It’s true: some of the guests will have already departed; people will be tired and winding down. It’s the ones who care the most who have stayed ‘til the sweet (certainly not bitter) end to see you off in a festive flotilla of bubbles or a shower of flower petals. Don’t you owe it to them to make your exit as memorable in its own way as the moment you appeared in the entryway on your father’s arm?
A sweet nod to retro tradition is to have the groomsmen (and often the bridesmaids) “decorate” the couple’s own car. This tradition fell out of favor somewhere in the ‘90’s, for two reasons: first, excess was “in” and stretch limo’s were “in” with it–and sentiment was "out"; and second, pure and simple, the “designated decorators” often went too far, leaving couples with cars that weren’t gussied up in good fun, but often such an embarrassment that couples began to hide their cars a block away and leave in someone else’s. Additionally, at that time, shave cream was often the medium of choice, and this did serious damage to paint jobs–so that the couple was left with the bleached-out sentiment, “Tonight’s the night!” permanently emblazoned across their hood for all time.
But if we could just rewind to the earliest days of having the wedding party “dress” the couple’s car, we would once again see how it’s done when it’s not overdone: remember, your wedding party is there to help you fulfill your dreams today–so all you need to do is TELL them what you want (and perhaps remind them that this car is part of the wedding, not the bachelor party). Here’s a plan for classic, old-fashioned car décor to be prepared ahead, that’s pretty and fun while still remaining matrimonial:
Take half a dozen (or even a few more) empty, dried-out pop cans, and spray them with white spray paint–they’ll probably need at least 2 coats to cover the labels. Next, take 20 feet of grosgrain (it’s the strongest) ribbon in the main wedding color, and cut it in half, so you have two 10-foot lengths. Being very careful (perhaps one of the men could do this; not to be sexist, but it’s a risky move with round cans, requiring strong hands), use an exacto-type knife to cut a small slit (vertically or horizontally, it doesn’t matter) on each side of each pop can, halfway between the top and the bottom. Bend a 12” piece of florist (or other thin, pliable) wire in half.
Secure one end of the ribbon to either just inside the trunk or underneath the bumper of the car, and roll it out to about 1 foot beyond where it drops to the ground. (The whole point of the cans is to make a happy clatter as the car drives away–plus you don’t want the cans close enough to beat up the car.) Tie a small knot in the ribbon. A few inches from the loose end of the ribbon, wrap the ribbon once around the bend in your doubled-over wire, and thread it through the first hole in one of the cans. Squeezing the two sides of the wire together so they don’t separate, move them around until they make contact with the hole on the other side of the can, and pull through. Slide the ribbon all the way up to the knot, and tie another knot below the can. Move 2 feet down the ribbon, tie another knot, and repeat the process until you have at least 3 cans stretching out behind the car. Do the same with the other length of ribbon, so you have two sets of cans. Use any extra ribbon to tie bows above each can, just above the knot. This was even done in the days of horses and buggies!
Find an oversized white silk or polyester flower at a craft store. Cut the stem short–about 6 inches–and remove any leaves. Cut six 8-foot lengths of white “curling” ribbon and tie near the top of the flower (if it were me, I would pop the head off the flower, add some glue and pop it back on, for strength). Curl the ribbon by pulling it quickly over a scissor blade, and let it hang down in ringlets. When it’s time to decorate the car, use two of the ribbons to tie the flower to the radio antenna, winding them around down the length of the stem and simply typing them off–their curly ends will mix with the other curly ribbon.
Now, you know this is going to be a photo-opportunity, so make the most of it–don’t mess the car up with lots of other stuff (if something MUST be written on the car, stick to the windows and use white shoe polish). Do NOT write or put anything on the back window, or you may not be able to be seen in your photos. Many places sell magnetic “wedding-themed” car décor signs. Place one pretty “Just Married” sign on the edge of the trunk just over the back bumper.
