Arriving at your ceremony in a horse and carriage is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular entrances you can make. It adds an air of romance to any wedding and looks amazing.
As well as providing a unique form of transport, a horse and carriage also provides a fantasic backdrop for your wedding photos.
When considering whether a horse and carriage is right for you, there are a number of things to think about.
Point to point
Before selecting a horse and carriage as your mode of transport to the ceremony or between the ceremony and reception venue, think carefully about the distances between the venues and the route that needs to be taken to reach those places.
Realistically, a horse and carriage should only be used where the distance to be travelled is relatively short. A distance of 20 kilometres between venues will not be practical, given that a horse and carriage’s top speed is about 6 km per hour!
When planning your route, aim to avoid any main highways. Check your intended route with the horse and carrige provider when booking it to make sure that there are no problems.
Keep it clean
It is a great idea to inspect the carriage before hiring it to ensure that you will be happy sitting in it in your wedding dress. This will also give you a chance to see whether it will fit everything that you will be taking (including your future husband!). If you wish to have the bridal party ride in the carriage with you on the way to the photo shoot, check whether the carriage is large enough for this.
If the carriage is open to the weather, find out whether there is a roof available in the event that the weather turns nasty. Getting drenched on the way to your wedding isn’t the best way to start your day!
When considering your route, check to see if the road you will be travelling on has any unpaved stretch: old carriages aren’t as impervious to dust and mud as more modern forms of transport.
Animals allowed?
It pays to check with your venue as to whether they have any restrictions on allowing horses in the vicinity. Although this is rare, it is better to ask!
Lastly, and as with all vendors, make sure you check what the contract for hiring the horse and carriage covers. Is the hire by time or by trip? Is there a difference if you have a different number of people? What happens in the event of a rainy day?
Prices for a horse and carriage varies significantly depending on how long you hire it for and the size of the carriage. Some firms hire out by the hour (expect to pay from $250 per hour), while others have wedding packages (these tend to start from around $850).
A horse and carriage is an extremely romantic way to travel and, as long as you do your homework, you can have the fairy tale entrance of your dreams!
engaged, july 2009
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