Annapolis wedding transportation: how many vehicles you need and how to plan the day

How many vehicles does a wedding need?

Start with headcount, not vehicle type. Count who needs a ride at each stage of the day, then fit the fleet around those numbers. Common setups look like this:

Many weddings combine two or three of these: a sedan or the stretch limo for the couple, a van for the wedding party, and the bus for guests when the ceremony and reception are in different places. A wedding party of 14, for example, fits in the stretch limo plus the SUV (8 and 6 seats).

Count seats honestly. The stretch limo seats 8, and a bridal party in full dresses fills it faster than the number suggests. When in doubt, step up a size or add a car.

Who needs a ride, and when?

Write down every move of the day, in order. A typical list:

1. Getting ready: the couple and the wedding party, often in two different places.
2. To the ceremony: the wedding party first, then the couple.
3. Photos: a stop or two, perhaps at City Dock or on the brick streets around the State House.
4. To the reception: the couple and the wedding party, with guests on the bus if the venues are apart.
5. The end of the night: the couple's exit, then guests back to their hotels.

Each line is a ride with a time, a place and a headcount, which are exactly the details the booking form asks for.

Should wedding transportation be booked by the hour?

Almost always. With an hourly booking the chauffeur stays on call for the whole booked period, and unplanned stops within that time are included, which matters on a day when the photographer wants one more location. The hourly rate covers the vehicle, fuel and an experienced chauffeur; tolls and parking are extra.

Time starts at the scheduled pickup, or earlier if the pickup begins earlier, so set the pickup for when you actually need the car rather than an hour before.

A one-way booking can work for a simple job, such as bringing guests from a hotel to the ceremony at a set time. Keep in mind that non-airport pickups include five minutes of grace before waiting time is charged, so for anything with waiting in between, hourly is the better fit.

How do I build a transportation timeline that holds up?

• Add buffers. Leave 15 to 20 minutes between legs. Photos run long, and downtown Annapolis on a summer Saturday moves slowly.
• Choose pickup points with room to stop. Many downtown streets are narrow. Pick a spot where a vehicle can pull over, especially the stretch limo and the bus.
• Name one contact for the day. Give us a single phone number, ideally someone in the wedding party who is not the couple.
• Share the whole plan when you book. Every address, every time and any planned stops. Planned stops are part of the quote; unplanned stops on a one-way trip are charged when requested.
• Decide the end of the night early. Who leaves first, and whether guests need a ride back. A late return can be its own booking.

How do I book the stretch limo or the bus?

The stretch limo and the corporate bus are quoted on request, so they do not show an instant price on the booking form. Ask for a quote as soon as you have a date and a rough schedule; it leaves time to compare and adjust.

The other vehicles, from the sedans to the Sprinter vans, are priced directly on the booking form. Your card is charged at booking, and a quoted rate is guaranteed once your email confirmation shows the status CONFIRMED.

Cancellation notice depends on the vehicle, and larger vehicles need more of it. The stretch limo, for example, needs at least 72 hours' notice for pickups in the Washington metropolitan area. Read the full policy in our FAQ before you book.

What about out-of-town guests?

Guests flying in will usually find BWI the easiest airport, about 30 minutes from Annapolis. Reagan National is about 50 minutes away and Dulles about 75 minutes. A Sprinter van can collect a group arriving together, and guests arriving on their own can book their own transfer on the same booking form. Our airport transportation page explains how pickups work at each airport.

For weddings, proms and other celebrations, see event transportation, or call (410) 988-4495 to talk through the plan.