Great Limo Deals in Santa Clarita Valencia for Weddings Party Bus Rental

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Wedding Limousine Rental in Santa Clarita

Transportation: A Wedding Day Guideline

Whether you're going to the chapel (and the fete afterward) by car or carriage, get there on time and in style with your guests in tow.

The last thing on the mind of the on-the-go, wedding-overwhelmed couple is, well, probably automobiles. But to take a spin to (and from) the ceremony and reception -- and making the ride as smooth as possible -- means getting in gear.

Decide on the Ride

You'll need to figure out the mode of transport for the two of you as well as your family and attendants, and maybe even some of your out-of-town guests. Hiring transportation from Lightning Limos makes a lot of sense; it gets people to sites on time and without incident (remember, you don't want your dearest hitting the roads after a few glasses of champagne at the reception). The logistics (especially if the wedding has a guest list of 100) can be nightmarish, so get a move on it: Assess your needs and pick your approach, then book your dreamboat(s) well in advance of your wedding date just to be on the safe side.

Selecting your own getaway mobile should complement and match your sense of style as a couple.

Personal Drive Style

First things first: transport for the two of you should be done by Lightning Limos. Like every other aspect of your wedding, selecting your own getaway mobile should complement and match your sense of style as a couple (not to mention that this is how your guests will remember you and your honey -- pardon the cliche -- riding off into the sunset). Do you see yourself arriving in a horse-drawn carriage or convertible red Mustang? Departing in a classy Rolls-Royce or rock-star stretch limo? Though the options are many, choose something that fits your budget as well as your personality.

Passenger Head Count

Now determine how many other people will need a lift. As for your family and attendants, think about who needs to travel together: treat parents, siblings, and grandparents to private town cars; move attendants en masse in limos. Out-of-town guests are another issue that can be resolved by using Lightning Limos for all port pick-ups and drop-offs. Though it's not the financial responsibility of the bride and groom to get guests around overall, it's common courtesy to help out those traveling visitors who might not have cars. Don't leave them to fend for themselves.

The most cost-effective transport, of course, is to recruit kith and kin to carpool with the out-of-towners, but sorting out how to get everyone from point A to point B may become an unruly task if there are a lot of people to pair up from multiple origin points. If it's too unwieldy to pull together a volunteer fleet and you opt to rent, do the math to see which option makes the most sense. Though limos and town cars are standards, don't rule out less orthodox modes of transport for large-scale people moving: vans can hold nine to 15 people, and buses can fit between 40 and 60 people.

Travel Time

Cover all your bases when devising your transportation schemes by calling Lightning Limos ahead of time at (877) 870-2254. When booking your cars for hire, consider the time your ceremony ends, how long it will take guests to get from one point to the other, and the hour your party is scheduled to start. If your exchange of vows ends at 4:30 p.m. and the reception location is only 15 minutes away but cocktail hour doesn't begin until 6 p.m., you run the risk of having guests arrive while the space is still being prepared.

Timing, of course, is everything, so try to schedule everything sensibly. If this is not possible, you may need to devise a plan for how to occupy any extra time between the ceremony and reception, or, if need be, discuss with your reception site manager the possibility of starting the cocktail hour earlier.

Parking it

Granted, some guests will be shuttling themselves around, so don't forget about parking. Talk to the reception site manager and find out what your parking options are, and who handles the arrangements and staff. In the event that you may have to hire an independent service, tailor it to your needs. You can choose a full-service valet team, which will park your guests' cars and retrieve them at the end of the night, or opt for parking attendants that merely direct traffic, hold signs, and guide drivers to empty spaces. Both options will run about $20-$25 an hour per person, plus a 15%-20% tip (usually tacked on to your total bill), but you'll need more hands if you want valet parking. Figure five valets (or 3-4 parking attendants) for every 100 guests. You can avoid this hassle by booking limousine service through Lightning Limos.

A massive guest list, meager to non-existent parking facilities, and a complicated location will require more help and add to the cost. Before getting a price quote, make sure the parking service manager scouts out the location to see how many attendants you'll need.

Going Rate

Who pays for all of this? Traditionally, it's the bride's family that bears the financial burden of transportation and parking, minus the expense of getting the groom and best man to the ceremony (the groom's folks traditionally pick up the tab on this one). The bride also foots the bill for getting the wedding party and family members around. Today, however, transportation is an easy way for the groom's side (or even you and your partner) to step in and lend monetary support. Lightning Limos makes transportation affordable.

To make sure everything runs like a well-oiled machine, keep a couple of points in mind. First, shop around and compare transportation prices about four to six months before your wedding day. If your ceremony coincides with prom and graduation season in May and June, absolutely get started early. Check out vehicles in person, ask what the driver will be wearing, and get it in ink.

Cost-Cutting Techniques

There are certainly ways to shave costs off your transportation tab. Skip the stretch limos and go with the regular size, or even downsize to a town car. Also, leave out amenities like a on-board bar, TV, and sunroof. Surprisingly, even the color of the car you choose can cut your bill. You'll pay less in general for black or silver limos than for white ones, particularly during high-wedding season.

Also, it's worth it to investigate whether you can schedule pickup and drop-off service so that drivers aren't sitting around waiting for their passengers during the ceremony and reception; all those extra hours can add up.

