 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Top Gear
It’s likely that your bride will have picked out a suitably expensive method of transport to get herself to the ceremony. In choosing this transport you will have very little to say. You should obviously give her the benefit of your extensive motoring knowledge; but let the final decision, even if she picks a pink Cadillac, be hers.
What shouldn’t be overlooked however, is how an equally important person – you – are going to make your way to the ceremony. For this, the decision is yours! Ever fancied driving a Ferrari, a Porsche or an Aston Martin? If you think of it you can probably get it, due to the large number of sports-car-hire companies that have cottoned on to the fact that these days, it’s not only the bride that wants to arrive to the ceremony in style! Now, a few words of warning before you get too excited.
Firstly, if you’ve never driven a performance car before, then you wedding day may not be the best time to do it. Excitement and nerves coupled with a ludicrously powerful and expensive car at your hands make for a messy (and expensive) combination. Having said that, if you are reasonably sensible and understand the risks; then driving a flashy car to your wedding can be an awesome experience, providing some welcome distraction from the pre-wedding nerves.
I had the pleasure of driving a Lotus on the morning of my own wedding, and by the time I reached the ceremony I was so exhilarated that I totally forgot to be nervous. The second point to make is that hiring very expensive cars is, well, very expensive! The cost varies according to which car you choose, but if you want a Ferrari 360 for the day (most companies insist on you hiring for the full weekend), don’t expect to get much change from £1000, and remember, if you drink at the reception (which I expect you will), then you’ll only get the pleasure of the car before the wedding; someone else will have to take it off your hands for the evening and the next day (assuming you are on honeymoon). That said; you don’t need to spend the earth to get a fun car for the day.
Prices can start as low as £150 for a British classic like an MGB and the grin on your face will be worth every penny. Before you hire anything, there are a few points you should consider. Firstly, how many people do you need to transport? Luckily the most important guys are you and your best man, presenting no problem unless you pick a single-seater car (if you can find a road-legal one), or a motorbike. However, don’t forget your ushers, page-boys etc.
Even if you don’t put them in a flash car, at least make sure that they have some form of transport to get them to the ceremony on time (taxi, bicycle, skateboard..anything!) Consider any themes that you may have chosen for your wedding.
If you’re going for a retro theme and the bride is arriving in a chic retro classic, perhaps pick something to complement her car – maybe a classic Aston Martin DB5. If you have a colour theme then consider picking a car to match.
However, do remember that this is your decision. Pick the car that you want and run with it. If you don’t think she’ll like it then don’t tell her about it, after all, she didn’t tell you which dress she was going to wear! If you hire a convertible, be aware of the potentially catastrophic effect this can have on your hair.
As any modern man with a decent haircut knows: despite the huge advances in hair-wax technology and formulation over the past few years, five minutes racing along in a convertible can make you look like you’ve stuck your finger in the electric socket, and the worse thing is, you often don’t realise this until you glance in the mirror several hours later.
Some cars are better than others. If you hire a girly car like a Mercedes SLK, then it has special reflectors to minimise wind intrusion into the cabin. The downside is that you’ll look like a girl driving it, and people may think that the bride is arriving and not the groom. The best advice if you go for a convertible (which is sound advice anyway), is to drive slowly. You’ll still get the looks and you’ll still get the sound, with the added bonus that when you arrive your face won’t be covered in dead flies and your hair won’t be completely ruined.
Another option is to drive the majority of the way with the roof up, lowering it only when you arrive to the sea of admiring guests. As a final precaution take a tub of your favourite hair product along with you, you can always fix the hair when you get to the ceremony. Read the small print. Make sure you are aware of any clauses in your hire contract, such as a pence-per-mile charge over an agreed limit (which most companies enforce), and any insurance excess that has been set (which can run quite high).
Pick someone responsible to return the car (if you are honeymooning), and make sure they know what time it has to be back for. Just remember, DO NOT under any circumstances let the new wife drive it. She’ll be excitable, wearing heels, and…well, just don’t. This is your toy, not hers. If she complains, tell her that she’s not insured on it. This time old excuse always works normally; so there’s no reason why she won’t buy it.
Finally, enjoy the experience. It’ll put a grin on your face that not even your mother-in-law will be able to wipe off, and will ensure that you get to your big day in the style that you deserve!
A Southward.
Photo supplied by www.domenicocostabile.com