A ribbon is the small detail that tells everyone the car is there for a wedding.
The traditional look is simple. Two lengths of ribbon run in a V across the bonnet, meet at the front and usually finish with a bow. It suits a vintage Rolls-Royce as well as a modern Mercedes, and it hides very little of the car underneath.
You can change plenty without losing that shape. Colour, width, the bow and the flowers all alter the finished look.
When you hire a professional wedding car, the owner or chauffeur normally prepares the ribbons. Anyone supplying their own should check the material, width and length first, as a few minutes of planning can save a wasted order. For ideas beyond ribbons, see our wedding car decoration guide covering flowers, signs, garlands and other ways to decorate a wedding car.
What Colour Wedding Car Ribbon Should You Choose?
Ribbons do not have to be white. Plenty of couples pick a colour, and the car often looks better for it.
White and ivory stay the traditional choices. They suit almost any paintwork, give the car an instant bridal look and make it easy to match several cars in one wedding party.
Colour works well too. Burgundy stands out well on a cream or ivory car. Pink softens the look. Blue, lilac, sage green and champagne can pick up the shade of your bridesmaid dresses, flowers or ties.
Shades vary between manufacturers, and one supplier's sage green can look quite different from another's. If you need a close match, send your wedding car supplier a photograph or a swatch.
Our Most Popular Wedding Car Ribbon Colours
Couples can choose almost any colour, but the choice is far less even than you might expect. These are the actual ribbon colours chosen across Premier Carriage bookings:
- Ivory: 66.63%
- White: 14.02%
- No ribbons chosen: 5.58%
- Light / baby blue: 2.52%
- Pink: 1.86%
- Burgundy: 1.73%
- Lilac: 1.49%
- Light green / sage: 1.41%
- Dark / navy blue: 1.27%
- Dark green: 1.13%
- Red: 1.01%
- Silver: 0.59%
- Gold: 0.47%
- Yellow: 0.30%
Roughly two out of every three ribbon choices are ivory. Add white and the two traditional shades cover more than four out of five bookings between them. Every other colour on the list is a small minority choice, even the ones that look popular in wedding inspiration photos, such as sage green or lilac.
The figure that surprised us is 'no ribbons'. Across all bookings, just over 1 in 20 couples ask for the car left completely plain. Look only at cars booked for the groom, and that jumps to roughly 1 in 2. Couples clearly treat the groom's car differently, often leaving it undressed while the bridal car gets the traditional ribboned look.
These figures come from ribbon choices made by couples booking with Premier Carriage, not from wider industry trends.
White Wedding Car Ribbons
White is the ribbon most people picture. It gives strong contrast on black, dark blue, burgundy and other dark cars, and it suits classic cars because it adds decoration without pulling attention away from the vehicle.
On a white car, white ribbon looks subtle. That can still look elegant, especially with a bow or a small floral arrangement to give it some definition. If you want the ribbon to show clearly in photographs, we would choose ivory or a stronger wedding colour instead.
Ivory Wedding Car Ribbons
Ivory is the colour most couples end up choosing, by some distance. It is softer than bright white, works well on cream, champagne and vintage cars, and sits nicely beside a bridal dress or flowers in warmer tones. If you cannot decide on a colour, ivory is the easiest to get right, and the figures above show most couples agree.
Can You Use Two Ribbon Colours?
Yes, but we would keep it restrained. Two colours running side by side across the bonnet often make the front of the car look busier than couples expect.
We prefer one colour for the bonnet ribbons and a second for the bow. Ivory ribbons with a burgundy bow bring in your wedding colour without covering the bonnet in two competing shades. White with pink, ivory with sage green and white with baby blue all work the same way.
Can You Get Personalised Wedding Car Ribbons?
Yes. Ribbon can carry names, initials, a wedding date or a short message. Patterned versions exist too. We have been asked for tartan, glitter, printed designs and even ribbon featuring the groom's football club.
If you are ordering your own, speak to the wedding car supplier first. They can confirm the width and length they need, and whether the material will cope with the car. Printed and dyed fabric ribbons often suit gifts and indoor decoration better than a bonnet, and the next section explains why.
What Type of Ribbon Is Best for Wedding Cars?
A wedding car ribbon has to look good, but it also has to survive wind, rain and road speed.
We generally use waterproof polypropylene ribbon. It holds its shape, absorbs almost no water and copes well with British weather.
