Are you planning your wedding and wondering if you should arrange for a shuttle vehicle? What is the exact purpose of this vehicle and how should you decorate it?
You’re in the right place.
As a florist specializing in events, I often decorate vehicles for weddings. This decoration is a way to properly celebrate the union of the couple and the upcoming festivities.
Today, I’m excited to introduce you to what a sweep vehicle is, who drives it, how to choose one, and how to decorate it. You’ll find that it’s something quite simple, yet it can be very useful.
Located at the end of the procession, the “sweeper car” serves as a landmark for your guests during travel between the ceremonies and the celebration venue: it should be easily recognizable. It should be driven by someone who is familiar with the area and the route to take: for easier coordination, your guests should have this person’s phone number. To make it stand out, the sweeper car can be adorned with flowers or ribbons that match the wedding theme, or it can be decorated in a fun and quirky way, like with brooms for example!
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out:
- Why planning for a shuttle vehicle can help with your wedding organization
- What type of vehicle to choose
- Who to assign to drive it and how to organize this transport
- Decor tips to make this vehicle easily identifiable for your guests
What is the Purpose of the “Sweeper Car” in a Wedding?
This quirky tradition seen at many weddings today, especially when the town hall, church, and reception venue are a bit spread out, actually originates from the Tour de France! The first use of a broom wagon to close the procession and ensure that the last cyclists were still in the race dates back to 1910!
In the following lines, I will introduce you to the main roles of this person during a wedding, so you can determine if they are essential for your ceremony.
Your Wedding Processional Guide
The primary purpose of the sweep car is practical: it serves as a marker for guests and will help close the procession along the various routes that guests will take.
The driver and their passengers can also act as points of contact within the organization: if the guests have their phone number, they can reach out if they get lost or need to report a delay…
A festive element that sets the mood
When you see a wedding parade on the streets, it’s often easy to spot the broom car: more colorful and decorated, sometimes with a touch of humor… It can be the true star of the festivities!
By decorating the broom car, you will make it more noticeable, especially to your guests. You have two options:
- A decoration that matches the rest of your wedding: floral arrangements that echo the decor of the wedding car, for instance,
- A quirky and humorous decoration: signs, balloons, etc.
👉 You can also mix these two options by choosing a chic decoration that fits your theme, along with some humorous details! The most important thing is that the car is easily recognizable and reflects your personality. 😉
Is it necessary to arrange for a sweep vehicle?
If the wedding venues are all very close and can be reached on foot, there won’t be a need to arrange for such a vehicle. The question also arises if you have only a few guests: in that case, you just need to designate a reliable person whom your guests can contact if they get lost.
Which car should you choose for this mission?
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, it is essential for the support vehicle to be easily identifiable. To achieve this, you can consider the following options:
- An antique / classic car,
➡ A convertible provides the driver and passengers with better visibility to spot any lost guest cars. Quite convenient!
- A brightly colored car,
- A truck or any other unique vehicle …
Who Drives the Sweeper Car?
If it’s an antique car, the owner will generally want to drive it.
Alternatively, the sweep car can be driven by witnesses or friends. It’s important that these are people who know the area very well, so they can help guide any guests who might get lost.
I also recommend having multiple people in the vehicle: a single driver won’t be able to manage driving, locating the other guests’ cars, and handling any phone calls they might receive all at once.
🗺️ In any case, be sure to provide the support vehicle team with a route map. I also recommend giving your guests a contact number in case they get lost. To make it convenient, you can write this phone number directly on the invitation card you hand out to them.
How to Decorate It? 5 Original Ideas
Whether it’s prepared by you, your bridesmaids, your wedding planner, or your florist, the decoration of the getaway car is a detail that shouldn’t be overlooked. Here are some ideas and inspirations to help you plan the decor for this vehicle with ease and efficiency.
Floral Arrangements that Complement the Overall Wedding Theme
A simple and elegant solution for your broom car is to create a more understated floral arrangement similar to that of the bridal car. Using the same flowers and in the same style, you might consider the following options:
- A flower garland to place on the hood,
- A small arrangement to also position at the front of the vehicle,
- A soft bohemian-style bouquet to put at the back of the vehicle,
- Mirror bouquets…
👉 If you choose this option, the decoration of the broom car can be arranged at the same time as that of the newlyweds. Be sure to include it in your planning!
Ribbons to Make a Statement
Are you looking for a chic and easy DIY decoration? You can plan to decorate the broom car with colorful ribbons that will highlight the festive vibe of your ceremony.
🎀 Wondering how to create such decorations? Check out our DIY article fully dedicated to the topic! You’ll find practical tips and detailed tutorial videos there. 😉
Personalized Stickers with the Couple’s Name
To customize this vehicle, you can order personalized stickers featuring your names along with your wedding date online. Beautifully calligraphed, these stickers will make the getaway car easily identifiable and will contribute to the stylish bohemian decor of your wedding.
Dare to Add a Touch of Humor with Brooms
Want the support vehicle to stand out? Make it a source of laughter for everyone participating in the parade and enhance the festive atmosphere of your wedding? Why not take this idea literally and decorate it with… brooms? You could use some old straw brooms and add flowers to them, for instance. This little touch of humor is sure to surprise your guests and elevate everyone’s spirits!
Make It Visible with Background Music
Finally, to make the sweeper car easily identifiable, you can choose to have it play a recognizable song that matches the atmosphere of your wedding. To protect the hearing of the driver and passengers, you might consider a Bluetooth speaker securely mounted on the outside of the vehicle. Guaranteed ambiance!
I hope this article has helped you better understand the purpose of the support vehicle and has provided you with some unique decoration inspirations for this festive vehicle!
Are you looking for decor ideas and accessories for your wedding? Check out our online shop specializing in floral items. You’ll find gorgeous bohemian and romantic flower crowns, forever roses under glass domes, and beautiful flower walls! 🌷