The Transportation

Bus from Lowcountry Valet and Shuttle Co. Photo courtesy Marianne Lucille Photography

The Details

You’re engaged! You’re thrilled. You’re in love. You’re ... overwhelmed. Whether you’ve dreamed of the big day your whole life or never thought about it until the moment you said yes, the actual process of planning your wedding is uncharted territory. Let this guide be your road map — and leave the details to us.
From old-fashioned trolleys and open-air buses to black cars and mini coaches (with or without the horse), there’s no shortage of ways to ferry guests to and from wedding festivities. Your first consideration should be weather: spring or fall weddings might allow for an open-air trolley, while ceremonies in the winter and summer need to take heating and air conditioning into account.

Jeffrey Newton of Lowcountry Valet and Shuttle Co. offers these parameters for choosing the right vehicle.

GUESTS

You’ll almost always need at least one full-size bus for your wedding guests. Most large buses seat in the 50 range, so plan accordingly based on your guest count.

BRIDAL PARTY AND FAMILY

Since this group usually numbers around 20 to 30 people, a limo, bus, mini coach or vintage bus is your best bet.

BRIDE AND GROOM

Our most popular items for transporting the bride and groom are our vintage cars. There’s just something about them that can’t be beat.

Whichever type of vehicle you choose, make sure to clearly list the transportation pickup and drop-off times and places on your wedding itinerary so that guests know where to be and when. Newton recommends no more than three pickup and drop-off locations to avoid confusion or delays. As soon as your guest list is complete and the save-the-dates are mailed, it’s time to book your transportation, as many trolleys and buses can book up to six to 12 months in advance.

CROWDED STREETS

Patti Dooley of Old Savannah Tours recommends building in extra time for guests to be transported to and from the ceremony, specifically in downtown Savannah. What looks like an easy five-minute drive from square to reception can get much longer thanks to Historic District traffic. Historic Savannah also has specific restrictions about where commercial vehicles can pick up and drop off guests, so double-check that your designated pickup and drop-off location is approved for your transportation vehicles.

DETAILS, DETAILS

Dooley also reminds clients that while alcohol is allowed aboard Old Savannah Tours vehicles, glass vessels of any kind are prohibited. Also, music must be kept at a low volume per the city’s noise ordinance, and you’ll need to provide a standard PA system adaptor to hook up your smartphone and play your favorite tunes. Lastly, don’t forget to tip your driver, since gratuity is usually not included in the cost of the rental.