Satin, organza and silk look beautiful. Silk is also softer against paintwork than polypropylene, which counts in its favour for a stationary display or a short trip. On the road, fabric soaks up moisture and loses its shape faster. Some dyed fabrics also release colour when wet, and that can stain light paintwork.
If you supply your own ribbon, do not choose it because it looks lovely on the roll. Think about how it will look after half an hour in the rain.
What Width Ribbon Is Best for a Wedding Car?
Width matters more than most people expect. Very narrow ribbon nearly disappears against a large bonnet, especially on a limousine, a Bentley or a modern luxury saloon.
As a general guide:
Suits small bows, door handles and wing mirrors.
The sensible minimum for a traditional V-shaped bonnet ribbon.
The best all-round choice. It shows clearly in photographs without getting bulky.
Impressive for photographs or a stationary display, but rarely practical on the road. Wide ribbon catches the wind, can lift from the bonnet and can become awkward once the car is moving.
Whatever width you choose, keep it clear of the driver's view.
Wedding Car Ribbons and Bows
A bow finishes the bonnet ribbon. It sits where the two lengths meet at the front, and smaller matching bows can go on the door handles or, on some cars, the wing mirrors.
The bow can match the ribbon or carry the second colour, as described above.
Size matters. An oversized bow swamps a small vintage car, yet the same bow can look right on a large limousine, a Bentley or a Range Rover.
How to Make Wedding Car Bows
Form several equal loops of ribbon and pinch them tight at the centre. Tie the centre with a narrower piece of ribbon, then shape the loops until they look full and even. Leave enough tail at the centre to fix the bow securely to the car.
Ready-made pull bows save time. They arrive flat, and a tug on the inner ribbons forms the bow in seconds.
Whichever you use, the bow has to stay put once the car starts moving.
How Much Ribbon Do You Need for a Wedding Car?
For an average car, 6 to 10 metres is a good starting point for a traditional bonnet arrangement. A long classic limousine needs more than a small saloon, and your fitting method changes the total too.
Measuring beats guessing. Run a tape from one of the interior sun visors, across the bonnet to the intended attachment point at the front of the car, then back to the opposite visor. Add extra at both ends for tying.
Ribbon usually comes in fixed lengths such as 6, 8, 10 or 12 metres. If you are unsure, buy more rather than less. The spare covers matching bows and gives you something to fall back on if a section goes wrong during fitting.
How Are Wedding Car Ribbons Normally Fitted?
The shape is always a V across the bonnet, but the fixing changes from car to car. A 1960s Rolls-Royce, a modern Mercedes and a VW Campervan each need something different. Older cars often have suitable points around the grille. Many electric vehicles have an almost enclosed front end and no conventional grille at all, so the fixing point may sit under the bonnet instead. Ask your chauffeur or vehicle owner how they normally fit ribbon to that particular car.
That is why no single method is safe on every car. Whatever the fitting, the ribbon must stay secure and reasonably flat without damaging the paintwork, blocking the driver's view or interfering with the vehicle.
Our separate guide covers the process step by step: how to attach wedding ribbon to a car.
Can Wedding Car Ribbon Damage Paintwork?
Not when you use the right material and the right fitting. Care still matters, though. Some classic cars have older, softer paint, and a loose ribbon flapping against the bodywork at road speed can leave light marks. Dirt trapped under a ribbon acts like an abrasive if the ribbon keeps moving.
Most problems come from the fixings. Strong tape, metal clips, wire and anything abrasive should stay away from painted panels.
On a hired car, let the owner or chauffeur fit the ribbon unless you have agreed otherwise with them.
Wedding Car Ribbon in Rain
British weather pays little attention to wedding plans, which is one reason polypropylene is the usual choice. It soaks up very little water, so it does not sag across the bonnet or lose its shape.
Fabric bows and flowers behave differently. A decoration that looks secure on a dry morning can turn heavy and start to move once rain and wind arrive. If conditions are poor, the chauffeur has the final say on what stays on the car.
Should Wedding Ribbons Match Your Flowers?
They can, but matching everything exactly often backfires. The car ends up looking busier, not more coordinated.
We would go neutral on the ribbon when the flowers already carry plenty of colour. Ivory ribbons with burgundy flowers usually look more balanced than burgundy everywhere. If you want your wedding colour on the car, put it in the bow.
Picture the whole car in photographs, with the bouquet beside it, rather than checking each detail one by one.
Are Wedding Car Ribbons Included with Premier Carriage Vehicles?
Traditional wedding car ribbons are normally included in the cost of hire when you book through Premier Carriage. You choose your colour when you complete your reservation details.
