YOUR DAY, YOUR WAY A wedding should be about celebrating with your nearest and dearest; for some that number is a lot, and others not so much. Either way, an intimate wedding can still be epic. Here are some of the things you can expect when planning a smaller wedding: Your budget: The price per head may be the same, but the number will likely make a difference to the overall cost – depending on your choices, of course. If you have a set budget, you may find that it goes further or that you can splurge on some of things if the number was tripled that you simply couldn’t. Your venue: If you have fallen in love with a venue which can host more guests than on your list, speak to the venue to see how they can help you create that intimate feeling. You may be able to get married in one area and have your reception in another or partition some of the room off. Your reception: Worried the atmosphere maybe a bit flat as there are less guests? Looking for something more casual to entertain everyone in the evening? You could create pockets of entertainment throughout the day for you and your guests to enjoy whilst you all spend quality time together. You may feel a DJ is a bit overbearing for your numbers, but just because there are less of you doesn’t mean that the party goes out the window. Your seating plan: Smaller numbers may mean that you can sit everyone together on one continuous table. You could sit in the middle and create the effect of the top table should you wish to still incorporate some of the traditional seating arrangements. Alternatively, you could still go for round tables, just not with as many people per table. Your décor: Always enhance what beauty the venue offers, you chose the space for various reasons, and one of those is probably what it looks like! Maximise what features are on offer to you. Do you need chair décor? What style of centrepieces do you need? If you are sat on one table, a long and low arrangement with lots of detail through the middle will work well; perhaps throw in some tall centrepieces for added drama. If you have any décor from your ceremony, reposition it throughout the venue, so nothing goes to waste. Having a focal point at any wedding is a good idea, so think about where that would work. Your day your way: Ultimately, your wedding should reflect you as a couple and be 24 hours of celebrating two sides coming together. It’s easy to get caught in wedding drama and feel overwhelmed; but plenty of research is key to a happy wedding. Katie from Bliss Events by Katie www.blisseventsbykatie.com INSIDER KNOWLEDGE Here are some top tips from a luxury wedding planner to make sure you have the most magical wedding day: Consider your guests’ experience: Your wedding day is an opportunity for your guests to enjoy themselves and be part of something special, so you want to make sure they are entertained throughout the day, offered plenty of comfortable seating, and their glasses are always full. Choose a venue you love: Choosing the right venue is arguably more important when planning an intimate wedding, as you will be in that space for most of the day. You want to find the right size venue that will look full even with a smaller guest list. Keep your guest list small: If you want to keep your wedding intimate, then you need to be ruthless when it comes to choosing who is invited. You need to decide which family members and friends mean the most to you and who you want to share your special day with. Consider not inviting children or partners if they aren’t married. Splurge on the menu: If you’re like me, food is an important part of the wedding experience for you as a couple as well as your guests. If you have a particular cuisine that you both enjoy, hire a specialist to cater for your wedding. Booking a good photographer: The photographer is one of the most important things you can invest in for your wedding. Memories are wonderful, but it’s hard to share them sometimes, whereas a photo is worth a thousand words. Getting to show your extended family photos from your wedding is precious, so investing in a professional photographer that you can trust is a must-have for your intimate wedding. Personalise your décor: Use your décor to transform your wedding venue into a space that represents you as a couple. Include monogrammed details, handcrafted menus and bespoke wedding favours. Every detail is seen more clearly with fewer guests in the space, so be as creative as you like with your wedding design. Book a planner: Although it is an intimate wedding, enlisting a wedding planner will be a great benefit to you. The earlier you can hire a planner for your wedding the better. Intimate weddings are just as fun and memorable as larger weddings; there’s no right or wrong way to plan your wedding, but hopefully these top tips have offered some advice when it comes to deciding where to allocate your wedding budget to ensure you get your dream wedding day. Roline from 4R Luxury Events www.4rluxuryevents.com www.barbaraidasiak.co.uk www.barbaraidasiak.co.uk INTIMATE WEDDING INSPIRATION 67
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