The worst way to choose the getaway car for a Hamptons wedding is from photos; it has to do two jobs, the exit picture and the trip that follows, and it has to be chosen to do both at the same time. Plan out where you will end up, from hotel to airport, taking into account the time of day, weather conditions, luggage and gown; then find the best car for your route, and only at that point can you fall in love with the color or the styling or the story behind the owner.
A lot of couples are embarking on more than the exit after their wedding; they’re headed to another point, such as a hotel room, either that night or the night after. So give the driver’s company as much of your itinerary as possible, including all the stops; if the plan is ‘wait here’, ask what happens if speeches run long; wait at a hotel or be back at the exit? What’s the charge if the clock is running? Find out the fees for waiting time, and make sure they are set down in writing, along with the pickup point, the destination, the time and the overtime terms. In the Hamptons, one firm delivers cars anywhere between Westhampton Beach and Montauk, at an estate, a hotel, a helipad or a marina, and its rentals have a hundred miles a day included.
As for the car itself, an S-Class is a fine-looking car that’s generally suited to the tone of a formal wedding. Bigger isn’t always better, and a sedan may be great for little-luggage couples; but check the contract: ask if that sedan is the one you will get, or if they will provide a different car. Who’s worried about four seats? Gown clearance is what matters.
If more than two people are traveling, or there’s a lot of luggage to get to a hotel or to the airport, an SUV may be the way to go. Look at the SUV types carefully; they range from monstrous to delicate. Come up with a luggage plan in advance. Think about the people who are going to travel in the car.
What will it cost? As with any vehicle, it depends on a lot of things, the length of time you need the vehicle for example. Half-day wedding rentals start around $1,000 at one East End firm, while a Rolls-Royce Dawn convertible is listed at $1,195 a day, a Cullinan SUV at $1,995. Take into account the traffic on your route and the time it will take to get from your exit point to your hotel, or the airport. Ask about cancellation policies. And clarify what will happen if there is any damage to the car.
If you drive it yourself in New York, there are protection caps on the costs that can be charged to you. The state caps what you owe for damage at the reasonable repair cost or the car’s market value, so you cannot be sent an unreasonable bill. States can also ban loss-of-use charges (basically loss of rentals to the car firm) and administrative fees, and New York does. A damage waiver price cap does not cover vehicles with an MSRP over $50,000.
A convertible for a getaway car might seem like a no-brainer to signal an exciting change of scenery, or a new life chapter, but heat or rain may not be the weather you had in mind. Consider how you are going to get in and out of the car. Consider what you will do in the event of bad weather. With a classic car, the condition of the vintage is key, not its age. Find out if there’s a backup if the brakes or head gasket goes. Does the owner drive? Maybe this is the only time in your life when two wedding cars make sense: the classic one for the photos, the modern one for the trip.
If you are leaving with a party, this is a good example of when to get an SUV or a limo. Think about transport for the party separately, and think about the real number of people who will go. In New York, a stretch limo that is carrying 9 or more, driver included, has to have a driver with a commercial license and passenger endorsement; ask if your driver has it.
A boat exit is romantic, but again, it depends on how you are going to get in and out of the boat. Location will, of course, dictate if this is an option. But if you are by the water and have access to a private dock, this can be an amazing option. The same basics apply here as a land exit; the boat has to be chosen with the same conditions of storage and trip that the car has to do.
Practice the walk. Agree a signal with the driver. Agree with the driver what to do in case of delays. Save yourself the difficulty and be aware of the venue’s rules. Work out who goes where and tell people what to expect. Give the photographer time to prepare.
All that care taken about choosing the car is wasted if it’s picked up from an uncovered spot, or too far from the venue. Ask in advance if the car can arrive at a rain-protected pickup, and who decides to have that kind of service by what time. If you are in low heels, a gravel path or a wet lawn is not good news; find out what kind of path people will walk along to the pickup point. Tell the driver of any mobility issues and ask to see photos of the car.
For a summer wedding, a wedding car company suggests getting the booking out of the way between three and six months beforehand. You cannot nail down the rate and type of car without the contract, so don’t rely on promises.
