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The Getaway

When all is said and done, the right vehicle makes for a memorable exit

You’ve tossed the bouquet, survived the toasts, fed each other cake and danced the last dance. The time has come for the two of you to depart from your wedding and start your new life together as a married couple! This moment calls for a dramatic finish. Remember, this is the parting image you’ll leave with your family and guests. When deciding how to leave an indelible impression, keep in mind that your exit should also reflect your style—the final colorful ribbon on the shiny package of your event. Read on to find your best getaway.

CLASSIC CONNOISSEURS

Chauffeured limos go hand-in-hand with weddings, so why not make a statement with a Phantom Rolls Royce ($350 with driver, two-hour minimum) or convertible Bentley ($1,400 per day)? San Diego Prestige will likely have the car of your dreams, as their collection includes exotics like Lamborghinis ($1,600 per day), Ferrari F430 Spyder ($1,950 per day), Spyker ($1,800 per day) and the spacious, deluxe Mercedes S550 ($500 per day).

Haynes Chauffeuring has gorgeous vintage cars from the 1920s, including the only wood-spoke wheeled 1929 Durant, a cream-colored beauty with wooden running boards, a maroon velvet interior and matching curtains that encircle the back for ultimate privacy. They also sport the oldest chauffeured rental in San Diego, a Star 1927, with a cream body, deluxe all-white leather interiors, sporty red fenders and a purring engine ($150-$200 moving fee, plus $50 to $70 an hour).

If a classic water exit is more your style, set up a custom cruise with Aolani Cat Cruises. Their 58-foot Sunchaser American Catamaran provides amazing views and romantic backdrops—from the Lighthouse at Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma to the Star of India downtown. The catamaran has seating for 30, so you can choose to sail off into the sunset alone or make it a grand escape for your closest friends and family as well. San Diego Prestige, 858.551.6001, sandiegoprestige.com; Haynes Antique Cars Chauffeuring, 858.560.5737, lancedurant.com/weddings.html; Aolani Cat Cruises, 619.807.8000, aolani.cc.

TRENDSETTERS

For those who like to be on the cutting-edge, electric vehicles, scooters or Vespas make for a fashionable exit. If this is more your style, plan ahead, as you must have a motorcycle license to rent a Vespa in San Diego. If you do have an M1, Vespa in Oceanside has a fleet of these sleek automatic machines in red, blue and silver. San Diego Scooter and Cycle Supply also has a variety of scooters, even vintage ones, along with electric golf carts for a nice green statement. And if you really want to make a lasting impression, consider going the electric car route—these vehicles aren’t available for rent locally, so you’ll have to buy before you drive. Consider it part of your post-nuptial lifestyle change. You’ll find two-, four- or six-passenger electric cars or two-seaters with a flatbed in back at Midway Jeep Chrysler. (Prices range from $7,400 to upwards of $20,000 for a custom-designed vehicle with bells and whistles.) Vespa of Oceanside, 760.730.5928, vespaoceanside.com; San Diego Scooter and Cycle Supply, 858.829.2316; Midway Jeep Chrysler, 619.224.4151, midwayjeep.com.

NATURALISTS

Vintage Surfari in Costa Mesa has just the thing for free spirits who dig the groovy Volkswagon camper buses from the ’70s. The mom-and-pop company run by Bill and Diane Staggs has a fleet of minibuses loaded with retro surf interiors, Hawaiian-style flower seat covers, mini kitchens and all the supplies you need. Toss your boards up top, hit the road, and return to a bygone era…zooming off Kerouac-style. (Rentals start at $652 per week. Off-season, you can rent one for the day, but call to check availability.)

Man-powered pedicabs provide another fine mode of green transpo. In fact, VIP Pedicabs has a brand new white wedding rickshaw that they will jazz up with flowers and bows for a fabulous cycling send off. (Reserve yours for $65 per hour, plus tips.) Vintage Surfari Wagons, 949.716.3135, vwsurfari.com; VIP Pedicab, 619.228.3632, vippedicab.com.

HOPELESS ROMANTICS

Many weddings are a fairytale come true. For the bride who stars in this classic story, a horse-drawn carriage serves as the perfect vehicle for an enchanting departure. Cinderella Carriage Company offers a white, wrought-iron, pumpkin-shaped carriage as well as more traditional-style Princess Carriages drawn by fine steeds like Percheron or Belgian horses in brown, white, black or dappled gray. (Rides range from $500 to $1,000, with a two-hour minimum).

Another dreamy way to take leave is to board a hot air balloon and rise towards the heavens. This romantic perch gives you a bird’s-eye view of your wedding, a fitting farewell, and the incredible experience of sailing off with your loved one. Departure sites are limited, but if you are marrying in Rancho Santa Fe (specifically Rancho Valencia Resort) or in Del Mar (as in Grand Del Mar), this might be your stylish liftoff. Keep in mind that if winds do not cooperate, the risk of disappointment exists. Skysurfer Balloons, San Diego’s oldest company, has a perfect pilot record and will also provide some bubbly for your festive ride. (Prices start at $850 for a private balloon for two.)

If you’ll be wed in Coronado, consider departing at sunset on a gondola steered by a serenading gondolier and packed with a picnic basket of goodies, including chocolate-covered strawberries. The Gondola Company, located at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, will also bring one of these Venetian black beauties to you in another part of town so long as your wedding site has water. (Starting at $100 per hour, plus tips; add a musician for $85). If you want to transport your wedding party, they’ve got a 14-person gondola as well. Skysurfer Balloon Company, 858.481.6800, sandiegohotairballoons.com; Gondola Company, 619.429.6317, gondolacompany.com.

BIG DREAMERS

When the sky’s the limit, a private jet might be the ticket to the ultimate escape. Schubach Aviation has a fleet of Lears and Gulfstreams that will leave from several private airfields in San Diego. With your own cabin crew, you can travel in style in one of these luxury flying machines to sexy honeymoon destinations like Hawaii, Baja or Europe. Sofas turn into cozy beds covered with rose petals, while gourmet nibbles and decadent elixirs are enjoyed high above the clouds. (Weekly excursions start at $65,000 and move upwards of $100,000.)

A private yacht is another uber-opulent transporter you can take to literally sail off into the sunset. San Diego Prestige has a $1.2 million 560 Express Cruiser with a stunning state and guestroom, full kitchen, flatscreens and cutting-edge technology. A delectable catered food spread adds to the allure. This extravagant vessel is docked at the Sheraton Marina, or it can be delivered to you at other marinas ($1,250 for 2 hours; $2,500 for 8 hours).

Seaforth Boat Rentals offers the largest charter sailboat—a brand new hydrodynamic stunner—that comes with a certified captain to navigate the far reaches of the sea as you experience a little post-nuptial bliss ($1,400 per day, plus captain fee of $120 for 4 hours).

Finally, for the ultimate action-hero type of departure, reserve the Astar from Corporate Helicopters of San Diego. This sexy, sleek black flying machine was featured in Hollywood flicks like Die Hard and the new Terminator. Go for the dramatic finish as the high-tech bird descends upon the lawn of your wedding site and lifts you away in a whirling buzz. Then relax in the leather seats and toast the beginning of your new life as husband and wife elevated above the city with a new perspective all around ($1,500 per hour). San Diego Prestige, 858.551.6001, sandiegoprestige.com; Seaforth Boat Rentals, 619.223.1681, seaforthboatrental.com; Corporate Helicopters of San Diego, 858.505.5650, corporatehelicopters.com.

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