All Aboard: Shuttles & Party Buses
Wedding transportation goes beyond a swanky limo for the wedding party or a cute convertible for the newlyweds' getaway. On the Outer Banks, you also need to think about how your guests are going to get to and from all of your wedding activities.
It's a good idea to line up shuttle services and party buses to transport guests for a few reasons.
Parking Lack of parking is a serious issue for wedding events at rental homes or on the beach. Rental homes rarely have parking spots for more than eight or ten vehicles, and those will be used by the family staying in the house as well as the caterer, band and other vendors. Law enforcement officials don't favor parking all over the grass or along the road shoulder, and some towns strictly enforce towing policies. And it is a big no-no to park in the yard, where the septic system is likely located.
Drinking and Driving If you are serving alcohol at your rehearsal dinner and reception, you need to consider this issue. The legal blood-alcohol limit in North Carolina is a low .08, only one or two drinks' worth for most people. You have the safety of your guests to consider, as well as your own legal liability if something should happen. A guest whose car is at the reception may be tempted to drive home even if he has had a few too many drinks.
Guest Service If everyone is arriving from out of town and unfamiliar with the Outer Banks, it's a great service to do the driving for your guests so they can relax and have fun.
Convenience You could have everyone arrive at your wedding at your desired time, eliminating latecomers arriving as you walk down the aisle. If you're getting
married in a rental house, you may not want people showing up early while you're trying to get ready. If you shuttle them all in at once, they all arrive at the exact time you want them there.
Style If you want to make a grand entrance, consider calling Carolina Carriages. Their horse-drawn carriages can seat 4 to 6 people with seats facing each other the perfect way to transport a bride and her bridesmaids to the ceremony.
Transportation can be tailored to each individual wedding. You can hire shuttles to transport guests home from the reception only, if that's what you prefer. All of the local transportation businesses are good about working together. This means that the shuttle and bus drivers work in concert with the limousine drivers.
Some people are uncomfortable with not having their own escape route from the party, in the event that their babysitter has a problem or an elderly person gets tired. But if you keep a shuttle on hand during the party, everyone can get where they need to be at any time.
Two of the Outer Banks' most popular shuttle services have a variety of vehicles. Sandy Beach Tours offers a 35-passenger motor coach, a 15-passenger limo coach and two stand-up shuttles that hold 14-people apiece. Outer Banks Limousine offers several styles of limousines as well as a luxury sedan.
Transportation is a big-ticket item that needs to be put into the overall budget, not tacked on as a surprise at the end. But if you consider the convenience and safety of guest transportation, the cost per head is low. Planning for wedding transportation often gets put off until the last minute, but it's a necessity that needs to be thought of well in advance.
|
