Meet the Author: Didier Di Mario
Updated: 24/09/2026 | Published: 27/11/2023
A wedding car rarely needs much decoration to make it feel part of the day. A well-chosen ribbon, a few flowers or a simple personalised sign can completely change the look without hiding the car you chose in the first place.
The best wedding car decorations usually work with the style and colour of the vehicle rather than compete with it. A classic Rolls-Royce may only need traditional ivory ribbons, while a VW Campervan can carry flowers, bunting or something a little more playful.
If you are hiring your wedding car, always speak to the company you have booked before adding anything yourself. Some ideas look fantastic in a photograph but become much less practical once you consider paintwork, wind, rain, road speed and visibility.
There is no set way to decorate a wedding car.
Some couples want something very traditional, while others match the car to their flowers, bridesmaid dresses, groom's tie or the overall wedding colours. The trick is knowing when to stop.
Here are some of the most popular options, along with a few practical things worth considering before fitting them.
Ribbons remain the traditional choice for wedding cars. The familiar V-shape across the bonnet is easy to recognise, photographs well and adds colour without covering too much of the vehicle.
White and ivory remain the classic choices, although there is no reason you cannot use colour. Burgundy, pink, blue, green or champagne can look excellent when they pick up a shade already used elsewhere in the wedding.
At Premier Carriage, traditional bonnet ribbons are normally included with the vehicle hire and couples can choose their preferred colour.
We generally use waterproof polypropylene ribbon. It copes well with British weather and, importantly, does not contain the type of colour dye found in some fabric ribbons which could run when wet and potentially mark a light-coloured vehicle.
That is something worth thinking about if you plan to supply your own ribbon. A material that looks beautiful indoors may behave very differently after half an hour in the rain.
If you want more detail on ribbon colours, bows, materials and styles, see our complete guide to wedding car ribbons.
Flowers can make a bigger statement than ribbon while still looking elegant.
A small arrangement on the grille can work beautifully, especially if the colours match the bridal bouquet. Greenery such as eucalyptus can soften the look, while roses, peonies or seasonal flowers create something more formal.
For flowers fitted to the outside of a car, we would generally favour good-quality faux flowers over fresh ones.
Fresh flowers are much more fragile. Petals and leaves can come away in strong wind or while the vehicle is travelling, and flowers positioned close to the radiator grille may wilt surprisingly quickly from engine heat. A floral arrangement that looks perfect when the car is parked may look rather different after a journey.
Another lovely option is a flower arrangement on the rear parcel shelf.
Many classic wedding cars have a large shelf behind the rear passengers, making it an ideal place for a small floral display. Silk flowers work particularly well because they do not need water and will remain looking the same throughout the day.
Fresh flowers are possible, but speak to the vehicle owner first. Pollen can fall onto fabric interiors and cause staining, a chauffeur may have allergies, and containers holding water always carry a small risk of spillage.
You also need to know the dimensions of the rear parcel shelf and the height of the sloping roof because classic and vintage cars vary considerably inside. On a sunny day, sunlight through the rear window can make that area surprisingly hot, so fresh flowers may wilt much faster than expected.
Yes, particularly while the car is stationary for photographs.
If the vehicle is going to travel on the road, we would be more cautious about a large floral arrangement sitting directly on the bonnet. Even a securely attached arrangement can move slightly at road speed, and repeated friction against the paintwork may cause marking.
For photographs at the venue, a soft protective cloth beneath a flower arrangement can help protect the paint. If you want flowers on a hired wedding car, speak to the supplier in advance so you can agree what will work, where it can go and how it can be fitted safely.
Small bows on the door handles add colour without changing the overall appearance of the car too much.
They look particularly good when they match the main bonnet ribbon. On a larger vehicle such as a limousine or wedding bus, small matching details can also make everything feel coordinated.
Some modern vehicles no longer have conventional protruding door handles, so the wing mirrors may be a better option. We would usually choose one or the other rather than putting bows on every handle and every mirror. Whatever you choose, make sure the decoration does not interfere with opening the doors or adjusting the mirrors.
