All You Need for a Low-Key Wedding
Some people love having a big wedding that includes all of their friends, family members, coworkers, and acquaintances. But that type of wedding isn’t right for everyone. Some people shy away from being the center of attention, and in those circumstances, having 100+ people staring at them just isn’t their idea of a good time.
The good news is that you don’t need to have an extravagant wedding. Your wedding is all about you, so if you’d prefer to just have a few people there, then you can. I’ve worked weddings with guest counts that range from 5 to 500, and here’s a few of the lessons I’ve learned that can help you plan your small wedding.
Start Small and Scale Up
As my fiancée and I have planned our wedding, we started with the must-haves and then moved on to the wants. This gives you time to plan accordingly, and I find that a lot of couples figure out the things they thought were important when they started the process of planning the wedding changed importance as they went through the planning process.
The Wedding Essentials
Getting married in an unconventional way is different to a traditional wedding. But there are still plenty of similarities between the two. For instance, you’ll need to have the wedding essentials. Remember that this is a formal process, so you’ll need a wedding license and other official documentation to ensure the marriage is legitimate. You’ll also want to put together a wedding outfit, buy wedding rings for each other, and all-around prepare for the big day. There’s a lot of freedom to make the wedding completely your own, but don’t forget the essentials.
Guests…or No Guests!
OK, first of all, you’ll likely need to have at least one guest. Some states require at least two guests. Why? Because someone has to witness the wedding. The good news is that if you want a really small wedding, these witnesses don’t have to be people you personally know. They just have to be there for it. But most people find that it is nice to have some familiar faces there. It could just be a handful of friends and family members, but you — and they — will likely be happy that they’re there.
A Photographer
I’m extraordinarily biased on this front. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that having good quality memories of the places I’ve been and the things I’ve done have been more important than any possession. You might not like being the center of attention, but you’ll certainly want to remember the day, which will count among the most important in your life. It’s worthwhile getting in touch with a photographer ahead of the wedding, explaining the situation, and then seeing what they say. A good photographer will respect your wishes to have a low-fuss wedding, all the while ensuring that you end up with photographs that’ll have pride of place on your walls for years to come. However, if you’re having a low-key wedding because you’re on a tight, tight budget, then you can always get one of your witnesses to take photos using your phone.
Plus, we’ve done this several times before, so we can help with questions about what to do and where to go.
A Humble Celebration
And what about the post-wedding fun? It doesn’t matter whether you have five, twenty, or a hundred guests — this is always an opportunity to have a good time that should be taken advantage of. You don’t have to do what everyone else does, but make sure that you do something. It could involve going to your favorite restaurant or going out to camp under the stars. Whatever it is, you’ll be happy you made the effort to celebrate your big day.
Make it You
There’s no right way to get married. Only the way that’s right for you. You can do anything you like, and so long as you and your partner are happy, then that’s all that matters. So have fun with it!