Wedding Transportation: the overlooked detail

Whether you’re going to the chapel, up on a rooftop, inside City Hall or into the Las Vegas desert to say “I do,” you need some wedding wheels to get you there on time.

Wedding transportation is something many couples keep on the back burner until the last minute, figuring that transportation logistics aren’t a big deal. But, how you get there matters. Especially if you’ve got bridesmaids,  groomsmen, and out-of-towners coming to your ceremony.

The last thing you need is the headache of late arrivals and flustered guests because they got lost on their way to the venue. Lateness can really mess up your wedding timeline. You want your nuptials to go smoothly. Booking transport is a step towards ensuring that.

If you’ve not organized cars or buses for you and your guests, here’s our quick guide on getting your wedding day transportation sorted.

Book Ahead 

Booking transport means you need a rough idea of guest numbers. We suggest reaching out to companies about three months before the wedding with your estimated guest count. The transport vendor can then tell you what vehicle options they have available for the number of people you need to move, on the date you need it. From this, they can also work out a quote. 

Cost of Renting a Wedding Limo in 2020

The cost of hiring a limousine varies depending on the day or season of your wedding, and prices differ from city to city. Generally speaking, it can cost between $70 – $100 per hour in Las Vegas to rent a limo. For a wedding shuttle-bus package, the price tag is around $150 – $300 per hour.

Wheels For Any Budget

The transport you need will reflect the style of wedding you’re having. For example, if it’s just the two of you eloping, then transportation is simple. You can drive yourselves, hire a chauffeured vehicle, or  choose a snazzy rental vehicle through a convenient site like Turo.com.

If money’s no object, then maybe your heart is set on a vintage Aston Martin or a smooth, white Bentley to get you to the chapel on time.Either way, frills to no-frills, there’s a budget you can work with.

Shuttle Guests There and Back

You don’t have to pay for transport for your guests, but organizing wedding guest transportation is a thoughtful gesture. Plus, it keeps your nuptials running on time. The last thing you want is Uncle Bob getting lost on the way to the ceremony. Or your cousin Jane missing half of the reception because she went to the wrong venue.

Numbers are important when arranging guest transport. You need a vehicle (or vehicles) with enough seats for everyone. Getting this information can be as simple as adding a check box to your wedding RSVPs so people can let you know if they’d like to take you up on your offer or not. 

Alternatively, you can say transport is being arranged by you, so anyone who confirms they’re coming is automatically counted in on the transport plans.

Once you have guest transport booked in, remember to tell your guests about the pickup location and time.

Transport to a Nevada Desert Wedding

We’ve been talking quite broadly about what you need to think about when booking wedding transport, but if you’re thinking of becoming a Cactus Collective Couple there are a couple of extra things you should know about getting hitched at one of our outdoor venues.

The great news is that all of these gorgeous wedding spots but one are located within an hour of the famous Las Vegas Strip. The journey out there is a beautiful and scenic ride and there are plenty of Vegas transport companies available. 

It’s worth remembering though that you are coming out into the desert. The mobile phone reception out here is patchy at best. For this reason we always suggest pre-booking transport to take you there and back with a reputable company.

Avoid ride sharing or cab booking apps. They aren’t reliable because cell signals constantly drop out. I’m starting to lose count of the number of flustered couples who have tried this and they’re dropped off at the wrong place, turn up late or can’t book a ride back to town.

It’s just not worth the risk.

Las Vegas Transportation Vendors

While there are lots of transport companies in and around Las Vegas, there’s one contact in particular that we’ve had good experiences with: Steve Winders. He offers a wide variety of options, including a standard Lincoln Town car to a 20-passenger luxury limo coach plus a complimentary bottle of champagne.

Call our travel concierge Steve Winders at (702)203-0203 and use booking code 8099. The booking code helps us keep track of your reservation and assist if necessary.

If he can’t help you out, here are some other local transport companies that have received high marks from our couples. 

Elite Transportation offers free quotes and availability. The company provides limousine service all the way up to party buses and a Mercedes Benz Sprinter.

Earth Limos & Buses offers couples the classic stretch limo to luxury party buses.

Prepare For Every Eventuality 

The horror of a vehicle breakdown. The nightmare of Las Vegas traffic jams. The dread of a no-show driver.

None of these transport-related scenarios is pleasant to think about, but they can and do happen. This is why it’s always wise to ask your transport vendor about their backup plan. What will they do for you if something goes wrong? How will they help you manage and fix it so you’re wedding day can continue as planned? 

A couple of extra questions you should consider checking with your transport vendor are: 

  • Are the chauffeurs professionally hired and then trained?
  • Will the vehicles have their own GPS system?
  • What is the maximum capacity for each vehicle?

Have you started thinking about your transport options?

Whether you’re still a year out or only a few months away, don’t leave planning your wedding transportation to the last minute. Start making decisions on whether you plan to put transport on for your guests or not. Weigh up the pros and cons of asking people to make their own way, versus you managing it all. It’s never to early to start making a shortlist of local car and bus vendors that you can contact.

If you’re coming to Vegas and considering being a Cactus Collective Couple then start your transport journey by contacting Steve.

Make your dream of an unforgettable wedding in Las Vegas a reality — without the stress of coordinating it yourself.

McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor is America's go-to elopement and micro wedding expert, often featured in small and major media outlets, such as the New York Times. With over 15 years of wedding photography experience, it was after planning her own Las Vegas elopement in 2016 that McKenzi felt her purpose shift into elopement coordination. She started Cactus Collective Weddings soon after in 2017. Since then, she's become a WIPA board member, currently serving as President, and has helped thousands of couples from around the world get hitched in style around Las Vegas, San Diego and Black Hills.