Reviewing Jim Heron & Mark Goyette, Owners, and Mike Walsh, Manager of Grandeur Limousine
Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
Jim Heron and Mark Goyette, Owners of Grandeur Limousine, say their company sets itself apart in the eyes of London brides by focusing on the things that matter most - offering a fleet of nine incredible vehicles to choose from (driven by chauffeurs trained in serving brides and grooms) and providing lots of wedding day service extras so that couples know they're the VIPs on their wedding day.
With a fleet that includes everything from new model ten-passenger limousines to an extravagant brand new Lincoln Navigator, the team at Grandeur wants you to feel like a star on your wedding day - and have a little fun too! Staff at The Ring sat down with Jim and Mark at their newly decorated storefront on Brydges Street in London and got the real inside scoop on how this company has grown from a simple idea to a very busy event transportation company over the past seventeen years. Here's what we found...
From one custom ride to a full Grandeur style fleet
In 1993, Jim and Mark decided it would be a fun idea to build a limo. So, they bought a '77 Cadillac, cut and stretched it, and designed a custom ride. Since then their business has continued to grow and now they are the owners of "London's largest and newest fleet of limos and limobuses", including two limo buses, a Hummer H2, two SUVs, three ten-passenger cars, and a newly added Lincoln Navigator (the only one in Southwestern Ontario!). Plus, they're always expanding their fleet with the latest and greatest.
Grandeur prides themselves on never having missed a wedding in seventeen years! They're also members of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, so it's no wonder they've built up such a reputable business.
Training to serve brides
All of the drivers at Grandeur are trained to drive and to provide the best quality service for their customers that they can. Jim notes that brides will remember "the friendly, courteous and prompt service all of our drivers provide." And in case the drivers aren't already naturals at this quality service, they all complete a two-week training program on wedding services (in addition to their driver training). They learn to drive the car, but also to serve the bride and groom. The drivers are an integral part of your service provider team and they will make sure that your day runs smoothly and on time.
Nicole Bauman used Grandeur's twenty-four passenger limo bus for her wedding and told The Ring about the great experience she had, "Our driver, Jeremy, was great! Everyone really liked him and he was a great help since it was raining all day."
All drivers apprentice with a seasoned driver, and are licensed in accordance to regulations and specifications for each vehicle. Grandeur Limo is located in London, but they are licensed (and willing!) to operate in all of Southwestern Ontario - including Toronto. They are also licensed with the Department of Transportation in the United States, which allows them to make runs to Michigan and New York. All of their vehicles comply with the Ministry of Transportation Guidelines, ensuring a high quality equipment and dependability.
Grandeur has twelve drivers on staff and they are willing to accommodate specific driver requests, so long as the driver is available and licensed to operate the vehicle you wish to use. It's their mission to show up in-style, sporting a tuxedo and white gloves, and give you the royal treatment with a red carpet upon your arrival.
Service, service, service
In a business that focuses on making sure their customers know that it's all about them while they're being chauffeured, it is important for Jim and Mark to ask themselves: "What more can we do to make sure that our brides and grooms have the best experience with us?" Jim told us, "Customer service is our first and last concern."
Grandeur says that over the years, they've heard a number of unfortunate stories from brides about other limousine experiences, so they are never surprised when they're asked for assurance that they will be there on the wedding days of their customers. "We've never left a bride at the altar," says Jim. After seventeen years - and hundreds of weddings each year - Grandeur has successfully helped thousands of brides and grooms get to the church (and to the reception) on time. Jim adds that "it is very important to show, in advance, to our potential customer that we want to make their occasion memorable. We take the time to talk to the brides and grooms we meet."
Packages & Amenities
Whether you just want a quick pick-up and drop-off or you want a full day of riding in-style, it seems like Grandeur has a package for everyone and every event. They can provide you with transportation for the bachelorette party, the full wedding day or a trip to the airport for your honeymoon. Jim says that their two most popular packages offer you a vehicle of your choice for either five or ten hours, depending on your needs.
Prices vary depending on which vehicle you rent and how many hours you want it for. The SUV limo (seats fourteen) is $1299 for five hours, and $1499 for ten hours.
Grandeur says that on top of a fancy chauffeur with impeccable service, their wedding packages also include a 'Just Married' sign and complimentary house wine for toasting after the ceremony, and that red carpet service is a given.
If you book a limo for ten hours, you get to enjoy the newly added continental breakfast offered by Grandeur for while you get ready on the morning of your wedding day. They will provide you and your bridesmaids with food, orange juice, and Champagne to enjoy while you are having your hair and make-up done.
