what i hate about wedding planning #27

The word "wedding" seems to be an extremely powerful term. Just the mere mention of the it causes young women to dream, mothers to cry and vendors to rack up prices.

For example, I've started to do some research on limousines. Nothing too extensive yet; just getting an idea of our budget. I think we'll have to end up with three limos - a Rolls Royce to take me, my father and my sister (Maid of Honor) to the church; a party bus to take the bridesmaids to the church and later take the entire bridal party to the hall; and a stretch limo to take the groomsmen from Gianfranco's house to the church. The party bus really excites me; it's the Rolls Royce and stretch limo that are making me want to punch someone, mainly the owner of the limo company.

The Rolls Royce that is transporting me exactly 1.6 miles away from my house, approximately four minutes, will cost me $540 including tax and gratuity. Do the math. That comes out to $135 a minute. A MINUTE. It doesn't help that I'm being charged for 3.5 hours when I only need a total of 4 minutes. Unfortunately, limos don't work that way. If I want the Rolls Royce, I have to pay for the whole 3.5 hours, no matter how long I use it. Why is it so much? Because it's for a wedding.

Now, paying for the stretch limo that the groomsmen will use for their one-hour trip down to the church is at least justified. My beef with the limo companies here is the unfair way they determine the price.

Let's compare, now shall we?

10 passenger - 3 hours - $300 non-wedding/$525 wedding
12 passenger - 4 hours - $432 non-wedding/$786 wedding
10 passenger - 5 hours - $400 non-wedding/$575 wedding
And just for fun:
28 passenger party bus - 5 hours - $900 non-wedding/$1470 wedding

The limo companies will claim their wedding package offers extra perks - like a red carpet or a bridal emergency kit. But come on! Do the groomsmen need all that junk on the way to the church? All Gianfranco needs is a can of Coke and maybe three chocolate chip cookies and he's a happy groom. Will a party bus for a wedding be ANY different than a party bus for a birthday party? I highly doubt it.

I'm almost tempted to not even mention the word "wedding" and just rent a party bus for 5 hours. Will they adjust the charge when they realize they're taking men in tuxedos to a church? Hmmm. Why am I spending nearly $600 more just because it's a wedding?! If I could book the party bus at the birthday party rate, I wouldn't even need a stretch limo to bring the guys; I'd just have the bus pick up the groomsmen first!

Unfortunately, limo companies are not the only ones to extort brides and their budgets. It happens with every vendor. Hiring a DJ for a wedding is more expensive than hiring a DJ for an anniversary party. Ordering a dozen roses to send your fiancee cost way less than the dozen roses in your bride's bouquet.

I know there's nothing I can do but vent so let me at least do that.