TRISH WALLACE PHOTO Mike White (left) and Randy Combs enjoy their experiences as limousine drivers.

by Trish Wallace
Monday, December 31, 2007 11:31 AM CST

The Herculaneum resident primarily drives for weddings."That's our niche here," White said.

However, he also provides the limo for bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthday parties, school dances and for those who need a designated driver for a night on the town.
"It's cheaper to have a limo than a DWI," White said.

White said birthday parties for 13-year-olds have been particularly popular this year. The teenagers are usually content cruising the parking lots of landmarks such as a McDonald's, movie theater or Wal-Mart.

"Kids are fun," White admitted. "They just cut up and laugh and play music--loud."

The oddest occasion White said he has driven for was a divorce party.

"A couple was getting divorced and decided to have their last yahoo," White said.

The wildest occasions are the bachelor and bachelorette parties.

"Anything goes," White said.

The weddings themselves are usually easy and mild, and when the photographer takes pictures of the limo, White said he feels like he is part of the wedding party.

"You get to be part of someone's special day," White said.

White provides complimentary beverages during the trip. The limo is equipped with three LCD TV screens, fiber optic lighting and a DVD player. White said he treats his passengers like royalty.

In his 18 years of experience, one of White's other drivers, Randy Combs, 51, has picked up celebrities such as Jessica Simpson, Prince and Mark Chestnut while they were in town. The Barnhart resident has also taken wealthy folks to parties, including one recently featuring Kid Rock.

Generally, however, Combs and White agree: "ordinary people are nicer."

Combs said many proposals take place in limos. White added that he has witnessed people announce that they want divorces in his limo as well.

"Most of the time people are happy," Combs said.

While The Bridal Shoppe limo usually drives for an evening every weekend and at least once throughout the week, this is part of the slow season for the limo business. As an exception, New Year's Eve is also usually always booked, and business starts to pick up again in February. Time slots in April and May fill up quickly.

"If you're not booked now for prom, you're probably out of luck," White said.

Unique trips require long-distance treks. When Combs owned his own business, he had a driver who was supposed to pick a woman up at the airport. She missed her flight and asked if Combs could send the driver to Indianapolis to pick her up. The well-rested driver agreed.

White once rented a Lincoln town car for a man who wanted a driver all the way up to Michigan and back. The man paid for all of the expenses of the trip.

"Every run is different," Combs said. "Even the bad runs, when you get done, are still different."

The experience of meeting so many new faces can be both thrilling and daunting.

"Your personality has to be versatile," Combs said.

Some clients want to treat the driver as a servant while others want to make him part of the party.

"You have to be able to read people," White said.

Because White offers his limo 24 hours a day, late night drive-through requests are popular. However, few drive-throughs can accommodate the large vehicles. The drivers said that the White Castle off of Richardson Road in Arnold is a frequent stop, but food is usually not allowed in the car.

"The next day you find pickles under the seat," Combs admitted.

Pickles aren't the hardest things to clean out of the limo. Albeit rarely, clients occasionally get sick in the limo and an illness cost is charged per illness. Drivers hand out bags, but if riders miss, the car must be steam cleaned to prevent odors from setting in and the charge applies.

Nonetheless, the drivers admit they enjoy their experiences in limos.

"It's a fun business," White said.