Interesting Ways to Celebrate a Marriage Without a Big Wedding
This stress, not to mention the cost, is driving many happy couples to seek out alternatives to the big, traditional weddings. A simple elopement in front of a judge is a cheap and easy way to get married, and it’s growing in popularity. There isn’t anything wrong with doing this, but many people think their special day should have a little more grandeur than a ceremony that’s a lot like paying a traffic ticket. That’s why couples are opting for smaller weddings, and are finding several great ideas for making a new style of a dream wedding.
Venues that Aren’t for Weddings
Sites custom made for weddings know that they can charge a premium for bookings. Places that aren’t can be just as special to a couple, and far cheaper. Get married at the restaurant where you had your first date, or maybe at the park bench where the two of you first said I love you. It can even be something as simple as a favorite bar.
The place can have a special meaning or not. The point is that it’s where you want to get married, and thinking of it will always spark a happy memory of the moment. Also, the cost can be so much less. A wedding chapel can cost in the thousands while a park pavilion will usually be under a hundred bucks.
Destination Weddings and Elopements
What’s a wedding without a honeymoon, so why not have your wedding at your honeymoon location? It’s a great way to visit a place the two of you have always dreamed of, and it can be surprisingly affordable, even for exotic locations. Many tropical resorts offer elopement destination wedding packages in the Caribbean. The travel and time off needed inherently keep the guest list small, which is great when all you want is close friends and family. One fun idea is for everyone to arrive a few days before the wedding so that everyone can have a great group vacation.
Backyard Weddings
Venues are often a significant expense when it comes to wedding planning. Beautiful chapels right out of a storybook and scenic landscapes befitting a national park are memorable, but they aren’t cheap. Why not save money, and throw your wedding in your backyard?
The key to backyard weddings is picking a theme and pulling it off. One trend people are getting into is making their weddings shabby-chic. People show up in worn, comfy t-shirts and jeans to hang out and watch the wedding before drinks and food fresh off the grill. A couple who share a love of a specific fandom can geek out and have their Game of Thrones-themed wedding.
Making a wedding as memorable as it is enjoyable is still possible without the trappings of a gala event. Hire a taco truck to feed your guests or make it a potluck dinner. Have the guests create a digital playlist of song that reminds them of the bride and groom. Then it could be a game figuring out who added the song and why. You could even have that crazy uncle get ordained online, and perform the ceremony. Make it uniquely yours.
Final Words on Marriage without a Big Wedding
Remember, you can have a long lasting marriage without a big wedding. If you want a small wedding, you have to plan it small and keep it small. This can be harder than it sounds. Most people will still want that “one thing” like a fancy cake, a designer dress, or a live band. It’s fine to include some of these. However, putting in too many of these things will eventually turn your small wedding into a big wedding before you know it.
The same logic goes for the guest list. Keeping it limited to 50 or so of your closest friends and family is essential for a smaller wedding but can be harder than it sounds. This is especially true if the bride or groom comes from a large family. Sadly, this might mean some hurt feelings, but if they can’t understand that the wedding day is for you and not them, then they aren’t as close as you think.