Wedding 101: Should You Rent A Limousine?
Weddings can be a lot of work, and while they bring with them the promise of lifelong happiness, they also come with a hefty price tag. Whether you’re flying in relatives from out-of-state or hiring a wedding caterer, there are plenty of expenses to account for. However, the costs associated with renting a limousine can vary widely—from $190 per hour to $2,000+ for an eight-hour rental—so it pays to get all your facts in order before making that decision.
In today’s post I will explore some of the various factors that go into determining how much you might spend on this service and what other options you have at your disposal.
The Cost of a Limo Rental
Let’s start with a look at the average cost of renting a limousine, which tends to vary greatly depending on where you're getting married and how many hours you need (and if you need it at all). Some companies offer them for as low as $110 an hour, while others charge much more. B&H Limousine in our area charges around $250 per hour for their discounted hourly rates.
Hourly Cost: From $190-$300+
Most limousine services in this price range include a service tax of about 8%, so pay attention to this when comparing prices. For example, if one vendor is offering an hourly rate of $250, another for $250 with a service tax of 8%, and a third for $265 with no service tax, you can bet the latter has the better deal.
As the chart above shows, most limousine companies charge anywhere from $190-300 per hour, and this is usually applicable only when using the limo on your wedding day. If you're renting it for a few days before or after your special day and there is a distance involved (such as airports or hotels), additional charges may apply.
Factoring in Extra Charges
Other costs that might come into play are fuel surcharges and gratuity for drivers. Depending on where you are, these may be included in your total price or added as an additional cost. Some also tack on a clean-up fee for a one-time cleaning service. You'll want to be sure to ask about these before agreeing to the rental agreement or signing any paperwork.
While none of these extra fees are particularly outrageous, the one you shouldn't overlook is the fuel surcharge. Since your limo will be sitting idle for most of your wedding day, you can expect that the driver will spend a good amount of his time looking for little instances of dirt and debris, which can drain a lot of fuel from the limo's tanks. If you're driving an hour each way, it can add up fast.
When it comes to the gratuity issue, there is no standard rule of thumb—each wedding will have its own set of circumstances. If you're budgeting in the range of $2,000+ for your limo rental, you'll likely need to tip more than if you're planning on using it for a few hours. For this reason, I strongly suggest that you speak with your wedding planner or vendor first about tipping guidelines.
The Limo Will Not Only Help You Save on the Cost of Transportation
As we can see in the chart above, our relatively small area also has plenty of options for limo rentals. As a matter of fact, the price range is fairly standard across the country. The cost of hiring a limo depends on how long you need it, how far you're traveling, and whether there are any special services you need.
While most people factor in the price of the limousine into their wedding budget, it can actually keep you from spending a lot more as well!
How? Well, since limousines are used by celebrities and many other high-profile people for their transportation needs, they've become very popular for weddings. Because of this, a lot of limo rental companies advertise their services to brides and grooms at discounted prices, as they know they'll make up the difference in other ways.
Take our local provider, B&H Limousine, for example. The company offers discounted rates on many wedding services (such as floral arrangements) and often runs special deals for customers who use their service for both transportation and other services on the big day. When you use them for your wedding transportation and other needs such as floral services or photography, you can get as much as 25% off your limo rental.
I'm sure you've already seen the cost of a limo rental listed in your wedding budget, but if you haven't and you're considering the option, be sure to look into the other services B&H offers. It's not uncommon for some companies to offer these types of deals for their clients, so it pays to do your research before making a commitment.
Limousine Options: Should You Rent One or Not?
When it comes down to it, what's more important than cost is your overall comfort level with hiring a limo service for your wedding.
You should consider a number of things to determine if a limo rental is right for you. For example, whether you're getting married in a small town or a large city, or whether you want the company to provide any additional services—such as chauffeuring you to your destination, transporting your wedding guests, and so on. If there are any special circumstances that are unique to your wedding (such as having an outdoor wedding ceremony), also consider this.
On top of all that, I would recommend taking some time to research the limo service in your area. There are a lot of local companies that have established good reputations and solid business relationships with one another. Working with them can save you time and money, especially if you find out the company already has a relationship with the venue or other vendors.
If, after considering all these factors, you determine that renting a limousine is something you want to do, I would recommend making sure to do your homework on pricing. Doing so will help ensure that you get the best deal possible from your provider. If you're able to find a package deal with other services as well, such as floral arrangements or photography, make sure to ask about any relevant discounts for bundling your services.
A limo can be a great addition to your wedding. In fact, it's something that our own wedding planning guide recommends that couples consider. It can be the perfect way for you and your guests get to where you need to go and have a great time doing it.
Although there are many limo rental service options available, the ones I've listed above are the most common on the market and should help give you an idea of what's out there. If you find that none of these options fit your needs exactly, don't worry—just keep in mind all of the things we've discussed here when choosing how you'll travel to your destination on your big day.
Conclusion
In the end, renting a limo is all about what works best for you and your big day. It's important to remember that even if you're taking a limo or two to get there, your wedding festivities won't be the only thing making room in the budget. If you decide that you need a limo, be sure to factor in all of those extra expenses for things like drinks, food and other services during transit.
On top of that, don't forget about any special features (like color schemes, room for flowers or flower petals on board) that might add additional costs as well.