Wedding Carriages

Typically horse drawn carriages are used to bring the bride and groom to the ceremony, and then away to the reception. In order to keep travel time reasonable, most companies suggest a destination no more than four miles. The carriages travel at a relaxed pace of four miles per hour.

Most Vis a Vis (face to face) carriages hold four passengers comfortably. But a Surrey with the Fringe on Top is pulled by 2 horses and is perfect for the whole wedding party. There is a wide variety of carriage types and designs: white majestic, old fashioned black, open-air or glass enclosed. In winter and ski resort areas, horse drawn sleighs are very popular for weddings.

The couple may want to find a reputable horse and carriage rental company by asking friends, checking online and in the Yellow Pages. If the bride and groom have their wedding on a Saturday between May and September, they will need to call early for reservations. Other high demand times for carriage companies are Fridays in the fall months, on Valentine's Day, holiday weekends, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year's and Mother's Day.

Some companies allow you to rent the horse and carriage for wedding pictures only. There may be a fee (one online company charges $250.00), which includes the carriage, a coachman and a l5 minute ride. Other fees cover preparation, set up (decorations) and travel time. Prices are determined by date, time, location and the number of horses/carriages that are needed. The coachman and footman will be formally attired, some with Olde English or romantic Victorian costumes. What better or more romantic way to arrive at the wedding ceremony, than in a resplendent coach with loving family and friends waiting in anticipation

To get from church to reception, why not have a horse drawn carriage pull up to the church or chapel? Cover up with blankets on the way to your reception or place where you are having your pictures done. You may also want to consider a sleigh if you're wedding is in the country. Hear the bells as you glide through the snow.

A white limo or car decorated in winter wedding colors is another option to consider. You may want to serve hot drinks as your guests enter the reception site. Serve brandy, Irish Cream, de menthe, Cream de cocoa, coffee with Irish Cream or Baileys, or hot apple cider. They can sit or stand by the crackling fire, as they chat and wait for the Bride and Groom.

For entertainment at your reception, think of different things to do. Guests dressed in long coats and tall hats could skate on a nearby rink or pond, while bride and groom have pictures done, or as a part of the reception. Some ideas for your winter reception meal include serving a butternut squash soup with roast beef and horseradish, roast duck or lamb, baby greens and new potatoes.

Have a flaming fig pudding and your wedding cake for dessert. Decorate your wedding cake with icicles and small silver bells, or green ivy and small red berries or roses. At the end of the evening give your guests wedding favors. Give tiny snow globes with a winter theme inside, spiced teas, gingerbread, potpourri, candles, and others.

Complete your winter wedding with a winter honeymoon. Ski in Aspen or the Canadian Rockies. Visit Austria or Switzerland for a true winter holiday.

Theme Weddings

Beach or By the pool Wedding

Fun, casual, flip flops, beach umbrellas, cabana's, buffet, beach balls for decorations, pail wedding favors filled with candies, beach flip flop candles, beach flip flop cards., seashell gel candle, Bride and Groom frisbees, palm tree candles, starfish soap favors.

Winter Wonderland Wedding

A white wedding with touches of silver or gold color. Elegant, white flower arrangements. Snowflake wine bottle stopper favors, silver chrome heart stoppers, cute snowglobe favors, scented frosted votive candle, edible candy mints in red or accent colors. Great flavors too!

Cinderella Wedding

Carriage ride. Vintage off white wedding gown. Goblets. Traditional era foods. Wands with ribbons. Happily Ever after wedding favors such as the carriage candle or Happily Ever after bottle stoppers with cute carriage or castle tops.

1940's Hollywood Classic Think black and white. Satin and silk. Frank Sinatra. Zuit suits. Woman in sleek silk dresses. Silver wedding favors. Black and white mint tins.

Garden/Vineyard

Roses, wildflowers, butterflies. Soft pastel dresses. Pink champagne. Garden seed favors such as the "Love Grows" heart seeds which guests can later plant in remembrance of your wedding. Edible mints in colors to match your wedding colors and personalized with bride and groom names. Calla lilly mini-pails filled with treats.

Victorian Romantic

Elegant, lace, pink and cream flowers, heart seed pack favors, chrome heart bottle stopper favor or heart love letter opener.

Pirates of the Carribean

Drinks with swords, tropical fruits, finger foods, bonfire on the beach, eye patches, wild dancing. "Anchored in Love" favor candle.