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And probably just going back to the timing of the day as well, so after the ceremony,
then you head off on location for a couple of hours and usually just stay until you drop
the couple off at the reception, don’t you? Ally: Yes. Yes.
Natalie: Is there any pressure of a time to get them back or...
Ally: Not usually, usually we know in advance as to when everything’s supposed to be happening
so we’ve already discussed that with them. Natalie: Yep.
Ally: And so they say, “Look, we’ve got to be back at the reception by 6:00pm or 6:30pm”.
We endeavor to get them there at that time. But if they’re not too worried about getting
back on time, we don’t push them. We don’t say, “All right, time to go”.
Natalie: That’s right. Ally: We just sort of say, we just let it
happen obviously because sometimes they want to get a few more shots, a few more photos.
Natalie: Yes. So, if couples are just starting out and just trying to work out what cars
that they like and are going to best suit their wedding, and say that they’ve just
started calling, they have called five different car companies from a magazine or Googled them,
how do they distinguish between good and bad service in the wedding car industry?
Ally: Okay. It is fairly difficult for them, I would imagine to, from a phone call, determine
whether they’re going to get good service or not, I think. I probably look at, see,
we’re a very non-pressure type people. We feel we give them every opportunity to
come and view the cars and do our best to have the cars for them on the day if they’re
available. But we certainly don’t like pushing people into booking them because I just feel
that they don’t need that pressure. It’s a decision that they have to make on their
own. As far as what service they’re going to
get, it’s pretty hard to tell. I guess you’d have to look into their testimonials. I would
go onto their website and look at their testimonials from brides to see what the others have said
about them because that’s a really good way of knowing what people think of you.
If they’ve got no testimonials, well, obviously either they don’t worry about their reputation
or maybe they haven’t had any good ones, you know.
Natalie: That should be your first warning sign I guess.
Ally: Yeah, but there’s horses for courses, I mean looking at you might get the bride
and groom that want the muscle cars and they love that sort of feel and doing burn outs
and everything like that. And then there’s the ones that want something a little bit
more classy and the more, like what ours is sort of more the antique, the old, and that
sort of nice feel to it. And then, obviously you’ve got your Hummers and your brides
that like those. So depending on what they’re after really,
but I’ll think it’s, if I was ringing, I would want to get a really good feeling
going between the person I was talking to on the phone with a good rapport, knowing
that they are a nice type of person, and that I am going to be looked after by those types
of people on the day and not someone who would brush you off and just treat you as another
client who… Natalie: And just be a driver for the day.
Ally: Just be a driver and take the money and that don’t really care about you. See
we go to a lengths degree to make sure that the bride is happy. We would do anything for
our brides on the day, just to keep them happy and calm. You know, I’ve wiped mud off girls
stilettos, I have sewn up their bra straps and I’ve done all sorts of things.
Natalie: It all comes with the job, doesn’t it, when you’re in the wedding industry?
Ally: Yes, yes, so you’ve got to love, you really have to love what you’re doing.
Natalie: Yes. Ally: And really love people and working with
them, and being like, I think that’s important. I hope I have answered your question.
Natalie: Yeah. No, I think so, definitely. And what about, is there any accreditation
in the industry that they can look out for as well?
Ally: Yes, there is. We have to be accredited by the Department of Transport to basically
be able to have a wedding car business. We are restricted actually, unless you have a
hire car plate or license, you can’t do anything other than as long as you are accredited
by the Department of Transport, we can’t do anything other than weddings, formals or
funerals. Natalie: Right.
Ally: Okay. So, we are basically restricted to that, but that suits us because we don’t
want to be out at midnight on a Saturday night or driving to the airport, picking up people
on a Sunday or midweek. Natalie: Yes.
Ally: And this suits us because this is what we want to do.