Questions to Ask Before You Book a Wedding Car

Wedding transport is booked months ahead and used for a few hours, so it is easy to agree to a quote without asking much. Yet the car is one of the few suppliers that must be exactly on time, several times, on the one day it matters most. A few direct questions at the enquiry stage will tell you whether a company is organised, honest and a good fit.

Ask whether the photographs are of the company's own vehicles and whether the specific car you see is the one that will arrive. White 7 runs four cars of its own: a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Mercedes S500 long-wheelbase, a seven-seat Mercedes V-Class and an Audi A6. The car you book is the car that turns up.

Find out whether the car is chauffeur-driven and how the chauffeur is briefed. At White 7, every booking is chauffeur-driven; there is no self-drive. A suited chauffeur studies the addresses and route before the day and arrives ahead of the collection time.

Ask for the quote in writing and check what it covers: vehicle, chauffeur, ribbons, waiting time, the journeys themselves. Ask what would cost extra. White 7 quotes are fixed and itemised; ribbons are included and floral dressing is available on request. Changes requested on the day, such as extra journeys, may be quoted separately under the booking terms.

Every reputable company has written terms covering confirmation, cancellation and changes. Read them before you book rather than after. White 7's booking terms are published on the site, so you can see them before committing.

Ask how the company handles traffic, rain, or a ceremony that runs over. The honest answer involves planning: routes studied in advance, a margin in the timings, an umbrella ready and a chauffeur you can call directly. Be wary of anyone who promises nothing will ever go wrong; the question is how calmly it is handled.

Check the company's area. White 7 is based in Bedford and covers Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and London. If your venues are further afield, ask; journeys outside the usual area can be discussed.

If you need more than one car, ask whether the company can supply them together so one team coordinates the timings. The V-Class carries up to seven for bridesmaids or family, and the A6 or S-Class suits parents and grandparents.

The way a company handles your enquiry is a good preview of how it will handle your wedding. White 7's booking line is open 07:00 to 23:00, replies normally come within the hour, and you can speak to Kuldip directly on 07977 407474.

Keep the answers from each company you contact side by side. Comparing them on the same questions, rather than on price alone, shows quickly who has thought about the details of your day and who is simply quoting a number. The best wedding car supplier is the one whose answers leave you feeling calm, not the one with the longest list of promises. Take this list, add your own questions and send them with your date and venues. You will get straight answers and a fixed quote with no obligation, which is the fairest way to compare companies before choosing.