The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud is the classic wedding car, with flowing fenders, whitewall tires and a tall chrome grille. A long-wheelbase Cloud gives the dress more room, the Phantom V is the royal choice, the Silver Shadow brings 1970s glamour, and a Corniche convertible makes a perfect top-down getaway. Here are ten favorites and how to choose.
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Some brides dream of a brand-new Rolls-Royce. Others dream of the kind their grandparents might have driven away from their own wedding in: whitewall tires, sweeping fenders, a tall chrome grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy leading the way. A classic Rolls-Royce brings something no new car can, a sense of history and romance that makes every photo look timeless. Here are ten of our favorite classic and vintage Rolls-Royce wedding cars, what makes each one special, and how to plan a wedding day around a car that’s older than most of the guests. All of them can be booked through our classic car rental and Rolls-Royce rental services.
The ten at a glance
| Car | Era | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 1956 Silver Cloud I | 1950s | Pure 1950s glamour |
| 2. 1960 Silver Cloud II | 1960s | The white-on-white classic arrival |
| 3. 1961 Silver Cloud II | 1960s | Grand staircases and long trains |
| 4. 1962 Silver Cloud II long wheelbase | 1960s | More room for the dress, and the getaway |
| 5. Silver vintage Rolls-Royce | Vintage | Silver and gray palettes |
| 6. 1965 Silver Cloud III | 1960s | City weddings |
| 7. 1961 Phantom V | 1960s | A royal-style arrival |
| 8. 1976 Silver Shadow | 1970s | 1970s glamour |
| 9. 1975 Corniche convertible | 1970s | The top-down getaway |
| 10. 1983 Corniche convertible | 1980s | Garden and estate weddings |
Why the Silver Cloud is the classic wedding car
If you picture a vintage Rolls-Royce at a wedding, you’re probably picturing a Silver Cloud. Built from 1955 to 1966, it has everything a wedding car needs: a long hood, curves that flow from the headlights to the tail, whitewall tires and a tall Rolls-Royce grille with the Spirit of Ecstasy on top. It came in three versions, which is why you’ll see more than one on this list:
| Version | Years | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Cloud I | 1955–1959 | Single headlights and a six-cylinder engine |
| Silver Cloud II | 1959–1962 | Looks almost identical to the I, with a new V8 under the hood |
| Silver Cloud III | 1962–1966 | Four headlights in pairs and a slightly lower grille |
Long-wheelbase versions, a few inches longer, give the back seat more legroom, which a bride in a full gown will appreciate.
The top 10 classic and vintage Rolls-Royce wedding cars
1. 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I: pure 1950s glamour
The first Silver Cloud is the purest of the three: single round headlights, gleaming chrome and the original six-cylinder engine. In white, with whitewall tires, it’s the car from a 1950s wedding album, and it suits a vintage-themed wedding, a garden ceremony or a bride in lace.
Best for: vintage themes, lace dresses, garden ceremonies.
2. 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II: the white-on-white classic
From the outside, the Silver Cloud II looks almost exactly like the I. The difference is under the hood, where Rolls-Royce fitted a new V8 in 1959. This white 1960 car, with whitewalls and a polished grille, is everything a bride imagines when she pictures a vintage Rolls-Royce, and it looks just as good in the sunshine as it does under a hotel portico.
Best for: the bride’s arrival, hotel and resort weddings, summer sunshine.
3. 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II: made for grand staircases
Some cars look their best in front of a grand building, and this is one of them. Parked at the foot of a staircase, with the bride’s train cascading down the steps behind it, the 1961 Silver Cloud turns a city hall, a museum or a cathedral into a scene from a film.
Best for: cathedral, courthouse and museum weddings, dramatic photos.
4. 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II long wheelbase: room for the dress, and the getaway
The long-wheelbase Silver Cloud has a few extra inches between the front and rear seats, which makes all the difference when the bride’s dress has a train or a full skirt. It’s also a wonderful getaway car: picture the back of it dressed with flowers and a “Just Married” sign as the two of you drive away.
Best for: full gowns and long trains, the getaway, couples who want extra room.
5. The silver vintage Rolls-Royce: for silver and gray palettes
Not every bride wants a white car. This vintage Rolls-Royce in silver has a cooler, more elegant tone that’s beautiful with a winter wedding, a silver-and-white palette, gray suits for the groom and his groomsmen, or a couple renewing their vows on a silver anniversary.
Best for: winter weddings, silver palettes, vow renewals.
