Wedding transport only stands out when it breaks down. No one remembers a shuttle that arrived on time. But everyone remembers forty guests waiting outside a reception hall at midnight with no way to get back to their hotel.
Here is what it costs and how to plan it.
Vehicle rates
Tips and fuel fees are billed on their own.
| Vehicle | Capacity | Hourly Rate | Minimum | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium SUV (Escalade ESV) | 6 passengers | $125/hr | 3 hours | Couple, parents |
| Stretch Limo | 8 passengers | $150/hr | 4 hours | Bridal party |
| Executive Sprinter | 14 passengers | $150/hr | 3 hours | Bridal party, guest shuttle |
| Limo Sprinter | 12 passengers | $200/hr | 4 hours | Upscale bridal party |
| Executive Bus | 23 passengers | $200/hr | 4 hours | Guest shuttle |
| Executive Bus XL | 32 passengers | $275/hr | 4 hours | Large guest shuttle |
Structure the booking in blocks
The main cost mistake couples make is renting one vehicle for the whole day and paying for four hours when it is parked during the ceremony and dinner.
Book in blocks instead. A guest shuttle usually needs one block before the event and one after the party ends. For a wedding of about 100 guests, an Executive Bus making two round trips can do the job well.
The bridal party vehicle is different. It needs to be used for many hours because it moves with you from getting ready to photos to the dance.
A timeline that holds up
Four to six months out. Book the vehicles, particularly for a spring or fall Saturday. Peak wedding season in New Orleans overlaps with festival season and football season, and the same fleet serves all three.
One month out. Confirm final headcount and lock the addresses. Guest counts move, and vehicle size has to move with them.
Two weeks out. Send the timeline with every address, every contact number, and the name of the person the chauffeur should call if something changes. Not the couple. Somebody who is not getting married that morning.
The day before. We confirm every wedding reservation 24 hours ahead.
Venue logistics that catch people out
French Quarter venues. Narrow streets, limited legal loading, and pedestrian traffic. A 32 passenger bus cannot reach many Quarter addresses. Your chauffeur will set a staging point a short walk away, and that walk needs to be in your timeline.
Garden District and St. Charles Avenue. Streetcar tracks limit where a large vehicle can stop. Plan stops in advance rather than on the day.
Plantation and North Shore venues. Anything across the Causeway or up River Road adds real travel time. Build in an hour of margin, because there is no second route if the bridge backs up.
Hotel pickups. If guests are spread across three hotels, that is three stops at roughly fifteen minutes each. Consolidate to one or two pickup points where you can.
Second lines
If you plan to have a second line, say so at the time of booking. The parade goes along a route that is allowed by law, and the vehicle needs a legal place to wait at both the start and end. This is simple when we know in advance and hard when we do not.
Rain plan
New Orleans weather can change fast. If your event has an outside part, pick who will make the decision and when. Let us know in advance.
Moving a car 30 minutes early is easy if we know in time, but hard if we don’t.
Book your wedding transportation
Call (504) 320-8448 with your date, venue addresses, guest count, and rough timeline. We will tell you honestly whether you need one vehicle or three.
Jazzy Limousines is licensed and insured. The rules for canceling confirmed bookings are shown at /terms-conditions.
Related
- Wedding services overview
- Party bus rental for the bachelorette or the after-party
- Airport transfers for out-of-town guests arriving at MSY
- See the fleet or check rates
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a wedding limo cost in New Orleans?
A Stretch Limo seating 8 runs $150 per hour with a four hour minimum, starting at $600. A Premium SUV such as a Cadillac Escalade ESV seats 6 at $125 per hour with a three hour minimum. Guest shuttles run $150 to $275 per hour depending on size. Gratuity and fuel surcharge are billed separately.
How many hours should I book for a wedding?
Most couples book four to six hours for the bridal party vehicle. Guest shuttles are usually booked in two blocks, one before the ceremony and one after the reception, rather than holding the vehicle idle for the whole evening. That is almost always the cheaper structure.
Do I need a separate shuttle for guests?
If your ceremony and reception are at different addresses, or if guests are staying in French Quarter or CBD hotels and the venue has limited parking, yes. An Executive Sprinter seats 14 at $150 per hour and an Executive Bus seats 23 at $200 per hour. Two round trips usually covers a wedding of 100 guests.
When should I book wedding transportation?
Four to six months ahead for a spring or fall Saturday, which is peak wedding season in New Orleans. If your date falls on a Saints or LSU home game weekend, a festival weekend, or anywhere near Mardi Gras, book earlier. Those dates compete directly with event demand for the same vehicles.
Can the limo handle a second line?
Yes, and it is common. Tell us at booking so the chauffeur can plan staging and permitted routes. Second line parades follow a permitted path and the vehicle needs a legal place to wait at both ends.
What happens if the wedding runs late?
Additional time beyond the booked hours is billed at the same hourly rate when the vehicle is available. Weddings run long more often than not, so tell your chauffeur as soon as you know. A vehicle already committed to a later booking cannot be extended.