A Just Married sign is one of the easiest ways to personalise the car used by the couple after the ceremony.
Wooden signs suit vintage and rustic weddings, while a simple acrylic or printed sign often looks better on a modern vehicle. You can also personalise one with your names or wedding date.
The important part is not really the sign. It is how you attach it. Avoid strong adhesive, tape or anything that could damage the vehicle, and speak to the company you have booked before fitting one.
Personalised plates showing your names, wedding date or a Just Married message can look great in photographs.
They are best treated as a photo prop. If a decorative plate covers or replaces the vehicle's legal registration plate, it should only be used while the car is on private ground and removed before the car travels on a public road.
Garlands work particularly well on VW Campervans, wedding buses and other character vehicles.
They can run across a grille, around a spare wheel or along part of the vehicle body, provided there is a safe attachment point.
The size of the vehicle matters. A generous floral garland may suit the broad front of a Campervan perfectly but completely overpower a smaller classic car. On those vehicles, a simple posy often looks far better.
Balloons can be great fun in photographs, especially after the ceremony.
They become much less practical once the vehicle starts moving. Balloons and long streamers can move unpredictably at road speed, so we would normally use them while the vehicle is stationary rather than during the journey.
They also tend to suit Campervans, buses and informal weddings more naturally than a formal Rolls-Royce or Bentley. If you love the look, use them for the photographs and remove them before the car sets off.
You do not need much.
White or ivory V-shaped ribbons, perhaps with a small bow or flower arrangement, give a traditional wedding car a finished look without distracting from the vehicle itself. This works particularly well with Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Daimler and many classic and vintage wedding cars.
Wildflowers, greenery, lace and natural fabrics can suit a countryside wedding beautifully.
A wooden Just Married sign or small flower arrangement adds character without making the car look overdecorated. VW Campervans, classic convertibles and older British cars often suit this style naturally.
Pink, blush, burgundy and champagne ribbons are popular choices when couples want something softer than traditional white.
Flowers can pick up the same shades without needing to match everything exactly. One or two strong details usually photograph better than covering every possible part of the car.
Modern wedding cars often look better with less decoration.
A Mercedes, Range Rover or modern Rolls-Royce may only need a clean V-shaped ribbon or one carefully placed floral detail. White ribbon on a black vehicle creates particularly strong contrast and can look very imposing.
Think about contrast rather than trying to match everything exactly.
On a black wedding car, white, ivory, champagne and lighter colours stand out clearly. A white or cream car gives you more room to introduce colour, while silver and grey cars can take white ribbon well although stronger colours often show up better in photographs.
Most importantly, keep the car visible. If you chose a vehicle because you love its grille, shape, paintwork or period styling, there is little point covering most of it with decoration.
Usually, yes, but speak to the wedding car company or vehicle owner first.
Professional wedding cars often arrive already dressed with ribbon. The owner will also know where flowers, signs or additional decorations can be fitted safely.
This is especially important with classic and vintage cars. Chrome trim, badges, paintwork and body fittings can be expensive to repair, so discuss your ideas beforehand rather than arriving on the wedding morning with a box of decorations and hoping for the best.
Anything that can scratch, stain or damage the vehicle is best avoided.
Strong tape, glue, wire and metal clips should not touch the paintwork. Shaving foam, toothpaste and similar products sometimes used for Just Married pranks can also leave marks or damage the finish.
Keep decorations away from the driver's view, mirrors, lights, registration plate and moving parts. Road speed changes everything, and a decoration that sits perfectly still while the car is parked can move considerably once the vehicle is travelling.
We occasionally receive inspiration pictures showing wedding cars completely covered in flowers, balloons, fabric, ribbons and signs.
Some are computer-generated or AI-generated images. They can look great on screen, but the image does not have to drive down a public road afterwards.
Real vehicles have windscreens, mirrors, lights, number plates, sensors, moving parts and paintwork that needs protecting. Decorations also have to cope with rain, wind and road speed.
That does not mean you cannot be creative. It simply means the finished design has to work on a real car rather than just look impressive in a picture. In our experience, a simpler arrangement often looks better anyway.
