Wedding Car Timeline: How Many Hours Do You Need?

Most Auckland weddings fit the 3-hour wedding package, from $1,200 for one chauffeur-driven stretch limousine carrying up to 10 people. The hours count from the first pickup to the last drop-off, so the easiest way to get the booking right is to write the day out as a timeline first. Here is how.

A typical 3-hour wedding car timeline

An example only, for a wedding with the ceremony and reception in different places:

If your ceremony and reception are at the same venue, the limo is mostly used for the arrival and a photo stop, and 3 hours is usually plenty.

How to work out the hours you need

1. List every address in order: each pickup, the ceremony, every photo stop and the reception.
2. Add travel time between them. Crossing the Harbour Bridge or travelling on a Friday or Saturday afternoon takes longer than a map suggests.
3. Add time at each stop. Photographers often want 20 to 45 minutes at a photo location.
4. Add a buffer of 15 to 20 minutes for the unexpected.
5. Compare the total with 3 hours. If it runs over, request extra hours in your quote rather than squeezing the day.

When you need more than 3 hours

• Venues far apart, such as a city ceremony and a winery reception in Kumeu or Matakana.
• A long photo session at more than one location.
• Collecting the groomsmen first, then the bride, with the same limo.
• Taking the couple on from the reception later in the evening.

One limo or two?

White Ford Falcon or black Lincoln?

Both are chauffeur-driven stretch limousines seating up to 10. The white Ford Falcon is the classic wedding look and stands out in daylight photos. The black Lincoln suits evening receptions and city venues, and its lighting sets the mood after dark. Book both for one white and one black car together in your photos.

Timing for the groom’s party

The bride’s car should never have to wait for the groom. Plan for the groom’s party to be at the ceremony well before the bride arrives. If one limo is doing both runs, the groomsmen go first and the gap before the bride’s pickup has to be realistic for Auckland traffic. Our wedding limousine hire page has an example groomsmen timeline.

What to send in your quote request

• Your wedding date and ceremony and reception times
• Ceremony and reception venues
• Every pickup address, and how many people at each
• Photo stops in order (see wedding photo locations)
• White, black or both limos
• Any ribbons or decorations you would like

Questions