Can You Decorate a Hired Wedding Car?

Yes, you can usually decorate a hired wedding car, within limits. Ribbons, bows and floral arrangements are all common and are normally fitted by the supplier. What is not allowed is anything that damages the paintwork or breaks the law, such as covering the number plate or blocking the driver's view. Always agree the details with your car supplier first.

What you can normally add

Most wedding car decoration is gentle, temporary and completely standard. The classic is a set of ribbons in your colours, usually run from the windscreen corners to the bonnet, and on many bookings this is provided as part of the service. Beyond ribbons, couples commonly add bows to the door mirrors or handles and a floral arrangement across the bonnet or along the parcel shelf, with fresh flowers inside the car to match the bouquet. The key is that these are fixed with soft ties, magnets or florist's fittings rather than anything that touches the paint aggressively, and that they come off cleanly at the end of the day.

What causes problems, and what the law says

The problems almost always come from how something is attached, or from decoration that affects the car on the road. A few things to avoid:

• Anything adhesive on the paintwork. Tape, glue, stickers and sticky pads can lift lacquer or leave marks on a high-value finish, and suction cups can mark delicate paint too.
• Touching the bonnet emblem. On a Rolls-Royce and similar cars the bonnet mascot is delicate and should never be used as an anchor point for flowers or ribbon.
• Tight ties that can scratch. Decoration pulled too tight against an edge or a mirror can rub and scratch, so fittings should be snug but soft.

Two limits are not just about the car, they are the law. By law the number plate must remain clearly visible and legible on the road, so nothing can cover or obscure it. And the driver must have a full, clear view of the road, so no decoration can sit where it blocks the windscreen or the driver’s sightlines. A reputable supplier will simply not fit anything that crosses either line, because it would put the car and the journey at risk.

Who supplies and fits the decorations

This usually splits in two. Ribbons are most often supplied and fitted by the car company, arranged to your colour scheme before the car sets off. Floral arrangements, on the other hand, tend to come from your florist, who will either fit them in the morning or hand them over to be fitted. Either way it is worth agreeing in advance who is doing what, because a bonnet arrangement fitted badly, or handed over with no time to attach it, is a small thing that can hold up the morning. Timing matters more than people expect, which is why we treat it as part of the wider wedding day transport timeline rather than an afterthought on the day.

What to check with your supplier before the day

Because every operator handles this slightly differently, a few quick questions save any surprises:

• Are ribbons included, and can you have them in your colours?
• Can your florist fit flowers to the car, and how will they be attached?
• Are there any decorations the supplier will not allow, and why?
• Who removes everything, and when?

Confirm these when you book rather than on the morning. If you are still choosing between cars, our guide to the Rolls-Royce Phantom versus the Ghost is a good place to start, since the car you pick shapes what suits it. Ribbons and décor in your colours come as standard with our wedding car hire.

Confetti and photographs

Confetti is the other decoration question couples ask about, and it comes with its own considerations. It is not illegal, but many venues restrict it or ask for biodegradable confetti only, so check the venue’s rules first. Around the car itself, it is worth keeping confetti off the paintwork and out of vents and door shuts, because damp confetti can mark a finish and is a nuisance to clear. For photographs, the car makes a wonderful backdrop, and a "Just Married" sign is a lovely touch as long as it is a hung or magnetic sign rather than anything painted or stuck on. A good chauffeur will happily position the car for the shots you want.

Frequently asked questions

Are ribbons included when you hire a wedding car?

Often, yes. Many wedding car services, ours included, provide ribbons in your chosen colours as standard and fit them before the car sets off. It is always worth confirming when you book, so you know whether ribbons are part of the package or something to arrange separately.

Can we put flowers on the bonnet of a hired wedding car?

Usually yes, provided they are fitted with florist's fixings rather than anything adhesive, and kept clear of the bonnet emblem. Most couples have their florist supply the arrangement, and it is best to agree in advance who fits it and when.

Can we attach a "Just Married" sign to the car?

Yes, as long as it is a hung or magnetic sign that comes off cleanly and does not cover the number plate. Signs that are stuck on with adhesive, or that obscure the plate or the driver’s view, are the ones to avoid.

Is confetti allowed with a wedding car?

Confetti is not illegal, but your venue may restrict it or require biodegradable confetti, so check their rules. Try to keep it off the car's paintwork and vents, since damp confetti can mark the finish.

Do we arrange the decorations or does the car company?

It is usually shared: the car company typically provides and fits ribbons, while flowers come from your florist. Confirm the split with your supplier when you book so nothing is left to chance on the morning.

Planning the finishing touches for your wedding car? Tell us your colours and your florist’s plans and we will make sure everything is fitted properly and safely. Request a quote for your day and we will take it from there.