Nicole says that it was Grandeur's spacious limo bus that made the difference on her wedding day. "We knew what we wanted right from the start. It was to get all 14 of us all together instead of numerous cars. We had a very large wedding party," she told us. "Our vehicle was really classy and clean. The best part would have to be the stereo. It really helped us relax."
Booking your ride
Jim recommends booking your limousine six to twelve months in advance, especially if your wedding is during one of the popular summer weekends. Last minute bookings are always welcome, and they will happily accommodate your wedding date if they have a limo and its driver available.
Most brides either call or email Grandeur for more information on their packages, prices and availability. You are also always welcome to stop in at Grandeur to check out the vehicles in person. Weekdays are the best time to check out the fleet since most of the cars are out on runs on weekends.
After getting in touch with Grandeur, select a package and a vehicle based on your wants and needs, which will determine the cost. Jim says that the Hummer H2, SUV and limo buses are their most popular vehicles. Once you've got your heart set on a particular car and package, a $100 to $200 (depending on your selections) deposit and a signed contract holds your date on the Grandeur calendar.
When you complete your contract, Jim and Mike will send you an agenda to complete and submit at least two weeks before your special day. This agenda includes all locations, addresses, your schedule for the day and key contact names and numbers to help the driver make sure your day runs effortlessly. The remaining balance is also due at this time.
And because they know you're very busy during the week prior to your wedding (and that it matters to you which chauffeur you'll be spending the day with), your chauffeur will make your life a bit easier by calling you to introduce him or herself and review your schedule and the needs for your event.
Grandeur Limousine seems focused on making you feel like Cinderella on your wedding day. Even if they can't turn a pumpkin into a carriage, their customized vehicles, dedication to service and professionalism are all easy to love - and they don't expire at midnight!
Details, details, details
• Grandeur Limousine recommends you book your wedding with them about 6 months to 1 year ahead of time - but are also happy to accommodate last minute requests if they have the availability.
• Depending on the package you choose, a $100 or $200 deposit and a signed contract is due at booking.
• The remainder of your balance with Grandeur is due two weeks before the big day, when you submit your schedule and contact information to them.
• A continental breakfast for the wedding party is included in any ten-hour package.
• There are other wedding-related events on Grandeur's roster of services - including bachelor/bachelorette party transportation or a drive to the airport for your honeymoon.
In other words...
"The cleanliness was excellent, the driver was excellent. Most of all, I appreciated their promptness... Mike was very good to deal with and suggested options for the day." - Ainsley Zock & Colin Dempsey
Jim Heron and Mark Goyette, Owners of Grandeur Limousine, say their company sets itself apart in the eyes of London brides by focusing on the things that matter most - offering a fleet of nine incredible vehicles to choose from (driven by chauffeurs trained in serving brides and grooms) and providing lots of wedding day service extras so that couples know they're the VIPs on their wedding day.
With a fleet that includes everything from new model ten-passenger limousines to an extravagant brand new Lincoln Navigator, the team at Grandeur wants you to feel like a star on your wedding day - and have a little fun too! Staff at The Ring sat down with Jim and Mark at their newly decorated storefront on Brydges Street in London and got the real inside scoop on how this company has grown from a simple idea to a very busy event transportation company over the past seventeen years. Here's what we found...
From one custom ride to a full Grandeur style fleet
In 1993, Jim and Mark decided it would be a fun idea to build a limo. So, they bought a '77 Cadillac, cut and stretched it, and designed a custom ride. Since then their business has continued to grow and now they are the owners of "London's largest and newest fleet of limos and limobuses", including two limo buses, a Hummer H2, two SUVs, three ten-passenger cars, and a newly added Lincoln Navigator (the only one in Southwestern Ontario!). Plus, they're always expanding their fleet with the latest and greatest.
Grandeur prides themselves on never having missed a wedding in seventeen years! They're also members of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating, so it's no wonder they've built up such a reputable business.
Training to serve brides
All of the drivers at Grandeur are trained to drive and to provide the best quality service for their customers that they can. Jim notes that brides will remember "the friendly, courteous and prompt service all of our drivers provide." And in case the drivers aren't already naturals at this quality service, they all complete a two-week training program on wedding services (in addition to their driver training). They learn to drive the car, but also to serve the bride and groom. The drivers are an integral part of your service provider team and they will make sure that your day runs smoothly and on time.
Nicole Bauman used Grandeur's twenty-four passenger limo bus for her wedding and told The Ring about the great experience she had, "Our driver, Jeremy, was great! Everyone really liked him and he was a great help since it was raining all day."
All drivers apprentice with a seasoned driver, and are licensed in accordance to regulations and specifications for each vehicle. Grandeur Limo is located in London, but they are licensed (and willing!) to operate in all of Southwestern Ontario - including Toronto. They are also licensed with the Department of Transportation in the United States, which allows them to make runs to Michigan and New York. All of their vehicles comply with the Ministry of Transportation Guidelines, ensuring a high quality equipment and dependability.