If kept simple and tasteful in this way, this “retro” method of dressing up your car is truly charming, and can be translated to a number of choices for unique “getaway” cars even if they’re not your own. Some other ideas:
Vintage/Classic Cars: does somebody in one of your families, or a close friend, have a polished-up vintage car that’s their pride and joy? They would probably love to show it off by shining it up and either allowing you to drive it away or “chauffeuring” you themselves. If nobody you know has one, Google “vintage car clubs” or “antique car clubs” along with the name of your city and state. These enthusiasts love to show off their cars, and will surely know of several people in their group that get a kick out of picking up wedding couples, usually for a very nominal fee; they’re in it for the fun. You could find anything you might like: a convertible allowing you to sit high up in the back as you first leave, giving the bride a unique way to toss her bouquet as the car begins to pull away; a loud and rumbling muscle car; an adorably old-fashioned Model T. And the simple decorations described above are quick to put on, and will not damage the custom paint job. Allow the owner/driver to arrive a bit ahead of your departure time (you might request that he wear a white shirt and a tie), as very often a number of male wedding guests will gravitate out to look over and discuss the car’s history with the owner–and this may be what makes your wedding memorable to the menfolk. (For my older daughter, her dad’s classic Mustang was a huge point of gathering and conversation among the men as it rolled up to carry them away on a warm summer night.)
Special cars: If you have close friends or relatives who have an outstandingly special car–say, a brand-new BMW or Mercedes, or, as in the case of my niece, a spanking-new Ferrari, you might request the use of their car for your departure as their wedding gift to you; if they are very “clingy” about their car, you could park your own car just a few blocks away and make the switch; they can pick their car up in a few minutes.
Limo’s or Antique Limo’s: Again, the above-mentioned decorations should not be a problem, since you have taken care to select décor that will not scratch or otherwise damage the vehicle. This can be an expensive choice if you rent from a limousine rental service–or, you can keep an eye on Craigslist where sometimes a private owner simply enjoys the fun and festivity of driving away the bride and groom and the attention that gets paid to his car, and will do so for a token fee. (My younger daughter scored a 1961 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud for $200, complete with uniformed chauffeur–whose knowledge about and willingness to show off his pride and joy was a delight to the men on hand; retail from a limo company, this same 20-minute service for this car would have cost over $700!)
Horse-drawn carriage: if your city has a few of these plying the tourist trade by day, you know they would love to provide this as a custom service for your wedding. I would expect this to cost several hundred dollars, but if you’re a hopeless romantic and getting married at a time of year when the evenings are still relatively mild and usually dry, that same set of pre-made décor would add just the right touch of charm to this getaway, creating unforgettable photo opportunities.
Don’t forget finishing touches for yourselves. While you may be as anti-fur as anyone else in today’s world, it might mean the everything to your grandmother if you draped her treasured mink stole around your shoulders for your wedding departure–minks that have been pelts since before your parents were born aren’t something that should keep your conscience up at night, and will give you a regal, timeless appearance on your way to the car. If you took your veil off while you danced, consider putting it back on. If your wedding gown came with a matching wrap, by all means wear it at this time, even if it’s warm out. An evening bag (stuffed by your bridesmaids with any cards and money gifts from your gift table) will complete your “traveling” look.
This is also time for the groom to put on the top hat and, if he can be persuaded, the gloves that he rented at the tuxedo shop. If the weather threatens to sprinkle at all, he should be prepared with a full-sized umbrella to keep the raindrops from his bride. All of this takes the interest level a notch higher, just when everyone thought there was nothing left to see.
Have some appropriate music playing–Norah Jones’ “Come Away with Me”;Vanessa Williams’ “Saved the Best for Last”; even the hopelessly romantic Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun”–maybe make a CD medly of those 3 songs just for the departure moments.
Departure is an almost-forgotten component at many of today’s weddings. Change that, and make it the final component of yours, as a reward for those who’ve stayed to see you off. Even if it’s your own car dressed in its “Sunday Best,” your photo album will thank you for it.