If you want a particular shade or something unusual, tell us as early as you can so we can check what's available. If you would like to supply your own personalised or patterned ribbon, speak to us first so we can confirm the amount required and whether the material is suitable.
On longer journeys, especially those involving motorway driving or travelling at night, the ribbons may need to be removed for visibility and safety. Higher speeds can make ribbons move more than they would on slower local roads, and on some vehicles this can become distracting or impractical.
In those situations, the chauffeur will normally leave the venue with the ribbons fitted, then stop a few minutes down the road once the car is out of sight of the wedding guests and remove them before continuing the longer journey. This means the car still looks properly dressed for the departure photographs, while keeping the onward journey practical and safe.
The reverse can also happen before collection. If the chauffeur has a long journey to reach the wedding, they may travel without the ribbons fitted and arrive early enough to attach them nearby so they look clean and fresh when the car arrives.
Which Wedding Cars Have Ribbons?
The bridal car is the one most often dressed with ribbons, usually in the classic V across the bonnet with a bow at the front. It appears in more photographs than any other car, so check how the ribbon colour looks against both the paintwork and the bridal flowers.
Ribbons are traditional, not compulsory. Some couples leave every car bare because they chose a distinctive classic or luxury vehicle and want the car itself to take the attention. Others dress every car in the wedding party so they arrive looking like a set.
Does the Groom's Car Have Ribbons?
Less often than you might think. Ribbons have traditionally belonged to the bridal car, and our booking figures back that up: around half of all groom's cars go out with no ribbon at all. Some couples still dress both cars, usually with identical ribbon or a plainer version on the groom's car, but leaving it bare is just as common a choice.
Do Bridesmaids' Cars Have Ribbons?
Quite often. Use the same bonnet ribbon as the bridal car and the cars look coordinated without being identical. In a larger convoy, one ribbon colour across every vehicle is the simplest way to make them read as one wedding party.
A Note from Didier at Premier Carriage
After seeing thousands of wedding cars prepared over the years, I usually think simpler looks better. A good ribbon should make the car look ready for a wedding without becoming the first thing you notice.
If you want to supply your own ribbon, speak to the vehicle owner before ordering it. They know how that particular car is normally dressed, what width works best and where it can be fitted safely. A quick conversation beforehand can save a lot of hassle on the wedding morning.
Didier Di Mario
Managing Director
Premier Carriage Wedding Cars
Wedding Car Ribbon FAQs
What is the traditional wedding car ribbon style?
Two lengths of ribbon forming a V across the bonnet, usually finished with a bow, is the style most people associate with wedding cars in the UK.
Do wedding cars come with ribbons?
Professional wedding car companies often include them. Traditional ribbons are normally included when you book through Premier Carriage, and you choose the colour.
How much wedding car ribbon do I need?
Around 6 to 10 metres suits many cars. Larger vehicles and different fixing methods may need more.
What width should wedding car ribbon be?
We would normally recommend at least 38 mm / 1.5 inches for a bonnet ribbon. Around 50 mm / 2 inches is a good general-purpose width for most wedding cars.
Can I choose coloured wedding car ribbons?
Yes. White and ivory are traditional, but ribbon can also complement flowers, bridesmaid dresses, suits or the overall wedding colour scheme.
Can I use two colours of wedding ribbon?
Yes. A simpler arrangement is often one colour for the bonnet ribbons and another for the bow.
Can I have personalised wedding car ribbon?
Yes. Personalised, printed and patterned ribbon is available, but check the width, length and material with the wedding car supplier before ordering.
Can I put bows on the door handles?
Usually, provided they do not interfere with opening the door and can be attached without damaging the vehicle. Some modern cars have no conventional external door handles, so another position may be needed.
Who normally puts the wedding ribbon on the car?
For a professionally hired wedding car, the vehicle owner or chauffeur normally prepares the car before arriving.
What happens if the journey to the wedding is very long?
For long journeys, motorway travel or driving at night, the chauffeur may remove the ribbons once the car is away from the venue if they feel this is safer or more practical. Likewise, they may fit the ribbons shortly before arriving at the collection point so they look clean and fresh.
Is waterproof ribbon better for wedding cars?
For normal road use, yes. Waterproof polypropylene absorbs little moisture and generally holds its shape well in poor weather.
How do you put wedding ribbon on a car?
The method depends on the vehicle, because different cars have different safe attachment points. Our detailed guide to attaching wedding ribbon to a car covers the full process.