Tracy Carlucci’s romance with Volkswagen buses began as a 17-year-old when she took a ride in one headed to the high school senior prom. She’s been hooked ever since.
Years later when she and her then fiancé Dan were planning their wedding in 2012, all Tracy wanted was to rent a VW bus for the occasion. She scoured the internet and came across a 1967 Deluxe 21 Window Samba.
“That bus brought so much happiness to our wedding day and is still one of our favorite memories,” said Carlucci.
Today, the Carluccis own their own VW bus. In 2021, the couple bought a 1978 Deluxe VW Westfalia, had it restored and named it Tela after a Phish song. They often take the Tela out for short trips around town, to a friend’s house or to get ice cream with their children.
But Tela’s primary purpose is to impart happiness like Carlucci felt having a VW bus at her own wedding.
The couple rents out the bus through their business the Tela Bus. The bus is available for parked and chauffeured rentals.
Customers can rent Tela for just about any occasion ranging from weddings to corporate events. The photogenic bus provides the perfect backdrop for guest photos, especially at weddings.
“During the reception, guests have a blast posing for photos in front of the bus,” said Carlucci.
Tela can be decorated to suit any occasion or theme, and the Carluccis provide all of the photo booth props and stay with the bus throughout the event. Customers can also bring their own decor or add their own unique pieces to make the day extra even more personalized and memorable.
Brittany Krenski of New York was searching for the perfect photo booth for her wedding when she came across the Tela Bus online.
“We knew we wanted to have a photo guestbook but didn’t really want the normal photo strip style picture booths that are regularly used at weddings,” said Krenski.
Krenski said the Tela was parked right by the tent during her wedding reception so her guests could use it to take photos for their Polaroid guestbook.
“They absolutely loved it,” said Krenski.
Locally, the bus has become a popular attraction at Easton’s Pride Month celebration each June.
“The Carluccis and the Tela bus have been amazing partners with Pride events,” said Hilary Desmond, a local Pride Month organizer.
The teal colored bus has connected the Carlucci’s and their children, Ella, age 8, and Danny, age 4, to the Volkswagen community.
“So many people we encounter have a personal story about a VW bus,” said Carlucci.
“The bus is so iconic, so embedded in our shared history and culture that it unites people from all walks of life. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how many conversations I’ve had with folks that I don’t have much in common with, yet they’re drawn to the bus, and that becomes our common ground,” she said.
The Carlucci’s primary business, however, is in music. They co-direct the Fairfield School of Music, which opened in 2012 and is now located on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield. Dan also performs locally, both as a solo artist and with his band Hitch and the Giddyup. Since 2007, Tracy has worked as the Music Director at Christ Church in Easton, accompanying the choir and helping to organize the Concerts on the Hill series every summer.
Carlucci said the old adage “the journey is the destination” has started to feel less cliché and more like an obvious truth when she and her family are in the bus.
“The destination is often just an excuse to get on the bus,” said Carlucci. “Anywhere we decide to go is usually beside the point.”
Tela is available for rentals in the spring, summer and fall. The couple is currently booking for 2024, but still have a few openings left for 2023. You can contact them through their website or follow them on their Instagram page.
