The Chauffeur's Getaway

As a wedding chauffeur, the spotlight is always on the newlyweds—the smiles, the waves, the laughter as they pull away in one of my vintage cars. It’s their grand getaway, the moment everyone remembers.

But for me, there’s another kind of getaway that follows—the quiet drive home. Over the years, I’ve found a little prescription that turns that drive into something more than just the end of the evening. I always take the back roads home. Those winding, tree-lined routes are what my cars were built for. They invite a rhythm—a gentle conversation between man, machine, and road.

On a June evening, the windows are down and the warm breeze dances through the cabin. If it’s raining, the soft patter of drops on the roof keeps time like an old lullaby. And sometimes, I’m lucky enough to chase the sunset, its glow reflecting across the hood in shades of gold and rose.

Just this week, my drive from Grand Rapids to Holland along Old Chicago Drive offered a perfect autumn color tour—one of those moments where you can’t help but slow down and simply take it in.

In the end, that drive home is my retreat—the trip after the trip—a quiet chance to breathe, reflect, and let the soul catch up.