Not everyone gets excited about transportation!
No one dreams about getting married and thinking about transport. Once you have decided on a venue, view, dress, and/or any potential weather issues then about six weeks out someone will ask how your Gran is going to get from the hotel to the ceremony.
This is super important in Queenstown. Many weddings aren’t held in town. They’re held at estates out past Lake Hayes, lodges near Jacks Point, vineyards in Gibbston. The roads can be beautiful, but very twisty, some are dark at night and your guests will probably be unfamiliar with the area.
Working Backwards
When you’re planning a wedding, it helps to work backwards. Write down all the times you know will be fixed, such as when the ceremony starts, the golden hour for the photographer and when the reception starts. From there you can work out who needs to be where and when.
You then have a list of the transport required. This is usually:
- Bride from accommodation to ceremony
- Groom and groomsmen (often separately)
- Bridal party (sometimes with a hairdresser still finishing)
- Couple from ceremony to photography spots to reception
- Elderly relatives or those that shouldn’t be driving
- End of the night
This is an often forgotten part. Receptions can run late, taxis won’t be plentiful outside of town at 11pm and no one wants Uncle Dave to try to drive up the Crown Range.
How a Chauffeur Service Can Help
Looking at Queenstown Luxury Chauffeurs, they have a page for wedding car hire in Queenstown. They cover almost everything on the list. They can provide transportation for bride/groom, bridal party, ceremony to reception, photo shoot, guests, pre/post wedding travel and airport transfers.
I love that they ask for your full itinerary. This means they can give you an idea of what will be possible with the vehicles they have available. Having one person to deal with on the day is super helpful when your phone is in someone else’s bag.
They also have specific areas they cover; Queenstown, Frankton, Arrowtown, Lake Hayes, Kelvin Heights, Jacks Point, Arthurs Point, Gibbston and Central Otago. This means they will be able to help with most venues you’ll book in the Wakatipu Basin.
Choosing the right car
They have a small range of vehicles available for their wedding fleet.
Mercedes-Benz EQC – Electric luxury SUV. Quiet and stylish. Perfect for the couple. BMW X5 – 7 seater. Great for the bridal party or family. Cadillac CTS – A luxury sedan that looks fantastic in photos. Toyota Camry Hybrid – Simple car for individual transfers. Great for getting a grandparent to the location early. Prius – Same as above.
Availability does depend on your dates and how many transfers you need. So make sure you book early. Especially if you’re getting married during peak summer.
Photography
Photographers love getting out of the vehicle! Whether it be a lakeside stop, scenic outlook, or rows of vines, they will want to get some amazing photos. If you know your photographer will want to take you somewhere away from the venue, let the transport company know when you get a quote. This will allow you to build in time for the stops. Meaning you won’t be rushing around in your wedding dress.
A tip I can give is to add 10 minutes onto each transfer. There is always something that takes longer! Whether it be putting on your veil, forgetting to bring your ring box or a guest wanting another photo. Days will run smoothly if you have some buffer time.
Smaller Weddings
You don’t need 100 guests to book a driver. Many couples elope to Queenstown with just a photographer and celebrant. By having one chauffeur vehicle you will have a simple day. Get picked up and driven to your location, then onwards to dinner. No stress about finding parking or having a drink of bubbles.
If you’re still in the early stages of planning, check out the Queenstown Luxury Chauffeurs homepage to see what they can offer. This way you can sort out your transport early and get on with the fun bits!
