The best convertible wedding cars are a Rolls-Royce Dawn or a Bentley Continental GTC if you want a chauffeur and room for the dress, a classic Corniche, '55 Thunderbird or '67 Mustang for vintage charm, and a Ferrari, Lamborghini or '77 Beetle for the getaway. Pick a car with a quick roof, keep it up for the drive if the weather or your veil needs it, and drop it for the photos and the exit.
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There is a moment at the end of most weddings when everyone spills outside, the sparklers come out, and the two of you walk to the car. If that car is a convertible, the roof is already folded away, the evening air is on your faces, and the whole crowd gets to see you drive off together. It is one of the few wedding moments you will want on video as much as in photos.
We went through every top-down car you can book through RentX, from stately Rolls-Royces to a sunny 1970s Beetle, and picked the ten that work best on a wedding day. Here is why each one made the cut, which one suits your kind of day, and how to plan around the weather so the roof comes down when it matters.
The ten at a glance
| Convertible | Roof | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Rolls-Royce Dawn | Soft top | A chauffeured arrival with room for the dress |
| 2. Rolls-Royce Corniche | Soft top | Old-money elegance, top down |
| 3. Bentley Continental GTC | Soft top | A grand tourer for the long drive away |
| 4. 1955 Ford Thunderbird | Soft top | Fifties charm for two |
| 5. 1967 Ford Mustang | Soft top | An all-American send-off |
| 6. Porsche 356 Speedster | Soft top | The most romantic photos on the list |
| 7. Mercedes-AMG SL 63 | Soft top | Sleek, fast and comfortable |
| 8. Ferrari California T | Folding hardtop | A red Ferrari exit |
| 9. Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder | Soft top | The getaway everyone films |
| 10. 1977 Volkswagen Beetle | Soft top | Fun, relaxed and photogenic |
How we chose these ten
A convertible has to do more on a wedding day than look good parked. We picked each car on four things:
- The roof. Every car here opens fully, and the modern ones fold their roofs in seconds, so a passing shower does not end the plan.
- The seats. The four-seat drop tops (the Rolls-Royces, the Bentley and the SL) leave room for a full gown or a chauffeur up front. The two-seaters are getaway cars for the two of you.
- The look in photos. We favored cars whose shape reads instantly in a picture: a Rolls-Royce grille, a Thunderbird's whitewall tires, a Speedster's low windshield.
- Real cars. Every car on this list is a real listing you can book, shown in its own photo, not a stock image.
Drop top, soft top or hardtop?
You will see all three words when you browse, and they mean slightly different things:
- Drop top is simply another name for a convertible: any car whose roof folds away.
- Soft top means the roof is fabric. It folds compactly, looks classic, and on modern cars it is lined and quiet with the roof up.
- Hardtop convertible (or folding hardtop) means a metal roof that folds into the trunk. With the roof up it feels like a coupe, which helps on a cold or rainy day.
Older classics usually have a manual soft top that a chauffeur or owner puts up by hand, so ask how long it takes if rain is possible.
The 10 best convertible wedding cars
1. Rolls-Royce Dawn: the grand drop top
The Dawn is the convertible for couples who want the full Rolls-Royce treatment with the sky above them. It seats four, so a chauffeur can drive while you sit back with room for the dress, and the soft top folds away almost silently. With the roof down, the long hood and the Spirit of Ecstasy on the grille do all the work in photos. Make it your arrival car, then keep it for the drive to the reception.
Great for: a chauffeured arrival, summer garden weddings, couples who want the grandest drop top on the list.
2. Rolls-Royce Corniche: the classic Rolls with the top down
The Corniche was the convertible Rolls-Royce built from the early 1970s into the 1990s, and it has the proportions people picture when they think of a classic Rolls: a tall chrome grille, a long flat hood and a leather cabin open to the air. This one wears deep green with a tan interior, the kind of color that looks rich in every light. It suits a vineyard, a country club or any venue with a sweeping drive.
Great for: classic and vintage weddings, vineyard and estate venues, couples who love British style.
3. Bentley Continental GTC: the grand tourer
The GTC is Bentley's four-seat soft top, built to cover long distances in comfort. That makes it the best car here if your getaway is a real drive, say from the reception to a hotel an hour away. It is quiet with the roof up and spectacular with it down, and this white one has a rich pink interior that photographs beautifully next to a bouquet.
Great for: long getaway drives, modern luxury weddings, couples who want four seats and a soft top.
4. 1955 Ford Thunderbird: fifties sweetheart
Ford launched the Thunderbird in 1955 as a two-seat convertible it called a "personal car," and the first ones are still among the prettiest American cars ever made. This white '55 has a red interior, whitewall tires and the clean, low lines that made the early Thunderbirds famous. It seats two, so it is a getaway car rather than a bridal party car, and it looks wonderful parked outside a chapel.
Great for: retro and rockabilly weddings, chapel ceremonies, the getaway for two.
5. 1967 Ford Mustang: the all-American send-off
The Mustang arrived in 1964 and became the car of a generation. A late-sixties convertible like this white '67 with its red interior is relaxed, cheerful and easy to love, and it looks just as good leaving a barn wedding as a city hotel. It is the classic convertible to book if you want vintage character without formality.
Great for: barn and ranch weddings, laid-back couples, a fun, classic exit.