6. 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III: the city wedding classic
The last of the Clouds, the III, has four headlights in pairs and a slightly lower grille, which gives it a touch more 1960s polish. This white 1965 car has rear-hinged rear doors, so the bride can step out gracefully, and it looks perfect on a city street outside a downtown hotel or a historic church.
Best for: city and hotel weddings, historic churches, 1960s themes.
7. 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V: the royal arrival
The Phantom V was the grandest Rolls-Royce of its day, a long, stately limousine built from 1959 to 1968, with only 516 made. Queen Elizabeth II rode in Phantom Vs, and John Lennon famously had his painted in psychedelic colors. For a bride who wants to arrive like royalty, with a spacious rear cabin for the trip to the ceremony, there’s nothing quite like it.
Best for: a grand arrival, formal weddings, the bride and her father.
8. 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow: 1970s glamour
The Silver Shadow is the best-selling Rolls-Royce ever made, with more than 30,000 built from 1965 to 1980, including the Shadow II. It was the first Rolls-Royce built without a separate chassis, which made it lower, sleeker and more modern than the Clouds. For a 1970s-inspired wedding, a disco-themed reception or a couple who love the era’s style, this is the one.
Best for: 1970s themes, retro receptions, couples who love the era.
9. 1975 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible: the top-down getaway
The Corniche, whose name means a road along a coastline, was Rolls-Royce’s grand convertible from 1971 into the mid-1990s. This white 1975 car with its tan top is made for the getaway: roof down, confetti in the air, and the two of you in the back seat as newlyweds, waving goodbye. It’s lovely for portraits on the way to the reception, too.
Best for: the getaway, summer weddings, coastal and vineyard venues.
10. 1983 Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible: garden and estate weddings
In deep green with a tan interior, this Corniche is a little different from the usual white wedding car, and that’s its charm. Dressed with a garland of greenery, it suits a garden, estate or vineyard wedding beautifully, and with the top down it’s a dream getaway car.
Best for: garden, estate and vineyard weddings, green palettes, the getaway.
Classic or modern Rolls-Royce?
A classic Rolls-Royce gives your photos a timeless, romantic feel that no new car can copy. A modern one adds the newest comforts, like climate control and the starlight headliner. Many couples have both: a classic for the bride’s arrival and a modern convertible for the getaway. If you’re leaning modern, see our top 10 Rolls-Royce wedding cars, and for classics from other makers, our top 10 classic and vintage wedding cars.
What to know before booking a classic Rolls-Royce
- Book early. There are only so many classic Rolls-Royces in any area, and each one can only be at one wedding at a time, so the best dates go first.
- Keep the route short and sweet. Classic cars are happiest on shorter routes at gentle speeds. Plan the ceremony and the reception close together, or use the classic for the arrival and the photos.
- Plan for the weather. A convertible needs a plan for rain, and on a hot day a car from the 1950s or 1960s may not cool like a modern one. Ask about air conditioning if it matters to you.
- Think about the dress. Check the doors and the back seat against your dress. A long-wheelbase car, or one with rear-hinged rear doors, makes getting in and out easier.
- Give the photographer time. Golden hour, whitewall tires and a chrome grille are a perfect combination.
- Plan the getaway. A “Just Married” sign, ribbons or flowers make the exit. Our getaway car guide has more ideas.
Questions couples ask
What is the best classic Rolls-Royce for a wedding?
The Silver Cloud, built from 1955 to 1966, is the classic wedding Rolls-Royce, loved for its flowing lines and tall chrome grille. For the getaway, a Corniche convertible is hard to beat.
What’s the difference between the Silver Cloud I, II and III?
The I (1955–1959) has single headlights and a six-cylinder engine. The II (1959–1962) looks almost the same but has a V8. The III (1962–1966) has four headlights in pairs and a slightly lower grille.
Can a vintage Rolls-Royce be our getaway car?
Yes. A Corniche convertible with the top down is a dream getaway car, and a Silver Cloud with a “Just Married” sign is a timeless exit.
How many people fit in a classic Rolls-Royce?
Most classic Rolls-Royce sedans carry the bride and one or two more in the back. A long-wheelbase Silver Cloud or a Phantom V has a little more room.
Is a vintage Rolls-Royce reliable enough for a wedding day?
Wedding classics are kept and driven for exactly this kind of day, but they’re happiest on shorter routes at gentle speeds. Plan the day around that and leave a little extra time.
Are there modern Rolls-Royce wedding cars too?
Yes. The Phantom, Ghost, Cullinan and Dawn are all wedding favorites. See our top 10 Rolls-Royce wedding cars.
