Wedding car flowers: decorating the bridal car in Italy

In short

• Wedding cars are decorated with arrangements on suction or magnetic bases, ribbons and small posies.
• Safety comes first: no flowers over windows, lights, number plate or mirrors, firm fixings and moderate speed.
• With vintage and hired cars the owner decides what can touch the bodywork.
• Agree the time and place of the decoration: the car must be ready before it leaves to collect the bride.

In Italy the car that takes the bride to the ceremony, and later the couple to the reception, is a much loved tradition, and wedding car flowers are part of it. Even when the drive is short, it appears in plenty of photos: the arrival, the bride stepping out, the couple leaving for the party. If you are planning a wedding in Italy from abroad, it is one of those details your venue or planner may ask about early on. This guide explains how a car is decorated with flowers, which fixing systems exist, how to keep it safe and what changes with a vintage car. If you are still looking for someone to handle your flowers, start with our list of wedding florists in Italy.

What usually gets decorated

A wedding car is decorated in a few well chosen spots:

• the bonnet, with a low or elongated central arrangement;
• the door handles, with small posies and ribbons;
• the rear window or boot, with an arrangement or a light garland;
• the wing mirrors, only with thin ribbons that leave the glass clear;
• the interior, with flowers on the back shelf or petals on the seats, if the owner agrees.

You do not need to cover everything. One good arrangement on the bonnet and two details on the handles are enough for photos and still read well when the car is moving.

Fixing systems

Avoid adhesive tape on the paint, bare wire, pins and glue. Surfaces should be cleaned before suction cups or magnets go on, otherwise the holder slips or scratches.

Safety: what must stay clear

A decorated car is still a vehicle on a public road. The driver needs to see properly and be seen. Common-sense rules:

• keep the windscreen, rear window and front side windows clear;
• do not cover headlights, indicators, rear lights or the number plate;
• leave the mirrors free;
• avoid long ribbons or stems that could come loose and hit the car behind;
• keep bonnet arrangements low, below the driver's line of sight.

For the exact rules, the reference is the Italian Highway Code (Codice della strada). If in doubt, ask the driver or the hire company. In any case keep speeds moderate and journeys short: fresh flowers lose petals at speed and holders can give way.

Vintage cars, convertibles and hire cars

Vintage cars are very popular at Italian weddings, and with couples who come from abroad to marry in Italy. They have different needs:

• delicate paint and chrome, sometimes original;
• bodywork that does not always take magnets or suction cups;
• owners who prefer ribbons and flowers inside the car.

Convertibles give you more room for flowers inside, but on the move the wind carries off petals and ribbons. Fix everything carefully and have a plan for rain.

With chauffeur-driven hire cars, always ask the company what is allowed. Some include a standard decoration and do not accept outside work. Others let your florist decorate, as long as nothing is damaged. Get it in writing. State who is responsible if a holder leaves a mark, and take a photo of the car before decorating: a simple way to avoid arguments at the end of the day.

Matching the car to your wedding flowers

The car should work with everything else: the bridal bouquet, the groom's buttonhole, the ceremony flowers. A few tips:

• use the same key flowers in small amounts;
• choose colours that suit the colour of the car;
• on white cars, coloured flowers or greenery read better than white on white;
• on dark cars, white and pale tones stand out well.

Timing and logistics

The car has to be decorated before it collects the bride. That means a precise appointment between florist and driver, often in the morning, sometimes somewhere other than the ceremony venue. Agree:

• where the car will be and when it can be decorated;
• how long the decoration takes;
• who removes the flowers at the end of the day and returns any hired holders;
• if the car makes several trips (bride, then couple, then reception), whether the flowers will last the whole day.

In an Italian summer, a car parked in the sun is hard on fresh flowers. Hardier varieties, water tubes or some preserved flowers work better. Our guide to flowers that cope with the heat explains which to choose.

What makes up the price

There is no standard price list for car flowers. The cost depends on a few items worth knowing so you can read your quote properly:

• the quantity and type of flowers;
• holders: suction, magnetic or other bases, sometimes included, sometimes hired;
• labour to prepare the arrangements in the studio;
• travel to reach the car, if it is far from the venue or the studio;
• collection of the holders at the end of the day.

Car flowers are often part of the overall wedding flower package. If the hire company already offers a decoration, compare the two: your florist can keep it consistent with the rest of your flowers. Quotes in Italy may or may not include VAT (IVA), so check which.

DIY: when it makes sense

Many couples decorate the car themselves or with friends. It works if:

• the decoration is simple: ribbons and a couple of posies;
• you have suitable bases and know how to apply them;
• someone has time in the morning while the couple get ready.

For larger arrangements, a full bonnet or a vintage car, it is better to rely on a professional. For a clearer idea of when DIY pays off, read our guide to DIY wedding flowers. If you are marrying abroad, bear in mind you will not have your usual tools and suppliers to hand.

Other ways to arrive: boats, carriages, scooters and golf carts

In Italy couples do not always arrive by car. On the lakes and in the Venetian lagoon boats are common, on the Amalfi Coast and the islands electric cars or golf carts, in the countryside sometimes horse-drawn carriages or vintage scooters. Each has its own rules: on boats wind and spray matter, with carriages the horses' safety, since ribbons and flapping objects can startle them. Always ask the owner what can be attached and use light, well secured flowers.

Questions to ask your florist

• Which fixing system do you use? Could it mark the bodywork?
• Have you decorated vintage cars or convertibles before?
• Where and at what time will you decorate the car?
• Are holders included or hired? Who collects them?
• Which flowers will survive sun and wind during the drive?
• Can we see photos of cars you have decorated?

To sum up

Car flowers are a small detail that ends up in many photos. They work when they are restrained, well fixed and matched to the rest of your flowers. For an idea of overall costs, read our guide on how much wedding flowers cost in Italy.

Once you know your date and route, request a quote and mention the type of car you will use.