Unique Wedding Day Transportation

Ideas & Inspiration

Unique Wedding Day Transportation

One of the best things about going to any wedding—at least for me—is watching the bride and groom make grand entrances and exits. Whether you swoop in on a helicopter, sail away on a gondola or smooch in a Bentley, you’re bound to build excitement wherever you go. Like everything else though, you have to plan those moments—and know exactly what you want in advance.

For Cate and John Dugan of Golden Valley, Twin City Trolleys was the perfect choice to transport their wedding party. The couple and their guests hopped on the trolley after their ceremony and drove around Minneapolis, stopping here and there to take pictures. “Some of our best memories from our wedding day were on the trolley,” Cate says. “We found it a unique and elegant way to get around.”

Twin City Trolleys seat between 20 and 30 people, and unlike traditional trolleys, they can travel anywhere other vehicles go—no tracks required. Couples can bring their bridal party aboard along with snacks, beverages and music—there’s even a “Just Married” sign to hang on the trolley.

Feeling more daring? Try a helicopter. Leslie and Derek Swedberg of Delano used Brainerd Helicopter to fly to their reception at International Market Square in Minneapolis. “I asked Derek to be in charge of transportation, and had no idea what he chose until we left the church,” Leslie recalls. “Honestly, it was amazing.” The Swedbergs brought along their photographer, Paul Vincent, who took birdseye pictures of the new Twins ballpark, Big Island in Lake Minnetonka and other landmarks.

Iowa residents Brittany and Nathan Rochford headed to their wedding reception at Rochester’s Plummer House in a vintage white Bentley, complete with chauffeur. You can rent a 1952 cream-colored Bentley with red leather interior from Twin City Trolleys.

Old-fashioned carriage rides are available through Johmar Farms, which offers a Cinderella carriage styled like a large white pumpkin, and ornate vis-à-vis conveyances, where the passengers face each other (“vis-à-vis” is French for face-to-face). Mary Block, who owns Johmar Farms with husband John, says she often sees brides in period gowns, or hoopskirts and cowboy boots for Western-style weddings. The farm also offers sleigh rides with horses or reindeer for winter weddings.

Lindell Carriage Company offers a white carriage with mauve interior, a black-cherry carriage with cranberry interior or an all-black carriage—and each is pulled by a black Percheron draft horse. Owner Wally Lindell says couples can ride in an open carriage if it’s not too hot or put the top up if they prefer shade. During winter, a Thinsulate lap robe keeps the bride and groom cozy, if snuggling isn’t enough.

For those with a more contemporary style, stretch limos and Hummers are always a popular choice. Companies like Eclipse Transportation and Renee’s Royal Valet offer abundant choices, including Lincoln Town Cars, executive coaches, SUVs and more. Hummers and pink or white Town Cars are also available.

What works best for a proposal? Gondola Romantica owner John Kerschbaum has seen countless romantic proposals on his gondolas as they float down the St. Croix River. The 36-foot Venetian rowing boats can also serve as getaway vehicles for those getting married on or near the water, offering “the rhythms of oar and water and a thousand years of history,” says Kerschbaum.

Other watercraft are available through Wheel Fun Rentals, which provides kayaks and canoes to couples who wed at Lake Calhoun. The company also offers surreys (two-, four- and six-person covered bicycles) at Minnehaha Falls, which could be fun for bachelorette scavenger hunts and groomsmen parties.

If you want to go “green,” there are now more options than ever. Aftan and Aric Koenen of Clara City, who married at the bride’s family farm near Willmar, used Escalade and Ranger golf carts to bring guests from their cars to the ceremony. The couple also rode a cart from the ceremony to a limousine that whisked them to the reception.

Julia Genereux and Phillip Van Liew, both avid cyclists, borrowed a bicycle with a sidecar from a family friend, a great way to put a signature stamp on their wedding. The vehicle’s creator, Jay Henderson of Hollywood Cycles in Bloomington, made the contraption for his own wedding. He set the chain on the left side so it wouldn’t get caught in his bride’s dress—an invention Julia definitely appreciated during her own wedding ride.

Many brides and grooms are also choosing pedicabs and rickshaws for their getaways. Jeanne Wang of Minneapolis recalls that husband Justin Teerlinck once had to carry her when she got injured on an outing. Afterwards, it became a standing joke between them, so Justin pulled Jeanne down the aisle in a rickshaw, as a nod to their bonding experience. He used one created by a family friend, but if your wedding is outdoors you might want to try a pedicab. These cycle-style carriages are propelled by a bicycle and often used to transport couples through city streets or around a park. Twin Town Pedicabs and Peterson’s Pedicabs are popular choices for Twin Citians.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, try a Segway scooter from Mobile Entertainment, which offers private, pre-wedding tours for bridal parties. Owner Bill Neuenschwander recalls a bride and groom who pretended they were going to board a limo as they left their wedding—but bounded onto Segways instead. Just goes to show there’s no limit when it comes to transportation, as long as you find something that fits your personality and the mood of the day.

Before you hop on board:

• How far in advance should I book my transportation? While most vendors say six months to a year is a good rule, many can accommodate last-minute requests if space is available. But if you want to get married during prom season, allow more time.

• Do I need to provide a map? You shouldn’t need a map unless you’re leaving town or traveling an especially circuitous route. Most drivers map their routes beforehand if you provide your point of departure and destination address.

• How much should I tip? When it comes to tipping, policies vary; Eclipse Limousines adds a 20 percent mandatory gratuity, while carriage owners and other non-traditional drivers tend to leave it up to the wedding party. “I’ve never known a driver who doesn’t appreciate a tip,” says Wally Lindell of Lindell Carriage Company.

• Any special advice for helicopters? If you’re traveling by helicopter, you’ll need landing permission from your ceremony site and reception venue to take off and land. And watch out for rules and regulations; Minneapolis, for example, won’t let you land if the Twins are playing downtown.

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