by Angela Magliocco

Intimate Small Weddings for the Win

BY ANGELA MAGLIOCCO

You can still make your day as special as

you’d hoped, perhaps even more special, by keeping it small and intimate!

Downsizing a wedding because of budget, or because you’ve been forced to be innovative due to COVID-19, does not mean you need to skimp on details. This is your chance to create a more intimate and personalized experience.

Be creative and imaginative in choosing your own style of ceremony and reception. Hosting an intimate wedding is all about finding the right space. Think outside of the box for venues. How cool would it be to have your small wedding in the local brewery or distillery? Imagine how amazing it would be in a greenhouse? With only a handful of guests you want your wedding venue to feel full. Seek out small, cozy environments versus large, spacious venues.

Cutting back on your guest list shouldn’t result in a less memorable experience – if wellplanned, it can end up making your big special day that much richer by being able to spend more time with those who you hold nearest and dearest. Having a more exclusive guest list can open entirely different possibilities, wedding ideas that might not otherwise be practical with a larger group. You could involve your guests more in the event, for

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example at the ceremony ask them all to read a line from a script or have them encircle you as you exchange vows. At the reception you could have everyone at one long table. You can be more exclusive with your wedding party or decide that you don’t want to have one at all! It can also allow you to be strict about the plus ones. Committing to a smaller guest list eliminates the stress about deciding whether to invite people like your second cousin’s best friend. Now you can blame Covid-19 or the strict capacity that the venue has! It’s also much easier to have those who didn’t make the final cut or those with travel restrictions to virtually attend the ceremony on Zoom.

Smaller weddings also foster a more relaxed, intimate experience and can substantially reduce stress for the wedding couple and their parents. At large weddings I find one of the big stresses is ensuring every single guest has had a chance to chat with the newlyweds and even their parents. At quaint, smaller weddings this stress is completely eliminated! Everyone will have more time to socialize and create lasting memories.

Sizing down might also mean you can size up! A decreased budget gives you room to upgrade on aspects of your wedding important to you. Find that unusual venue you’ve always wanted, create those elaborate/personalized invitations or menu, design a fancy wedding bar, make the décor extra-detailed, get creative with your seating arrangement, drop a bit

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more on unique wedding favours, take the entertainment to the next level, or forget all of that and plan a more elaborate honeymoon with the money you’ll save!

For my wedding (back in the day), we baked fortune cookies and typed up personalized fortunes for each of our guests. It took a lot of time, but it was worth it!

Having a small wedding allows you to leave a more personal touch that truly reflects you and your love. You’ll be able to create a relaxing and enjoyable environment for everyone.

Angela Magliocco is a wedding planner and owner of Silver Lining Events. @SilverLiningEvents, 250-430-7818.

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