The growing trend towards “intimate” weddings reflects a modern desire for couples to save money without sacrificing the essence of their big day.
Despite having smaller guest lists, intimate weddings can still be elaborate and full of personality. Couples today often spend more on their weddings than in previous generations, even with fewer guests. Could an intimate wedding be the right fit for your clients? Explore our ultimate list of Wedding Planners in Melbourne to help you plan a stress-free and memorable wedding.
Summary
The trend toward intimate weddings allows couples to save money while maintaining the essence of their big day. Defined as weddings with 10-25 guests, intimate weddings focus on personal, meaningful celebrations rather than large, traditional events. Benefits include better budget control, reduced stress, and more quality time with loved ones. Planning involves careful guest list management, choosing a suitable venue, and creating a personalized experience. Intimate weddings offer flexibility in traditions and privacy, making them ideal for couples wanting a more private, unique celebration.
What Exactly Is an Intimate Wedding?
When you search for “intimate wedding” online, you’ll find a wide range of results, some of which may be contradictory. The term “intimate” has been used to describe weddings with up to eighty guests, but this doesn’t align with what we consider intimate. The size of an intimate wedding is subjective, and it largely depends on your personal definition of a “large” wedding. We define an intimate wedding as one with ten to twenty-five attendees.
There’s no magic number that separates an intimate wedding from a larger one. While traditional weddings can be stressful, often focusing more on the event than the couple, we believe that the intention behind the experience is more important than the guest count.
Celebrations that centre on the couple and their vision for the day, without the formalities of larger weddings, can offer the benefits of an elopement while including guests in the joy of the day. Although it’s possible to recreate the atmosphere of a traditional wedding with a smaller guest list, that’s not usually what couples who choose an intimate wedding are looking for. Those who do invite guests often want to ensure that the wedding remains authentic and true to their dreams.
Why Have a Small Wedding?
A small wedding might be perfect, but it’s essential to know what you’re looking for. Do you value the privacy and intimacy it offers? Or are you drawn to the idea of a wedding that truly reflects your unique personalities? Perhaps it’s the cost savings or the appeal of a destination wedding.
Benefits of a small wedding include:
- Better control over costs, staying within your budget.
- A warmer, more convivial atmosphere, with more food and drink for everyone.
- More time with your most important guests.
- Less chaos and more enjoyment.
- Reduced stress.
How to Plan an Intimate Wedding?
Wedding Planner
While a smaller wedding might be easier on your budget, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll save money. If you’re planning a high-end event, you might spend more per guest. Here are some essentials to keep in mind if you’re planning a small wedding:
Guest List
Choosing who to invite is crucial for any wedding. For a small wedding, the decision becomes even more significant.
Choose a guest limit that works for you and your partner. The ideal number for a small wedding is 50 guests, with 25 from each side. Decide whether to allow plus-ones or to invite only your closest colleagues. Having a clear plan can help avoid conflicts.
Be prepared for how to handle unexpected guests. Managing expectations is crucial when planning a small wedding. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how many guests a couple should invite. It’s essential to know who is likely to attend and make decisions accordingly.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect around 80% of your invited guests to attend a destination wedding. However, be cautious about inviting too many people, as this can quickly detract from the intimate atmosphere.
Guest List Guidelines
- Discuss with Your Partner Take the time to have a candid conversation with your partner about who should be on the guest list. Ask yourselves how well you know each person, whether they’d be a good fit for the event, and if inviting one person might create tension with others.
- Set Expectations and Boundaries: Establish boundaries early and don’t feel pressured to invite people you’d rather not. While it can be tempting to elope to avoid the stress of guest list decisions, remember that you can celebrate in various ways. Stick to your limits and don’t let the objections of one person derail your plans.
- Stick to Your Limit: Whether due to venue size or personal preference, stick to the guest limit you’ve set. If your ceremony site only seats 20 people, use this as a valid reason for keeping the guest list small.
- Be Honest: If someone asks if they’re invited and you know they’re not, be honest. Don’t change your behaviour based on how others react. This is your day, and you don’t owe anyone an invitation.
- Listen to the Experts: We’ve gathered advice from over fifty married couples on how to break the news to well-meaning friends and relatives that they won’t be invited to a small wedding.
Wedding Budget
For some couples, financial considerations make a small wedding the best option.Determine your overall wedding budget and where the funds are coming from (family, savings, etc.). Understanding your financial situation will help you make more informed decisions as you plan.
Many couples don’t realise that food and drink are often the most significant expenses at a wedding. Reducing the guest list can have a substantial impact on the overall budget, allowing for more investment in other areas of the wedding.
What your clients do with the “extra” funds is up to them. They might opt for higher-quality ingredients and offer a more gourmet menu. They could also splurge on elaborate decorations or entertainment. Ultimately, the couple has the final say, but you can present a wider range of options when working with a smaller guest list.
Choose the Right Venue:
For a small wedding, it’s crucial to choose a venue that suits the size of your guest list. If the venue is too large, it may feel empty; if it’s too small, it might seem cramped.
Ensure your chosen venue can comfortably accommodate your guests, whether it’s a church, beach, registry office, barn, or another location.
