do i need a car? and hiring executive cars...

hey all!

hope you're all well! need some advice please... so now i'm trying to decide about transportation. we are having the ceremony and reception in one venue (Kew Gardens) and I'm getting ready at the hotel (hopefully, they still haven't confirmed my early check in ) - it's about a 10 minute drive from hotel to venue. we were considering getting a wedding car taking me and dad from hotel to venue, and then picking up me and OH after the reception is over. but the quotes are around £600 and i really do not want to spend so much! what do people think? we wanted to get this kind of car:

is it worth it? i kind of like the idea of being waved off in a nice car but won't everyone be too drunk by that point? and the journeys are pretty short? will anyone even see me arrive?

alternatively, we could hire a chauffeured car - Mercedes or something nice - and just use that? i know some people have done this. that costs closer to £300. maybe just a black cab?

anyway ideas and comments appreciated! and yes i know it is 2am but i have a massive insomnia issue and my sleep patterns are totally messed up :(

xxx

I had the same dilemma. I plumped for an old white london cab (complete with ribbons) as it could be hired by the hour, it picked me up from the hotel and dropped me at the venue a mere 2 miles (if that!) away!  I wanted to have something more than a normal car but the cost of a "wedding car" was horrendous!  After the wedding we just had a normal executive car pick us up, this was organised by the venue so they may have a supplier you could use?

What hotel did you plump for in the end - did you go for The Petersham?

I had a similar dilema!  I didn't want a fancy car - waste of money just for me.  I always fancied a black cab - they're nice and big and look cool!

How about a limo or a posh "executive" car?  Or black cab! 

Hi Aliaisp - I'm having the same thoughts - so think I'll prob go for an addison lee car which is chauffeured etc.

http://www.addisonlee.com/services/addison-lee-premier/

Beccy - did your service have a min time? The cheapest "wedding taxi" I've seen has been min hire 4 hours. Would you mind giving me details please?

brideseeking blush - hmm never considered addison lee, will have a look. been researching white taxis. not sure about the minimum hire time but i found these two sites:

http://www.thelondoncabcompany.com/wedding_taxis.asp

http://www.weddingtaxis.co.uk/index.htm

will contact them today

beccy - white taxi sounds fab. very London! the Petersham didn't have an available suite so am going with the Richmond Gate Hotel. they're being poo about the early check in though :(

GB - oooh limo might be a fun idea, could get us all to go together, drink some champagne on the way etc. have a suspicion it might be pretty pricey

sigh the hunt continues. but at least now i know it isn't worth getting a proper wedding car, lots of other decent options xx

Hi aliaisp

I have been looking at white cabs too and contacted www.weddingtaxis.co.uk.  If you are in London the prices was £285.  But as im down south i would be looking more at £400! Gulp!

But i did manage to find a list on the internet of all the black hackney carrages in my area, some privately owned and some registered to people comple with telephone numbers, so nearer the time i might try this if i havent come up with a better solution!