Grandeur has twelve drivers on staff and they are willing to accommodate specific driver requests, so long as the driver is available and licensed to operate the vehicle you wish to use. It's their mission to show up in-style, sporting a tuxedo and white gloves, and give you the royal treatment with a red carpet upon your arrival.
Service, service, service
In a business that focuses on making sure their customers know that it's all about them while they're being chauffeured, it is important for Jim and Mark to ask themselves: "What more can we do to make sure that our brides and grooms have the best experience with us?" Jim told us, "Customer service is our first and last concern."
Grandeur says that over the years, they've heard a number of unfortunate stories from brides about other limousine experiences, so they are never surprised when they're asked for assurance that they will be there on the wedding days of their customers. "We've never left a bride at the altar," says Jim. After seventeen years - and hundreds of weddings each year - Grandeur has successfully helped thousands of brides and grooms get to the church (and to the reception) on time. Jim adds that "it is very important to show, in advance, to our potential customer that we want to make their occasion memorable. We take the time to talk to the brides and grooms we meet."
Packages & Amenities
Whether you just want a quick pick-up and drop-off or you want a full day of riding in-style, it seems like Grandeur has a package for everyone and every event. They can provide you with transportation for the bachelorette party, the full wedding day or a trip to the airport for your honeymoon. Jim says that their two most popular packages offer you a vehicle of your choice for either five or ten hours, depending on your needs.
Prices vary depending on which vehicle you rent and how many hours you want it for. The SUV limo (seats fourteen) is $1299 for five hours, and $1499 for ten hours.
Grandeur says that on top of a fancy chauffeur with impeccable service, their wedding packages also include a 'Just Married' sign and complimentary house wine for toasting after the ceremony, and that red carpet service is a given.
If you book a limo for ten hours, you get to enjoy the newly added continental breakfast offered by Grandeur for while you get ready on the morning of your wedding day. They will provide you and your bridesmaids with food, orange juice, and Champagne to enjoy while you are having your hair and make-up done.
Nicole says that it was Grandeur's spacious limo bus that made the difference on her wedding day. "We knew what we wanted right from the start. It was to get all 14 of us all together instead of numerous cars. We had a very large wedding party," she told us. "Our vehicle was really classy and clean. The best part would have to be the stereo. It really helped us relax."
Booking your ride
Jim recommends booking your limousine six to twelve months in advance, especially if your wedding is during one of the popular summer weekends. Last minute bookings are always welcome, and they will happily accommodate your wedding date if they have a limo and its driver available.
Most brides either call or email Grandeur for more information on their packages, prices and availability. You are also always welcome to stop in at Grandeur to check out the vehicles in person. Weekdays are the best time to check out the fleet since most of the cars are out on runs on weekends.
After getting in touch with Grandeur, select a package and a vehicle based on your wants and needs, which will determine the cost. Jim says that the Hummer H2, SUV and limo buses are their most popular vehicles. Once you've got your heart set on a particular car and package, a $100 to $200 (depending on your selections) deposit and a signed contract holds your date on the Grandeur calendar.
When you complete your contract, Jim and Mike will send you an agenda to complete and submit at least two weeks before your special day. This agenda includes all locations, addresses, your schedule for the day and key contact names and numbers to help the driver make sure your day runs effortlessly. The remaining balance is also due at this time.
And because they know you're very busy during the week prior to your wedding (and that it matters to you which chauffeur you'll be spending the day with), your chauffeur will make your life a bit easier by calling you to introduce him or herself and review your schedule and the needs for your event.
Grandeur Limousine seems focused on making you feel like Cinderella on your wedding day. Even if they can't turn a pumpkin into a carriage, their customized vehicles, dedication to service and professionalism are all easy to love - and they don't expire at midnight!
Details, details, details
• Grandeur Limousine recommends you book your wedding with them about 6 months to 1 year ahead of time - but are also happy to accommodate last minute requests if they have the availability.
• Depending on the package you choose, a $100 or $200 deposit and a signed contract is due at booking.
• The remainder of your balance with Grandeur is due two weeks before the big day, when you submit your schedule and contact information to them.
• A continental breakfast for the wedding party is included in any ten-hour package.
• There are other wedding-related events on Grandeur's roster of services - including bachelor/bachelorette party transportation or a drive to the airport for your honeymoon.
In other words...
"The cleanliness was excellent, the driver was excellent. Most of all, I appreciated their promptness... Mike was very good to deal with and suggested options for the day." - Ainsley Zock & Colin Dempsey
