How are you going?
This week, let's talk about intimate weddings.
It is becoming increasingly popular to have an intimate wedding - this is typically defined as a small wedding with 1 or 2 dozen people in attendance.
To me, anything less than 50 people I would consider to be intimate. I view 'intimate' as an event where you have plenty of time to spend quality time with each guest & still have time to sit down & eat & enjoy yourself. What Mack & I are doing this year I would count as an intimate wedding.
But along with this trend of having a smaller wedding comes a whole lot of misconceptions of what an intimate wedding actually means & entails. Here is a list of 9 things to remember/consider if you choose to go down the intimate wedding road.
1. It won’t necessarily be cheaper (although it does help!)
It stands to reason that a smaller wedding = lower costs. It certainly does help the situation. But what tends to happen, especially if the guest list is 20 or lower, is that the bride & groom splurge on the small guestlist with a really premium dining experience. I love this idea, actually, but it won't help keep the costs down. If you're going for an intimate wedding, keep costs in mind & don't assume it will always be cheaper.
2. Define the term ‘intimate’
What does the word intimate mean to you? To me, it means a tight knit group of our nearest & dearest. It means being super selective & super strict on the guestlist. Whatever your definition is, make sure you define it at the beginning so that you know what you are aiming for (& budgeting for).
3. Don’t be afraid to say no your parents, family & random guests wanting to bring a plus one
This leads on from defining what intimate means to you. If it means your nearest & dearest, then don't be afraid to say no to any & all plus ones who you have never met or don't know well. Who cares if they have been married to one of your close friends for 10 years - they will survive one night without each other & they don't need to be at your wedding. It's definitely a hard one, with all of the social norms surrounding weddings, but don't be afraid to stand your ground & break tradition & have a no plus ones wedding.
4. Just because its small doesn’t mean it isn’t special
You are still getting married - one of life's big moments! You can do all of the normal things that wedding planning entails, just on a smaller scale.
5. A smaller wedding should be a little less formal than a large grand affair
The above said, generally intimate weddings are less formal than a huge wedding. Make it special, but keep it relaxed, lovely & personal. It might be weird to walk down the aisle of a church with 8 maids & huge dresses & a ballgown, with only 10 or 20 people there (maybe that would work for you, I don't know haha, but I think it might be excessive).
6. Go out there and find your perfect dress
Intimate or not, you can still go & have the experience of trying on wedding dresses & finding the perfect one for you. Again, this is not any less special, just smaller.
7. You still need a seating chart!
Just because you don't have many people, doesn't mean you shouldn't determine where people sit. People like it when you tell them where to go, so just do it!
8. The food is still important to the small guest list of people who are coming
A smaller guestlist might free up more funds to splurge on a really fancy dinner. But if your budget doesn't allow that, you still need to feed your guests well. There are lots of delicious budget options out there so search for one that suits you - some food trucks do really amazing catering options for those on a budget.
9. You will offend people
You are never going to please everyone & not everyone is going to agree with your smaller wedding choices. Just remember it is your big day - no-one else opinion actually matters.
All of this is not to be confused with an elopement, which is usually last minute, minimal planning, minimal guests & most of these things don't apply (although an elopement is still super special!).
What about you? Would you prefer a smaller intimate wedding, or a huge affair?
What draws you to follow the trend of an intimate wedding?
Hx
No comments
Post a Comment