Before you go:

• Take a look at your wedding weekend schedule and your travel needs. Do you need transportation for the bride and groom only, the wedding party or the entire guest list. Among your options are: the standard black or white stretch limo (10-14 passengers); Hummer limo (12-18 passengers); classic cars (2 passengers); chauffeured town cars (2 passengers); pedi-cabs (2 passengers); trolleys (12-15 passengers); passenger vans (14 passengers); and buses (37-53 passengers).
• Consider your budget. Most transportation providers rent these vehicles on a per hour basis with typically a two or three hour minimum required. What can you afford and for how long?
• If you need transportation for the entire day, you will have to pay for the time that your driver waits, including during the ceremony and the reception.

Questions to ask:

• What vehicles are available for your wedding day and at what rate?
• Does that hourly rate include tax, gratuity, fuel or other fees? If not, what are those additional charges?
• Does the provider offer packages and/or discounts for wedding parties? Some local companies offer red carpet service and a bottle of champagne for newlyweds.

• Keep all payment balance, deadline and contract information in one, easy to find place. And remember, no vendor is yours unless you have a signed contract in your hands.
• Ask for everything in writing. If during the sales process, your provider promises any extras or cost-cutting deals, make sure you can easily refer to that in an email, letter or contract.
• If you are getting married during prom season (April or May) know that you are competing for vehicles with teenagers across the Triangle. Make your reservations four to six months in advance.
• If your hourly rates do not include gratuity, it is customary to tip your driver at least 15 percent of the total rental rate.

• If you would prefer to have a limo for the entire day, but cannot afford to have your driver sit and wait during your reception, consider a split shift. Hire a limo to transport the wedding party to the ceremony and to the reception. Then, hire a separate chauffeured car to transport the bride and groom to their honeymoon destination at the end of the night. Typically, chauffeured cars do not have the minimum hour requirements that limos and other larger vehicles do.
• If you are getting married in the off-season or on a Friday or Sunday, ask about discounts or specials.