Transport is an essential part of your event. You want to ensure that guests, particularly VIPs, have safe, smooth passage to and from the party venue. It helps if the host provides transport, especially if it's in an out of the way location, or at least pre-books cabs or water taxis to get guests home after the event.

If your budget won't stretch to courtesy cars or buses for all your guests, provide them for VIPs and guests of honour and offer other guests minibus shuttles to the nearest cab rank, water taxi wharf or transport hub.

The larger or more formal the event, the more limited the availability of the transport option you've chosen, and the busier the time of year, the earlier you'll need to source and book any hire vehicles or transportation you need.

If your event venue is difficult to reach by car or cab, or you need to ferry guests between locations during the event, transportation management becomes critical. You may need help with transportation logistics, to ensure guests get to the party location smoothly and safely: some hire car companies provide this sort of support as part of the package.

Transport options
Arriving in a classic veteran or vintage car, contemporary sports car (with the top down), customised vehicle, super-stretch limo, seaplane, yacht, Hummer, helicopter, horse and carriage - or just the horse - guarantees your entrance won't go unnoticed. So splash out on vehicles that are unusual or impressive.

If it's a themed party or a special occasion, such as a wedding, hire cars to match your colour scheme - most hire companies can provide vehicles in various ducos and can equip and decorate them to suit. You may even be able to hire a fully themed vehicle.

This chapter continues in Party Magazine