How to Plan Wedding Transportation for Your Guests

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Jacksonville/Lindsey Morgan Davis

You’ve picked the venue and reception space. You’ve invited your besties to be in your wedding party. Your save-the-dates have already been sent to your guests.

But have you considered how people will get to your ceremony and reception?

Part of wedding day planning includes deciding who you want to provide transportation for. But, of course, another really important part is what type of transportation that’ll be. 

From Sprinter vans to vintage buses to limousines, there are all sorts of ways to get people from point A to point B on the big day.

Here’s everything you need to know about the trendiest wedding transportation options for your guests:

Who Needs Wedding Transportation on the Big Day?

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Philadelphia/Nicole Klym

So who exactly needs transportation to your wedding?

That depends on where you’re saying “I Do,” where you’re holding your reception, and how many out-of-town guests you have.

It’s customary to provide transportation for your wedding party. From where you get dressed to your ceremony space to your reception venue, bride and groom squads need a reliable way to travel as a group.

So what about everyone else on the guest list? Should you leave it up to them to coordinate their own transportation? Or should you arrange it for them?

Brides and grooms have a lot of flexibility here.

Many couples choose to arrange transportation for VIPs and select family members. This hand-selected group often includes the mothers, fathers, and grandparents of the soon-to-be-wed. 

Some choose to provide guest transportation for additional loved ones or all out-of-town guests flying in for a destination wedding. Others leave it up to each guest to decide how to get from point A to point B.

No rule says you have to provide transportation for wedding guests, but for the guests, it is a great perk! 

 

Shop our collection of bridesmaid dresses available online. Find the perfect silhouette, fabric, & color to match your wedding aesthetic!

Transportation Ideas for Your Wedding Party

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Indianapolis/Jenny Haas

Depending on the size of your wedding party, there are many different ways to transport your wedding party to and from your ceremony and reception. 

Here are a few ideas:

Sprinter Van 

If you’re a fan of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, you know exactly what a Sprinter van is. So if you’re not into the Bravo drama, here’s what you need to know:

The Sprinter van is a large — and rather luxe — Mercedes passenger van that can hold up to 15 people. 

Naturally, there are different sizes and configurations to choose from. But many include the same types of amenities you would find in a limo, such as glassware for drinks and cold beverage storage.

Vintage VW Bus 

Want to board your bridesmaids and groomsmen on a wedding bus with a vintage vibe? The classic VW bus is perfect if you’re throwing a wedding with a quirky, vintage, or boho vibe. Most vintage Volkswagen buses fit 12-15 people comfortably.

Trolley 

Most trolleys can fit 20-35 people, which makes them a popular option for many wedding parties. If you live in a metropolitan area, you’ve probably seen many well-dressed wedding attendees having fun on one of these! 

Party Bus 

A party bus is a great option if you’re having a large wedding party or want some other VIP guests to travel with your bridesmaids and groomsmen. Party buses come in various sizes, and big ones can fit up to 50 people!

Limousine 

For decades, limousine service has been the go-to transportation option for wedding parties. Smaller limos only hold about six adults, but super stretch limos and SUV limos can hold up to 26 people.

Wedding Transportation Ideas for Guests

 

Photo: Bella Bridesmaids Lafayette/Shelley Foster

Here are some of the best ways to transport guests to and from your wedding venue, from town cars to motor coaches:

Transportation for 50 Guests or More 

For a sleek and comfortable ride, hire a motor coach. Big ones can fit about 50 people. 

Consider renting two motor coaches or a classic yellow school bus rental to accommodate more than fifty guests. Standard school buses usually have about 80 seats.

Transportation for Fewer Than 15 Guests 

Shuttle buses and minibusses are a great way to get a small number of guests to your wedding. Guests spending the night at a resort or hotel might even be able to enjoy free shuttle service to and from your event.

Passenger vans — again, like the Mercedes Sprinter — are another excellent option! 

Transportation for a Few Individuals 

Do you need to book transportation for a few individuals or one or two couples? If so, consider hiring a town car through a local car service or scheduling rides through Uber or Lyft. You can also arrange carpools amongst wedding guests.

Don’t Forget To Book Your Getaway Ride!

As happy newlyweds, surely you’ll want to depart from the reception, just the two of you. When arranging transportation for your wedding party and guests, be sure to book yourself a getaway ride!

Want to make your departure in grand style?

There are lots of ways to do it.

Having an elegant, lavish celebration? Then, keep it classic and ride off in a vintage Rolls Royce!

Holding your reception at a country club or golf resort? Consider driving off in a golf cart.

Throwing a country/western-themed wedding? Make your exit really epic, and literally ride off into the sunset on horseback!

 

Selecting those stunning bridesmaid dresses was step one! Next up — arranging bridesmaid dress alterations for the perfect fit on the big day.

Tips for Booking Wedding Transportation

Booking transportation is just like all other parts of wedding planning. In other words, you’ll want to weigh your options before booking a transportation company and putting a final transportation plan in place. 

We’ll reveal some tips on how to do so!

Book Early! 

Don’t wait until the last minute to book transportation for your special day. Booking 4 to 6 months in advance is ideal, but if your wedding coincides with prom season, you might want to book even further in advance.

Pad Your Pick-up Times 

Traffic can happen anywhere at any time, so pad your pick-up times. It’s better to have guests arrive a bit early than to delay the start of your wedding ceremony.

Add Transportation to Your Wedding Budget 

When you create your wedding budget, don’t forget about transportation! Wedding transportation services vary in price. So having a firm budget ahead of time can make it easier to rule in (or rule out) which rental companies to consider.

Check Reviews 

Vet your vendors and read online reviews from other couples before hiring a transportation rental service. This will make it much easier to weed out the best services from less reliable ones.

Conclusion

 

No matter your wedding transportation needs, there are all sorts of unique ways to get your guests and wedding party to and from your event. 

So consider your options, decide who you want to provide rides for, and remember one last thing:

No matter how many guests you choose to transport to the wedding, be sure to provide them with a ride home as well!

Check us out on our socials for even more wedding tips — Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!