The traditional string of tin cans can look great in photographs, but we would not recommend towing them during a normal road journey.
A can can detach, bounce unpredictably or become a hazard to another road user. If you want the traditional photograph, fit them while the vehicle is stationary or use them briefly for the departure shot, then remove them before the car travels any distance.
Confetti makes fantastic wedding photographs, but think about where it will land.
Some coloured paper or biodegradable confetti uses dye. If it becomes damp from rain or heavy moisture in the air, that colour can transfer onto light paintwork, fabric interiors or the wedding dress. Natural petal confetti can be a gentler option, but it is still worth speaking to the vehicle owner first.
Bubbles can look lovely around a bride, groom and wedding car, especially in photographs.
Bubble machines use a soap-based solution, and when bubbles burst on polished paintwork they can leave spotting or residue. If you are planning to use one near a hired wedding car, mention it beforehand and position it so the bubbles pass through the photograph rather than directly over the vehicle where possible.
If you are decorating your own vehicle rather than hiring a professional wedding car, it is worth checking your insurance if you have something substantial or unusual planned.
Insurance policies differ, and certain changes or additions to a vehicle may affect what the insurer is prepared to cover.
Professional wedding car owners also have their own insurance requirements. That is another reason a supplier may decline a particular decoration even when it appears harmless, because they have to consider both safety and insurance while carrying passengers.
It is easy to get carried away when looking through wedding inspiration.
Remember why you chose the car in the first place. A beautifully restored Bentley, Beauford, Rolls-Royce or VW Campervan already has plenty of character.
The decoration should complement it rather than disguise it. Pick one or two details that connect the car with the rest of your wedding, then let the vehicle do the rest.
After working with wedding cars for many years, my advice is usually to keep the decoration a little simpler than you first think.
We sometimes receive inspiration pictures showing cars covered in flowers, ribbons, balloons, fabric and signs. Some of the newer images are AI-generated and can look fantastic, but an image does not have to consider road speed, rain, visibility, paintwork or how securely everything is attached.
Start with the car itself. If you have chosen a beautiful Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Beauford or VW Campervan, you probably chose it because you already love how it looks. A good ribbon, a carefully placed bow or a small floral arrangement should complement the vehicle rather than hide it.
If you have an idea and are unsure whether it will work, ask the vehicle supplier. Most owners would much rather discuss it with you beforehand and find a safe way of achieving the look than disappoint you on the wedding morning because something cannot be fitted.
Didier Di Mario
Managing Director
Premier Carriage Wedding Cars
A white or ivory ribbon arranged in a V-shape across the bonnet is probably the most recognisable wedding car decoration in the UK. A matching bow or small flower arrangement is also common.
Professional wedding car companies often provide them. Premier Carriage vehicles normally include traditional V-shaped wedding ribbons, with a choice of colours available. See our section on wedding car ribbons.
Yes, but where they go and how they are fitted depends on the vehicle. See our advice on wedding car flowers and flowers on the bonnet.
Both can work, but good-quality artificial flowers are usually more practical on the outside of a moving vehicle. Fresh flowers are more vulnerable to heat, wind and wilting.
If it is your own car, you have more freedom. With a hired wedding car, agree the decorations and fixing method with the supplier beforehand. Read more about decorating a hired wedding car.
Strong adhesive tape, glue, wire, abrasive materials and anything loose enough to rub against the paintwork can cause damage. See decorations to avoid.
Yes, as a photo prop on private property. If it covers or replaces the legal registration plate, remove it before travelling on a public road.
Usually, but check with the vehicle owner. Coloured confetti may transfer dye when wet, so natural petals can sometimes be a safer option. See our confetti advice.
Yes, but position it carefully. Bubble solution can leave spotting or residue on polished paintwork. See bubble machines near wedding cars.
They can work well for stationary photographs. We would normally remove them before travelling because they can move unpredictably at road speed. See balloons and streamers.
If the decoration starts hiding the features that made you choose the car, it is probably too much. One or two well-chosen details are often enough.
For more detail, see our Wedding Car Ribbons guide and our step-by-step guide on how to attach wedding ribbon to a car.
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