Wedding Transport with a Twist

Royal bride-to-be Kate Middleton may be travelling to the church in a traditional Rolls-Royce Phantom, but elsewhere wedding cars are becomoing more weird and wonderful by the year...

From tanks to taxis and tuk-tuks to time-travelling Deloreans, happy couples are no longer content, it seems, to ride off into the sunset in a white limo or a vintage Rolls.

These days, it's as much about making a statement as getting to the church ceremony on time. After all, what is a wedding for if it's not to attract attention? Well, that and ever-lasting love, of course...

While Kate will arrive at Westminster Abbey in the 1977 Rolls-Royce that was damaged by protesters in London in December, and depart as a Duchess in the horse-drawn carriage used by Charles and Diana, her future subjects are opting for something rather more exotic.

Melanie Garner, originally thought the idea of turning up at the church in an armoured personnel carrier was a little "silly". But then I realised it was exactly what I wanted because it's so unusual," said Melanie, whose husband, James, was shot in the arm while serving in Afghanistan and is now serving in Northern Ireland.

"Not many people knew about this apart from my family, so it did come as quite a shock to some people when we pulled up outside the church."

Then there is bride Emma Smith, who worked in India in 2006 and 2007 and wanted a flavour of Mumbai at her wedding nuptials, so opted for a tiny tuk-tuk.

"When I was in India tuk-tuks were my mode of transport," she added.

"I loved them. I just wanted something significant about India to be part of our wedding day and the tuk-tuk was also a bit of fun."

Other wedding carriages from around the world have included an ambulance, a double decker bus, an ox and cart, a submarine and one pair of goths even hired a hearse complete with coffin.

Mike Barr, who has run Star Car Hire since 2004, said more and more people are looking to stamp their own personality on their wedding day.

"Couples are looking for something different to all their friends' weddings, and they're trying to outdo each other with the most unusual cars," he added. "They're getting bored of the traditional wedding car. Even turning up at church in a camper van wouldn't have happened a few years ago, let alone some of the stars of TV and film."

And it's not just the ladies who want to get to church in a Bond car, the General Lee or the Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit.

"Guys who would normally arrive at church in a taxi are making their own entrances by arriving in cars they've grown up watching on TV," said Mike, based in Northern Ireland

But the blushing bride might want to bear in mind that, quite often, the car's the star.

"There's always a danger that the car will steal the bride's thunder," joked Mike. "When the General Lee turns up people tend to flock over to see it - it's a big car and has a massive presence.

"People love these old cars and everyone has a story to tell, usually taking them back to their youth either because of the TV shows or because a parent or friend used to own one."

Mike owns 10 cars, including a General Lee Dodge Charger, 1967 Ford Mustang fastback, a 1976 New York Taxi, two stretched Beetle limousines and a stunning 1967 split screen camper van, but is always looking for new and exciting cars to add to his business.