6. Porsche 356 Speedster: the romantic one
The 356 was Porsche's first production car, and the Speedster version, created in the 1950s for American buyers, has a low, raked windshield and a body that looks like it was poured rather than built. It is small, intimate and impossibly photogenic. The photo below is a real wedding: a garland across the trunk, a parasol, and hydrangeas in bloom.
Great for: garden and woodland weddings, elopements, couples who want the most romantic photos.
7. Mercedes-AMG SL 63: sleek and comfortable
The SL has been Mercedes-Benz's open sports car since the 1950s, and the current AMG version brings a fabric soft top back to the line. It is fast, quiet and refined, with a red interior that pops against grey paint. It is a smart choice if you want a modern convertible that feels luxurious rather than loud.
Great for: modern city weddings, a stylish getaway, couples who prefer understated luxury.
8. Ferrari California T: a red Ferrari exit
The California T is a Ferrari with a folding metal hardtop, which makes it one of the most practical supercars for a wedding: snug if the weather turns, wide open when it does not. In Ferrari red with a tan interior, it delivers exactly the image people have in mind, and the sound of it pulling away makes the send-off.
Great for: glamorous evening weddings, car-loving couples, a getaway with a soundtrack.
9. Lamborghini Huracán EVO Spyder: the showstopper
If you want guests to talk about the exit for years, this is the car. The Huracán EVO Spyder is a V10 Lamborghini with a soft top, and in bright red with white seats it looks like a sports car poster come to life. It is a two-seater and sits low, so it suits the end of the night more than a big dress at the ceremony.
Great for: the grand finale, nightlife-loving couples, a getaway that steals the show.
10. 1977 Volkswagen Beetle: fun and photogenic
Volkswagen's Beetle convertible was built by Karmann until 1980, and a white one like this '77 is pure joy on a wedding day. It is charming rather than grand, it brings a smile to every guest, and against a sunset it is hard to beat. It is the convertible for couples who want their day to feel personal and a little playful.
Great for: beach and boho weddings, relaxed couples, golden-hour photos.
Three more drop tops we love
- Chevrolet Corvette C8 convertible: a mid-engine American sports car with a folding hardtop, ready for a fast getaway.
- Maserati GranTurismo convertible: a four-seat Italian soft top, white with deep berry seats.
- Auburn Speedster: a 1930s boat-tail roadster, for a Great Gatsby kind of day.
Weather, season and time of day
The best convertible plans start with the calendar. In much of the country, late spring and early fall bring the most comfortable top-down days: warm enough to enjoy the air, cool enough that leather seats and hair survive. A few things to plan for:
- Summer heat. Dark leather gets hot in the sun. Ask for the roof to stay up and the air conditioning on until the moment you get in, then drop it for the drive and the photos.
- Rain. Choose a car with a power roof (the Rolls-Royces, the Bentley, the SL, the Ferrari and the Lamborghini) if the forecast is uncertain. With a classic, ask your driver how long the roof takes to put up by hand.
- Wind, veils and hair. Keep the roof up for longer drives and lower it for the last stretch and the photos. A veil can be pinned or held in your lap for the ride.
- Evening chill. Late getaways in spring and fall can be cool. Bring a wrap or the groom's jacket, and ask whether the car has seat heating.
- Golden hour. The hour before sunset gives the softest light for car portraits. If your schedule allows, slip away for ten minutes of photos with the car then.
Getting the photos and the memories
A convertible lets your photographer see both of you at once, which closed cars never do. Plan a few shots with them: the bride stepping in with the dress gathered, the two of you side by side with the roof down, and the exit through the send-off line. Ask your driver to pull away slowly so the video catches your faces, not just the taillights. Our guide to wedding getaway cars covers sparklers, bubbles, petals and how to decorate the car without damaging it.
Questions people ask
Is a convertible a good wedding car if it might rain?
Yes, if you choose a car with a power roof. Modern convertibles close their roofs in seconds, so you can keep it up for the drive and open it only when the sky is clear. With a classic convertible, plan an indoor or covered spot for photos just in case.
Can a bride fit in a convertible in a big dress?
The four-seat cars are the easiest: the Rolls-Royce Dawn, the Corniche, the Bentley GTC and the Mercedes SL. Two-seat sports cars are tighter, so many couples use them for the getaway after changing or gathering the dress.
What is the difference between a drop top and a soft top?
A drop top is any convertible. A soft top is a convertible with a fabric roof, as opposed to a folding metal hardtop.
Do convertible wedding cars come with a driver?
Most of the luxury and classic convertibles are offered with a chauffeur. Some sports cars can also be booked to drive yourself. Ask when you request your quote, and plan a driver if you will be celebrating.
When should we book a convertible for our wedding?
As early as you can, especially for Saturdays in late spring, summer and early fall, when the top-down cars are the first to go.
Can we use one car for the ceremony and another for the getaway?
Yes, and many couples do: a classic or a Rolls-Royce to arrive, and a convertible sports car to leave. See our his and hers wedding car pairs for ideas.
Keep planning
- The 10 best classic and vintage wedding cars
- The 10 best white wedding cars
- The 10 best red wedding cars
- The top 10 Rolls-Royce wedding cars
- His and hers wedding cars: 8 perfect pairs
Ready to see what is available for your date? Browse wedding cars, classic and vintage cars and exotic cars near you.
