Small Wedding Planning

Although, weddings can be very costly today, you can still make it your dream day. Having a small wedding for a few close friends and family members, will enable you to be a bit more flexible with some of the details than you would otherwise.

At a small wedding, you will have more time to spend with your friends and family, and it will be far less stressful. You will be able to concentrate on the finer details and make sure everyone has a great time.

Tips for small wedding planning:

Tip 1:
Smaller weddings generally seem more personal than the large social events some people choose. When you are planning a small wedding, you have a lot more options on where to hold the event. You can have it in your home or a friend/relatives home or you could have a garden wedding. Other venues could be historic inns, museums, historic homes, and on a train or a boat. Some of these places may not advertise availability for weddings, but that’s because they don’t want enquiries from people holding large events. It’s always worth asking.

Tip 2:
Depending on your budget, you can have hors d’oeuvres, a full buffet, or go for a full catered event. If your wedding party is small enough, you can even reserve a room at your favourite restaurant. Some restaurants will even print a special menu just for your event and you can choose to make it as simple or as lavish as you wish.

Tip 3:
Use flowers that are in season. Ask your florist about the best in season flowers. Let them know what you want and your budget. Also be aware that out of season flowers can also be cheap and may help in decorating in other areas, such as the hallway. Leaving your ideal flowers for decorating the tables etc. However, don’t worry too much about the flowers, as guests are more likely to remember the food than the flowers.

Tip 4:
Have a small wedding cake for display and a large sheet cake to cut and serve from the kitchen. You can serve the cake as the dessert after the meal.

Tip 5:
You will be able to involve your guests for when planning a small wedding. You could have each guest sign their name and write their sentiments on the tablecloth. Through time, these could be embroidered onto the tablecloth to be passed down through the generations.

Tip 6:
Give each member of your families a flower, and have them line the aisle. As the bride proceeds towards the altar, she takes each one and assembles her bouquet as she goes, symbolising the contributions the family makes to this union.

Tip 7:
Ask each of the guests to say a few words about the couple, or ask them to write a few things down ahead of time, and compile them into a document for one person to read out.

Tip 8:
Make your wedding program more into more of a booklet and keepsake. Include messages to each of the guests and explanations of why you chose your flowers, readings, colours, music, etc. If your wedding is held in a unique place, give some information about it.

Tip 9:
Be your own ushers after the service. You can greet each guest as they leave the service.

Tip 10:
Have a guestbook for all your guests to share comments and messages. You could have a page for each guest and will be a great keepsake of your day.

Tip 11:
Have your photographer take photos of all your guests, either in one large group photo or as couples, families etc.

Tip 12:
Have a slide show of photos of each of you from childhood and on up through meeting each another. Include photos of each of you with your families and other guests. Then show the slides during the reception, either with music you have created or with some narration.