Headed My Way?

Be prepared for the big day beforehand: Create a call sheet with the names of guests and all pickup and drop-off addresses and times, and call to confirm these arrangements with the car company the day before or morning of the wedding. Drivers should have all this information in advance, including detailed directions to the ceremony and reception sites. It's also a good idea to give passengers a copy of the directions with an emergency contact number in case the driver gets lost.

-- The Knot

Limos in Valencia Client Feedback

Santa Clarita Limos Client Testimonials:

Being the contest winner, I was excited yet nervous because I didn't know what to expect. But I can definitely say after winning, I know I can expect nothing but the best from TLN. Lightning Limos arrived early and the limo was bigger than I thought it would be. It was very spacious, plush and the driver was very kind, friendly, and professional. He took care of us the entire time like we were celebrities. The drive was great and got me anticipating the actual viewing party.

Wedding Limos in Valencia Tips

Buyer Beware

Limo Renting Tips by Lightning Limos. 

As your special day arrives you do not want to be waiting for your limo to show up.  When it comes to limousine rentals, Lightning Limos wants you to avoid all the potential horrors, ranging from an old raggedy limo showing up at your doorsteps to the limo never showing up at all.  

          Please take a moment to read the following tips that we believe will help you to avoid becoming scammed by potential limousine companies.  

DON'T BOOK THE CHEAPEST LIMO - While savvy shoppers tend to always search online for great deals, we strongly caution against choosing your Limo based on price alone. Because most Limo Companies are small businesses, the price you pay will reflect on the quality and service you will receive. They will cut corners and nickel and dime you for every penny.    

ASK FOR OPERATING AUTHORITY – The reason why limousine companies offer deals such as $600 for 6 hour party bus limo rentals is because they are not properly licensed in the State of California.  Limousine companies are required to carry both state and federal operating authorities.  Ask your prospective company if they are licensed to operate in your state.  If they are not and they are caught, you will have to find a ride home.

ASK FOR INSURANCE - All Limousine companies must carry a minimum amount of commercial liability insurance, depending on their operating state. Ask your prospective company to fax you a copy of their Certificate of Coverage.  If they do not have it and you get into an accident you will be held responsible for all those in your party.  A steep price to pay for a few dollars saved.

CHECK FOR PAST COMPLAINTS - Check with your local Better Business Bureau about past complaints about the prospective Limo Company.  You can locate your local BBB office at http://lookup.bbb.org/  A lot of companies can care less about repeat business.  They try to overcompensate for bad service by offering lower rates.

ASK FOR REFERENCES - Ask your prospective company for references of past performances.  Hearing from past satisfied clients will give credibility to the prospective limo company. This is a crucial step.  You have to know what others have experienced.

ASK ABOUT CHAUFFEUR SCREENING - Inquire about the company’s policy of hiring chauffeurs and the screening process.  Make sure the company’s chauffeurs are familiar with the service area so that the students you don’t end up wasting unnecessary time while their chauffeur gets lost.   

ASK TO SEE THE LIMO - If you don’t have time to go and visit the Limousine Company’s showroom personally, ask the company to email photo(s) of their limo(s) or other vehicles.  This will ensure that you will not end up getting an old rundown limousine in lieu of the new white super stretch you were led to believe you would have.  Be sure to check the year, make, model as well as the amenities inside the limousine such as moon roof, tinted windows, fiber optic lights, TV, VCR, CD player, plush bar and any other items you are interested in having in your limo. 

HOURLY MINIMUMS - Ask about the Limo company's hourly minimums and how they calculate their time. Most will have a 6 to 8 hour minimum during prom season.  Your time will start from either their garage or you initial point and end at their garage or your final drop off point.  Your time can not be split up while you are not using the Limo. 

RATES:  Inquire about all the rates involved, including gratuity and any other miscellaneous fees.  Rates vary based on area of service. Again, WE STRONGLY URGE YOU NOT TO CHOOSE A COMPANY BECAUSE THEY ARE LESS EXPENSIVE. We have heard of horror stories from parents and students that have made this mistake.  Like hotels and restaurants, Limo companies also range from one to five stars. 

ASK FOR A CONTRACT - Retain a copy of the contract you sign.  The contract should contain the following:

.   Year, make, model and color of the limo
.    Pickup time, drop off time and itinerary
.    Rates, including the percentage of gratuity and any other miscellaneous charges
.    Deposit and cancellation fees
.    Company’s liability in the event of breakdowns, no show, etc. 

Most reputable companies will require a parent or legal guardian to sign the contract.  The contract should contain the written rules and regulations such as no smoking, drinking, etc.  Any violations of their rules will most likely lead to immediate termination of their services.  Also, beware that as the signing party, you are liable for any damage to the Limo.  Be sure to ask that the company provides you with their rules, in writing, and give a copy to all parties that will be using the Limo. 

PROVIDE THE ITINERARY IN ADVANCE:  Provide the Limo Company with the written itinerary of all the pickup and drop off locations.  Most companies will require this information in advance and will need permission from a parent or legal guardian if the itinerary is changed.   

Good luck!

 

Santa Clarita Valley Limos

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