Planning a wedding? Retro wedding vans are a popular choice for transportation because they add a touch of nostalgia and excitement to the event. Even if you don’t own one yourself, wedding vans can be borrowed from a friend or rented using a vintage car rental service like Turo or Vinty. There are even local vendors who have entire businesses surrounding wedding vans. You can check for vendors near you using The Knot’s vendor search.
With so many non-traditional wedding ideas out there, it’s hard to pick and choose what you should include in your big day. That’s the beauty of wedding vans! You may have heard of them as a show-stopping entrance or exit vehicle – but there is more than one way to feature your van on your special day. Read more about how you can create a unique and memorable experience for your guests with your retro van.
Use Retro Wedding Vans for Your Grand Entrance or Exit
There’s no better way to feature a retro van than its intended purpose – transportation! Add a twist to “Here Comes the bride” by integrating your vintage van into your wedding as the grand entrance vehicle. Using wedding vans to transport the bride and groom to the ceremony and reception is a no-brainer. If your venue allows and there is enough space, using it as an entry vehicle for the bride is a great way to kick off your ceremony. As an exit vehicle, customize your “just married” ride with flowers, bunting, or other vintage touches. Or, if you have something else planned already for your grand entrance and exit, you could also offer rides to guests in the van.
Integrate Your Wedding Van’s Exterior as a Backdrop for Your Ceremony
Another option to use retro wedding vans is to integrate them into the ceremony space. Have the officiant stand in front of the van, or have the van be a part of the ceremony itself. You could even have it set up with your music to play classic rock or oldies music during the ceremony!
Read more: How to Include Your Kids in Your Wedding
Make Wedding Vans into Food Trucks
Using retro wedding vans to serve food is a great way to add a touch of personality to your special day. First, you’ll want to decide when you’re going to be serving the food. You might opt to use the van to serve appetizers during cocktail hour, or at the reception as a midnight snack. Be sure to park your van in a prime area – you’ll definitely want to show it off! Plus, you don’t want your guests to have to go on a scavenger hunt to find the food. Opt for a spot near the entrance to the reception hall or in a high-traffic area.
After you decide when and where you’ll be using the van, you’ll need to decide what to serve. If you’re having a vintage-inspired wedding, you might choose a menu that serves classic American fare, like hot dogs, hamburgers, or ice cream. If you’re having a more modern wedding, a better option might be a more unique cuisine, like specialty tacos, sushi, or cupcakes.
Deck Out Your Wedding Van’s Interior as a Photo Booth
Another way to use your retro van to entertain your guests is to turn it into a photo booth. It’s a fun and unique way to add a touch of nostalgia to the event. First, decide whether you want the photo booth to be in front of or inside the van. If you want to set up a photo booth in your van, make sure it’s big enough to fit a backdrop, props, and guests. Then, time to decorate! Depending on your theme, you might opt for vintage signs, posters, or even a sign with your wedding’s hashtag so guests can share their photos on social media.
Be sure to provide your guests with props, which are a great way to add personality to your photo booth. You can provide hats, glasses, mustaches, or anything else that will make your guests laugh. You’ll also need to set up the camera. You can use a digital camera, a Polaroid camera, or even a smartphone to take pictures. If you decide to configure a tripod, it will be easy for your guests to do this themselves. Lastly, don’t forget to share the pictures with your guests after the wedding.
Color-Coordinate Outfits to Your Wedding Van’s Colors
Adding retro wedding vans to your ceremony or reception can be a great way to add a touch of color and personality to your day. If you’re having a vintage-inspired wedding, you might want to coordinate your wedding van’s colors. An obvious choice is to choose colors that match the van’s paint job. If your van is a classic VW van, you might choose colors like white, blue, or orange.
You could also use the van’s interior as color inspiration. If your van has a colorful interior, you might use those colors in your wedding decorations. For example, if your van has a red interior, you might use red tablecloths and napkins at your reception. Even if you don’t want to use the wedding van’s colors as your main colors, you can still add pops of color with flowers and accessories. For example, you could have a bouquet of flowers that matches the van’s paint job. Whatever you decide, be sure to choose a color palette that is cohesive. You don’t want your wedding colors to clash, so make sure they complement each other.
Read more: 6 Important Tips to Consider When Shopping Bridesmaid Dresses and Gowns
Create Matching Favors
Take the wedding vans trend to the next level with this one. To be sure that your wedding will be unforgettable, you can feature your van in your wedding favors, too. Custom favors are easy to find online, and you can print a variety of fun items in large quantities from customized magnets, postcards, key chains, playing cards, and stickers. The possibilities are endless! If you really want to go the extra mile, you can have the favors personalized with your last name or initials.
Jam Out Retro-Style
Wedding vans can also match your jams! Having music that matches the theme will create a cohesive, retro experience for your guests. Play classic rock, oldies, or other vintage music throughout the wedding day – whether you decide to have a DJ or band play live music at the reception. If you are budgeting for a more DIY option, you could set up a speaker in your retro van and create a personalized playlist of your favorite songs to make it the life of the party.
Read more: 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding
Don’t Forget About Photography/Videography
However you decide to use your wedding vans, you’ll want to make sure you capture the memories you create, too. Chat with your photographer and videographer ahead of time to make sure your shot list includes photos of the couple in and around the van. Another way to integrate your van into your wedding day is to have a photographer take photos of guests in front of the van as they enter the ceremony.
For small weddings and big weddings alike, there is more than one way to make your day picture-perfect with wedding vans. Whether your retro van is a big part of your big day or makes a small cameo at the ceremony or reception, you’ll be sure to make memories with these ideas. Opt for just one way to feature the van if you want the theme to be more subtle, or go all out by mixing and matching ways to feature your van. Either way, you’re sure to have the perfect day with the wedding vans trend.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Wedding planning can be stressful, but you can be prepared for a seamless day. Check out these 6 Simple Wedding Ideas To Ensure That Your Wedding Goes Off Without A Hitch.
CONNECT WITH DAILY MOM
💖 NEWSLETTER: DAILY READS IN YOUR INBOX 💖
Sign up to receive our picks for the best things to do, see and buy so you can relax and focus on more important tasks! Let us help you be the best version of yourself you can be!
BE SOCIAL WITH US
📌 LOVE IT? PIN IT!📌
Photo credit: Naomi Jemison Photography
