pay for them to have it valet cleane dthe day before.
Add ribbons.

OR go the whole hog and get a vintage bus and take everyone to the reception on it.

Most people don't see the car, they are inside waiting for you.

strawberrygate · 13/06/2017 14:06

Just get a taxi. they tend to be clean

PersianCatLady · 13/06/2017 14:20

My friend found that as soon as you mention the word wedding, the price for anything goes up.

fuzzyfozzy · 13/06/2017 14:27

I used funeral cars. Loads cheaper

gttia · 13/06/2017 15:01

I'm going for a hackney carriage. £20 the trip.
Fits us and our three children, will look great in the photos

liquidrevolution · 13/06/2017 15:02

I used a posh airport taxi. Cost me £50 to get to church. We walked to reception.

BoredOnMatLeave · 13/06/2017 15:10

Honestly I would go for fancy taxi, no-one will see it anyway.

DoubleHelix79 · 13/06/2017 15:10

Anything with the prefix 'wedding' immediately becomes 10 times as expensive, in my experience. I nearly fell over laughing when I looked at prices for 'wedding' flowers. Went and just bought a few nice looking bunches from the local Waitrose the day before. Nobody cares about the flowers in someone else's wedding.

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 13/06/2017 15:42

Yes, they are expensive. We had a relative who lent us his fancy car and chauffeured us too Smile

ExplodingCarrots · 13/06/2017 15:48

I was adamant I was driving myself to my wedding because of the cost of transport but DH to be won't let me. His arse fell out when I told him the quotes i had. Trying to avoid the word wedding is impossible . Trying to get a quote off one company:
Lady: is this for a wedding?
Me: erm it's for guests for a wedding...
Lady: is it for the bride or anyone in the wedding party?

It was obvious that the moment you say it's bridal transport they're going to double the price.

PenCreed · 13/06/2017 15:50

We got taxis - it was a 5 minute walk but I didn't fancy walking past Tesco etc in my wedding dress! The taxi firm did us an account, so a couple of people who couldn't walk easily between church and reception could use that as well.

ElspethFlashman · 13/06/2017 15:53

My Dad drove us, he'd just bought a shiny new Toyota. Grin

And I was relieved cos nobody saw us arrive (it was raining and they are all inside) and nobody saw us leave as we were delayed with photos and they all headed on. So it would have been money down the drain.

Original poster
shellistar · 13/06/2017 15:57

It's a single venue so I'm opting for a local taxi firm - it's a bit more pricey @ £100 for 2 cars but I would have paid a friend £50 to take time off work and do the same.

I agree - it is the word wedding that bumps up the cost! We wanted a popcorn machine and we were quoted £500!!! Shock

Another one that made me laugh was £500 for a DJ... BUT that £500 included the "hidden" extras like travel to the venue and disco lights. -A friend of a friend is doing it for £150-

OP posts:
scottishdiem · 13/06/2017 16:14

We did a local private hire firm that now do Uber blacks. Basically S Class Merc. Pick up and drive to venue in spotless long wheel base saloon - £25.

Firenight · 13/06/2017 16:18

We drive ourselves and walked home after!

Newjob12345 · 13/06/2017 16:18

Don't forget they are vintage and you are also paying for someone to drive you around.

I drove myself! Hired a fancy Merc and drove myself and the bridesmaids Grin was actually much cheaper and good fun to drive.

Heratnumber7 · 13/06/2017 16:23

The only person who sees the wedding car when you go to a wedding will be you, your bridesmaids and whoever is giving you away.

More people will see you leave the wedding venue (unless you're staying the night) so save your money with just a one way hire.

LadySalmakia · 13/06/2017 16:25

They are BONKERS, you're quite right. We went for a similar sounding wedding to yours, white dress and lots of guests but we managed to keep the costs down.

One of the ways we did it was being totally ruthless about things that didn't really matter to us - and wedding cars was one of them. I have some brilliant photos of us arriving in a black cab and it proper cheered up the cab driver to be unexpectedly carrying a bride, though he said it happened quite a lot.

If you don't care £300 worth about it, I would just get a cab. My other option was to get my dad to drive in his big shiny red car but it was a mare to find parking so we didn't bother in the end.