Reception venues can range from boats and barns to intimate hotels and private dining rooms. Remember, you’ll be spending a significant part of your day at this location, so make sure it’s perfect for you.
Guest Experience:
Smaller weddings allow for more meaningful interactions between the couple and their guests, making for a memorable day. However, this increased focus on the guest experience means you’ll need to prioritise the quality of that experience.
Plan the day’s events and special touches to ensure your wedding feels intimate and personal, something a larger guest list might not allow. You might consider hiring a boat to transport guests from the ceremony to the reception or arranging a private chef and sommelier to offer tastings.
Add Personality:
A small, intimate wedding allows couples to showcase their unique personalities without overwhelming guests.
With fewer guests, there’s more room for personalisation. You might opt for a unique wedding cake, a gin bar, or framed photos of every guest. Your input could range from choosing the colour scheme to organising a special film screening.
Create Your Own Rules:
With a small wedding, you have the freedom to customise every aspect to suit your preferences. If you prefer a simple, personal celebration, you might choose to skip traditional rituals. It’s perfectly acceptable to have just one bridesmaid or no groomsmen at all. A small, private ceremony allows for more creative freedom.
Consider Privacy:
Many couples opt for a smaller wedding to spend quality time together on their special day. If you’re not keen on being the centre of attention, a relaxed, joyful celebration might be more your style. You might even consider limiting online access, including social media, for added privacy.
Accommodation:
One final advantage of a smaller wedding is that you’ll have more money to spend on a lavish getaway or unique venue. If you’re hosting your wedding at a destination, nearby hotels or accommodation options might offer a special treat for your guests, adding a touch of uniqueness to your big day.
Ideas for an Intimate Wedding Ceremony
With an intimate wedding, everyone you care about can play a role in your ceremony. Whether you’re getting married on the steps of a church or in a breathtaking outdoor setting, the level of involvement is entirely up to you. You can take your vows publicly or privately, and having guests at your ceremony doesn’t require any changes—though it does provide opportunities to involve them in a way that suits you.
Here are some creative ideas to personalise your wedding ceremony:
Have a Friend Officiate:
If your marriage licence allows, a friend who isn’t an ordained minister can perform your wedding ceremony. If your loved one is interested in officiating, they can become ordained online, or you can take care of the legalities separately and let them lead the ceremony.
Engage in a Unity Ceremony:
A unity ceremony, such as handfasting, tree planting, or mixing sand, is a meaningful way to include loved ones in your wedding. Family and friends can participate by placing the ropes over your hands or saying kind words as you start your new life together.
Encourage Guests to Write Letters:
Whether during the ceremony or afterward, having guests write letters is a beautiful way to capture the love and support of your family and friends. These letters will be cherished reminders of your wedding day for years to come.
Invite Your Talented Friends:
Do you have a musically talented friend or a sibling who’s an artist? Including live music or creating a piece of art during the ceremony can make the day even more special and create lasting memories.
Feeling overwhelmed by wedding planning? Let a professional handle it for you. Check out our list of Wedding Planners in Melbourne to take the stress out of your big day.
Conclusion
Intimate weddings, though smaller in size, can still be grand in style and filled with personality. For many couples, a small wedding offers the perfect balance of intimacy and celebration. Whether you’re considering a guest list of ten or seventy-five, careful planning and attention to detail will ensure your wedding day is everything you’ve dreamed of.
From the selection of your venue to the guest experience, every aspect of an intimate wedding can be tailored to reflect your unique vision. And while the planning process may present challenges, the end result—a day that truly represents your love and commitment—will be well worth the effort. For expert assistance, Melbourne’s top wedding planners are ready to help make your intimate wedding a reality.
FAQs About Intimate Wedding
What Is The Difference Between An Intimate Wedding And An Elopement?
An intimate wedding is more about spending time with your loved ones; by keeping it modest, you can prioritise the guests you have while also ensuring that your day does not become a sea of plus ones and distant relatives. The location of the ceremony is another significant distinction between elopements and small, intimate marriages.
How Many People Should You Invite To Your Wedding?
If you send out 100 invitations, you should anticipate having 85 people attend your wedding. That makes sense! At a wedding with 200 guests, you can anticipate that between 80 and 85 per cent of those people will show up. There is no question that some people who attend your wedding will be from out of town, but most attendees will be locals.
Why Choose An Intimate Wedding?
An intimate wedding is an ideal way to celebrate your union without being burdened by the responsibility of inviting far-off relatives you were unaware of. Instead, an intimate wedding provides you with the opportunity to celebrate your union with a small group of your closest friends and family members without having to worry about putting on a show. Usually, the people you’re with, not the things you do, end up being the most memorable parts of any experience.
Why Host An Intimate Wedding?
The celebration of a wedding in a small venue is not necessarily synonymous with a low-key event. However, when commemorating a meaningful marriage, having just the couple’s closest friends and family members present to bestow their blessings on them, a small wedding can provide the perfect balance of seclusion and exclusivity.
Why Are Intimate Weddings So Popular?
There are many reasons for the rise in popularity of intimate weddings. They are an exceptionally friendly and intimate method of commemorating your big day with the people closest to you, including members of your family and closest friends. In addition, intimate weddings offer some benefits, including the ability to get the most value for your money and the facilitation of creating a wedding budget.
