By the H.B.S. Rent a Car team · Published
Wedding transport has to be on time, clean and calm. A late car cannot be fixed on the day. This guide sets out how to plan it: when to book, how to choose the vehicle, what to agree about decoration and timing, and a checklist for the day. For our service and photographs see wedding car hire.
When to book
Book as early as you can. We recommend at least one to three months in advance, particularly for popular auspicious dates and weekends, when many weddings take place on the same day. Once you know the date, venue and rough timings, contact us with these details and we confirm which vehicles are free.
Choose the car for the occasion
The wedding car carries the bride and groom, so it needs to be comfortable for wedding clothes: wide door openings, enough headroom, and seats that will not crush a sari or a gown. Our wedding service offers luxury sedans, limousines and classic cars, always with a uniformed chauffeur. Ask which vehicles are free on your date and look at photographs; you are welcome to inspect the car in person or ask for a video.
| Role | Typical vehicle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bride and groom | Decorated luxury sedan, limousine or classic car | The main wedding car; book early |
| Parents and close family | Executive sedan or SUV such as a Land Cruiser Prado | Easy entry and exit for older relatives |
| Bridal party | Van such as a Toyota Hiace KDH | Seats up to 10 or more; one vehicle keeps the group together |
| Guests from the airport or hotel | Vans or coaches arranged separately | Ask us about airport transfers |
Decoration
Our wedding hire includes ribbons and custom decoration setup options, and we coordinate flower decoration on request. Tell us the colours and the style well before the day, and send photographs of what you have in mind. Agree who supplies the flowers and who fits them, how long the decoration takes, and whether decoration is charged separately. Remember that decorated cars must be fitted so that they do not block the driver's view or damage the paintwork.
Timing around the auspicious hour
Many Sri Lankan weddings are timed to an auspicious moment (nekath) set by an astrologer, particularly for a traditional ceremony such as the poruwa. Give us the exact time and the place of each step: where the couple leaves, where they arrive, and when the next movement is due. Allow extra time for traffic and for photographs. A common plan is to have the car at the pick-up location 45 to 60 minutes before the departure time, so that there is time to decorate, check and settle the couple.
Package and hours
We offer flexible hourly, half-day and full-day packages. Choose the shortest one that covers the movements you need; a full day is better if the couple will travel between the ceremony, photographs and the reception. Confirm what is included, what happens if the schedule overruns, and how an extra hour is charged.
Checklist for the day
- Confirm the date, pickup time and address with the company one week before, and again the day before.
- Give the driver the names and mobile numbers of two contacts (not the couple).
- Check the route and parking at the venue in advance.
- Keep the schedule for each movement on a single page that the driver can see.
- Arrange an umbrella and a cloth for the weather and for dust on the car.
- Agree payment and any deposit in advance, so that nothing has to be settled during the celebration.
An example wedding-day timeline
Timings differ with the ceremony, but the table shows how the transport can be organised for a ceremony followed by a reception.
| Time before the key moment | What happens |
|---|---|
| 90 minutes | Car arrives and is checked; decoration is finished |
| 45 minutes | Chauffeur waits near the bride's home or hotel; family travel in other vehicles |
| Departure | Bride and groom leave in the wedding car at the planned time |
| Ceremony | Chauffeur waits at the venue; car is parked where the couple can find it easily |
| After the ceremony | Photographs; the couple travel to the reception in the same car |
| Reception end | Chauffeur takes the couple to the hotel or home |
Different traditions, different needs
Sri Lankan weddings follow many traditions, including Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian ceremonies, and some couples hold more than one. Tell us the programme, so that we can plan the timing, the number of cars and the places to wait. Some ceremonies include a procession, and the car may need to move slowly; some venues have limited parking or restricted driveways.
Questions to ask any wedding car company
- Which exact car will be used, and can I see it or a video?
- Is the chauffeur included, and what will he or she wear?
- What does the decoration include, and who pays for the flowers?
- What happens if the programme runs late?
- What is the deposit and the cancellation arrangement?
- Is there a back-up vehicle if the car has a problem?
Frequently asked questions
How early should I book a wedding car?
Can we inspect the car before the wedding?
Does the wedding car come with a chauffeur?
Can you decorate the car?
Are hourly packages available?
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