Image Courtesy: Richard Harris Photography

Arriving In Style

Many young women grow up dreaming of the horse-drawn carriage that takes them to their ultimate fairy tale wedding. This elegance and style can be attainted today through beautiful vintage cars. While the mode of transport may have changed, every woman’s vision is ultimately still the same: to arrive in style. When it comes to choosing the transportation to take you to your wedding destination, first impressions certainly matter. Melbourne Wedding + Bride’s Aoife Butler sits down with the director of Classy Cars and Limousines, Helen Farquhar, to explore the options of being driven around on your wedding day in the most elegant vintage cars available.

There is no doubt that vintage cars have a certain character to them. Their charm and classic qualities enhance the romantic atmosphere that surrounds your big day. A part of this charm is the car’s classic feel that comes down to its age. Generally, classic cars are vehicles that have been manufactured before 1990. However, the cars of the 1950s and 1960s hold a specific level of sophistication and class to them. The vehicles chic, sporty and avant-garde nature solidified these cars as prime examples of
1950s culture. These types of cars are still heavily preserved today and car enthusiasts like Farquhar are here to encourage the use of these classic cars in all their glory!

An Entrance To Remember

A female run business, Farquhar’s love for classic cars certainly emanates throughout our conversation as we discuss their significance in weddings today. Farquhar believes that when it comes to a wedding “an elegant, stylish classic car with all the curves and timeless panache are must haves”. The word ‘timeless’ is used vigorously in the discussion of vintage cars. Farquhar continues to describe their significance, stating “not only does a classic turn heads everywhere they go … but they immediately reassure the bride that her entrance will be one that is not forgotten – ever!”

Vintage cars add a unique touch to a bride’s entrance. Their unbeatable luxury contribute to the car’s charm. Its shape and variety of colours and sizes, make these extravagant cars a sought-after mode of transport, as they work as the perfect photo opportunity. They captivate guests with their beauty and create a certain buzz surrounding the bride’s entrance. While all eyes are certainly on the bride, everyone’s gaze is immediately drawn to the show-stopping ride she arrives in on. Farquhar’s service even provides a lavish ten metre red carpet entrance. Here, the luxury continues from the moment the bride steps out of her car, right through to the reception.

Back In Time

It has been made obvious in recent years, that the vintage car may never go out of style. Farquhar states that these classic modes of transport “will always be in high demand, just pick up a bridal magazine from twenty years ago… or your parents and grandparents and their friends and families wedding albums – and you’ll see that most people had classic cars of some sort”. The romance and luxury these cars emanate are features that are forever associated with weddings. Farquhar continues to state how “the charismatic vision of a stunningly stylish and sleekly curved car will never go out of fashion, or popularity!”

Classic and vintage cars, given their age, capture a certain amount of history. They stand the test of time and evoke certain memories for guests who grew up within this time. As such, these beautiful vintage pieces symbolise the depth of the couple’s
relationship and its longevity. Nostalgia and romanticism are at the heart of these magnificent old-school classics, making brides and grooms feel like royalty on their big day.

Hit the road

Classy Cars and Limousines provides two 1958 MG Magnette ZBs – Miss Gorgeous and Mighty Goodlooking. Their roaring engines and profound shapes make for an “attention grabbing” grand entrance. While they add an element of class to an event, they also create an unforgettable atmosphere. The cars attract attention that draws people in. Farquhar says that she has seen many guests at weddings “actually following the cars for a closer look at the bride as she steps out of the car”. The experience created by the hiring of vintage cars is undoubtedly a-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

While the actual car and bride are the event’s star attraction, Farquhar’s service makes sure all brides enjoy a comfortable ride to their venue, supplying car decorations and emergency packs filled with lipsticks, perfume, earrings, garters, and hand-made vintage handkerchiefs. Her female-only drivers are dressed to compliment the bridal party’s colour palette and according to Farquhar, her drivers “never wear white or any shade of white, as even if the bride wears another dress colour, I like to keep this tradition”. Brides can rest assured that these beautiful cars will not outshine them on their wedding day – the spotlight is merely shared!

This allure surrounding vintage cars continues to resonate today. Their class and charm heighten the romantic atmosphere felt throughout one’s wedding and gives a bride the grand entrance of her dreams. Farquhar’s final advice for couples considering hiring a vintage car is this: “Familiarise yourself with the interior colour and design, the shape of the car, picture where you want photos taken to showcase your wedding day glow and decide how the car will best complement and enhance your look”. These timeless classics accentuate any bridal entrance and assure you arrive in style.

Image Credit: Richard Harris Photography