Make Your Intimate Wedding Extra Special
SMALL WEDDINGS CAN STILL BE MIGHTY FINE
With the world the way it is many of you are having to consider sizing down on your all-singing, all-dancing wedding day but that absolutely does not mean it needs to be any less memorable, personal or special. As I help my couples to navigate through this difficult time I have had the pleasure of being involved in a handful of intimate weddings and one thing they are not lacking in is LOVE, embrace it and it has the potential to be incredible and extra special!
I've put together some ideas on how to ensure your intimate wedding still packs a punch.
KEEP YOUR GUESTLIST SHORT & SWEET
If you are needing to cut down your guest list to fit with current restrictions or if you’re feeling like a more intimate wedding may suit you better, here are some things to ask yourselves. Have you spoken to this person within the last couple of months? Would you treat this person to a several hundred pound dinner out? Or stay with them for a weekend away? Questioning how close your relationship really is will help make those difficult decisions easier.
UNIQUE venue options
With fewer number of guests you can choose almost anywhere to hold your reception, inside or out. Restaurants can be great options and with so much variety there really is something for everyone, Air B & B’s or hotel suites can also be good options worth considering with some real hidden gems available.
SKIP THE UNIMPORTANT PARTS
When planning your wedding it is important to determine what is important to you both and what is maybe not as important to you, naturally at a more intimate wedding some things may not be necessary. You are far more likely to spend your budget on personal touches and really treating the guests you are celebrating alongside. Remember - Know your crowd and replace unnecessary traditional parts of a wedding with activities everyone will enjoy.
Stretch your budget
Naturally your budget will go further with fewer guests, so use those extra pennies to really enhance the day and evening. I would suggest investing in live music, a great photographer who you know will get on well with your guests and of course your food!
With fewer guests around the table, they will really relax, hire a photographer who will capture the laughter, the tears, and the clinking glasses, since those are the moments you’ll treasure the most - However grand or intimate your wedding is.
Upgrade your dinner to an indulgent seven-course meal, complete with expert pairings of fine wines and spirits, with a small group, you can really personalise every detail of the menu.
STYLE IT OUT
When designing a tablescape for a guestlist of 100+ there are going to be limits in what can be done or ultimately what your budget can accommodate. With an intimate wedding the world is your oyster when it comes to styling possibilities, that extravagant flower cloud, hand-dyed napkins and personalised menus are all of a sudden much more achievable.
The styling and design aspect is all about giving your guests a memorable experience along with personalised touches. Perhaps consider a hand-written note to each guest at the table or lay each place setting with a tiny bouquet or gift.
You may need to consider how to dress a very large space (designed for big gatherings) to suit your more intimate wedding, lounge areas are always a great option for this and perfect for a more relaxed, intimate wedding.
MORE TIME FOR Time together
Arguably one of the best things about an intimate wedding is that you will spend more time with your new husband or wife. Not having to find the time to talk to distant relatives or people you can’t remember ever meeting, means so much more time with each other and ultimately that is what is all about! Make the most of it with a longer portrait session with your photographer or you could even sneak away for half an hour just the two of you to share a bottle of fizz together!
No matter what the size of your wedding it is always a great idea to hire a wedding planner or wedding day coordinator to help with the run up and oversee things on the day itself. You may think with only a small number of guests you or your family can keep an eye on things and come up with a schedule however, being able to sit back and enjoy the day alongside your nearest and dearest is exactly what you should be doing.
Contact Rebecca below to discuss your intimate wedding plans.