Wedding Transport: 10 Ways To Arrive At Your Wedding

When it comes to planning your wedding there will come a time when you’ll have to decide how to arrive and leave from your wedding venue.  Here's an inspiring list of ten fresh and exciting ways to arrive at your wedding: 

Photo: Air Whitsundays

1. Sea Plane
If you're planning a wedding on an island in the Coral Sea, the most spectacular way to arrive is by sea plane.

2. Gondola
In Venice, it’s practically obligatory to be transported to your wedding by a specially designated bridal gondola via the city’s utterly romantic canals.

Photo: Tukshop

3. Tuk Tuk
In Asia, tuk tuks are commonly used as a means of wedding transport by locals and tourists alike. 
But you don’t have to be getting married in Asia to enjoy a tuk tuk! In the UK, Tukshop has a range of tuk tuks for hire by wedding couples looking for something a little bit different.

Photo: Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

4. Horse
Indian weddings are famous for their elaborate celebrations which traditionally include a colourful parade (baraat) featuring the groom riding a beautifully decorated horse.

You don't have to travel to India, many companies outside of India specialise in bespoke Indian weddings.

5. Bicycle 
A growing number of environmentally aware couples are choosing to jump on their bikes using love-fuelled pedal power to get them to and from the altar.

Photo: Bora Bora Intercontinental

6. Canoe
Polynesian cultures such as those of the Pacific island nations of Tahiti, Fiji, Cook Islands and Vanuatu have a tradition of transporting the bride by water.

Photo: Kombi Limousines

7. Kombi Van
Kombi Limousines in Sydney, Australia help make Volkswagen lovers’ dreams come true with their attention grabbing stretch VW Kombi van. 

Photo: tomKphoto

8. Skis
A winter wedding in the snow provides the perfect opportunity for the wedding couple to hit the slopes!

Photo: Bali Elephant Camp wedding

9. Elephant
In Bali, you can be gracefully transported to and from your wedding aboard Sumatran elephants. 
Bali Elephant Camp Weddings arrange everything from the ceremony, transportation and accommodation.

Photo: Disney Fairytale Weddings

10. Cinderella Carriage
What bride hasn’t dreamed of arriving at her wedding by romantic horse and carriage. 

Disney Fairytale Weddings offers its fantasy Cinderella Crystal Coach as part of its 'Wishes' range of fairytale wedding packages.

Destination: Wedding - A guide to planning the destination wedding of your dreams is available in paperback and digital formats at Amazon (UK), Amazon (USA) and from www.destination-wedding-book.com.

Wedding Trends for 2012

What will be the biggest wedding trends in 2012? Without a doubt, we will continue to see the economic downturn impact how couples choose to marry. Even those who aren’t greatly affected are likely to tone down their wedding plans to appear less extravagant. We’ll  also see the trend towards eco or green weddings continue along with more do-it-yourself weddings and destination weddings combined with planned holidays.

Here are my predictions for the coming year's wedding trends:

Social Media Broadcasting

As unappealing as it might be to some, many couples are choosing to update their relationship status via social media right at the altar. Initially seen as tacky, it's becoming more  acceptable, particularly for younger, social media savvy couples. Updating your relationship status on Facebook or Twitter typically prompts a wave of celebratory congratulations and well-wishes from family and friends - who could resist?

Social media marital status updates are becoming popular

Do-it-yourself 

The upside to tough economic times is that couples might take on more of the wedding preparations themselves. Tough times often spark a renewed interest in home-made arts, crafts and cooking. Couples can make their own wedding invitations, decorations and wedding cakes or enlist the help of willing family and friends. Instead of hiring musicians to perform at the wedding, couples could call upon friends and family to lend their vocal and musical talents. A spin-off of the do-it-yourself approach is that it can make a wedding an even more meaningful and memorable event. 

Less Extravagance

It was well reported that the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton that took place in 2011 was toned down in light of the economic downturn. The couple’s choice to arrive at Westminster Abbey by car was seen as a way to appear less lavish than arriving in the traditional horse-drawn royal coach gilt with gold. An increasing number of couples are questioning the expense of their wedding day and looking for ways to trim the budget. There are many ways to simplify a wedding while maintaining a romantic and celebratory atmosphere. From reducing the guest list to forgoing the stretch limo, couples are focusing on what's important to them rather than putting on a show.

Holiday Wedding

Destination weddings continue to grow in popularity despite the economic downturn. Rather than booking special trips for their weddings however, a growing number of couples will combine a destination wedding with an already planned holiday. We’re also likely to see couples opt for lower key affairs such as elopements and intimate ceremonies and celebrations shared with only the closest of family and friends. Couples might also choose destination wedding locations closer to home to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of guests they want at the wedding. An Australian couple might choose the Gold Coast or Vanuatu instead of Hawaii or Tahiti and a UK couple might choose an English castle over one in mainland Europe.

Vanuatu is a popular & affordable destination wedding location

Off-the-wall / Unique

As couples seek to break with tradition and make their wedding unique, there’s an increase in the number of couples choosing off-the-wall wedding themes and venues. This is likely to continue as more alternative venues realise the potential market. I reported earlier in the year that McDonalds in Hong Kong had begun offering couples the chance to marry in-store. You can now get married underwater in many locations around the world, and if a ceremony venue with a bird’s eye view of London sounds perfect, why not consider marrying aboard the London Eye? Couples also want to be able to make their wedding unique by incorporating their favourite things into their wedding ceremony. 

Hong Kong McDonalds' menu includes the 'McWedding'

Green / Eco-wedding 

Wedding couples are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their wedding resulting in a boom in the eco and green wedding industry. Eco weddings embrace the concept of sustainability by consuming less resources, using recycled items, and minimising your carbon footprint in as many ways as possible. Second-hand wedding gowns have become more popular as has choosing wedding wear that can be worn again at other occasions. Serving food that has been produced locally and sustainably, as well as choosing planet-friendly meat-free menus are other ways to go green. 

Which of these trends will you be following in 2012? 

Destination: Wedding - A guide to planning the destination wedding of your dreams is available in paperback and digital formats at Amazon (UK), Amazon (USA) and from www.destination-wedding-book.com.