Tag: wedding photography

A Guide for Planning an Intimate Wedding

Published on by Bridgett King, Wedding OfficiantLeave a comment

Grand, extravagant weddings get a lot of attention on social media, but there are so many other ways to get married. Intimate weddings have become a popular choice for couples seeking a more personal and meaningful celebration. If you choose an intimate or small wedding, you will have the chance to get creative while focusing on your love and those who are closest to you. This guide has all the info you need to plan the perfect intimate wedding.

Crafting Your Vision

Because you don’t have to follow any prescribed big-wedding traditions, your vision will mean everything when planning a small wedding event. You’ll have to start with big-picture concepts that both you and your partner agree on. Do you want a rustic outdoor celebration, an elegant indoor affair, or something entirely different? Consider the season, location, and overall atmosphere that resonates with both of you. Your vision will serve as the foundation for all your wedding decisions.

Deciding on Your Guest List

Unlike larger weddings, you will need to limit your guest list if you want to achieve the perfect intimate wedding. If you have a large family with many extended branches, you’ll have to pick and choose who to invite. Alternatively, you could keep one aspect of your wedding intimate, such as the ceremony, but still hold a large-scale reception for all the other family members.

If your dream is to have a small wedding, you will need to communicate your vision and desires to the people you care about. You might find that the people who love you are a lot more understanding than you expected.

Choosing a Location

Choosing a location can help you curate your vision for an intimate wedding. If you go for a destination wedding that is far from home, you will find that fewer people choose to attend, which will automatically limit your guest list. On the other hand, you can opt for venues closer to home such as a local beach, park, or your own backyard. The venue needs to align with your vision and accommodate you and your guests comfortably. Intimate weddings often take place in smaller, more unique locations, such as a charming garden, a cozy barn, or a historic inn.

Personalizing Your Ceremony and Reception

Intimate weddings offer the perfect opportunity to infuse your personality into every aspect of the celebration. Consider having a friend or family member officiate your wedding or invite a non-denominational minister. During the ceremony, you can read your own vows and involve close friends and family in special roles. This gives you an opportunity to share your unique love story and highlight what makes your relationship special.

For the reception, you can get as involved or be as hands-off as you want. It’s not uncommon for intimate receptions to take place at a restaurant or family member’s home. These options often relieve financial and logistical stress but might feel too disconnected from your vision. In that case, exploring catering options for small groups might be the way to go.

Capturing the Moments

Every wedding is a collection of moments that tell the story of your love. With an intimate wedding, you have the advantage of spending quality time with your guests, which creates more opportunities for candid and meaningful moments. Hire a photographer and videographer who specialize in capturing the essence of small, intimate gatherings, or ask friends and family members to step in with their own devices and share the photos and videos with you online.

Organizing an intimate wedding allows you to prioritize what truly matters: your love and the people you hold dear. Embrace the intimacy of the occasion and savor each memory. Remember that your wedding day can be as unique as your love story, and it can be whatever you want it to be.

Upcoming Wedding Trends To Consider for Your Big Day

Published on by Bridgett King, Wedding OfficiantLeave a comment

Wedding trends tend to come and go. If you’re planning your own wedding, however, you may want to be aware of the hottest and most interesting fads to see which aligns with the vision you have of your big day. Take a look at the trends that have been emerging in recent months and see if any are a good fit for your big day. 

Secret Photos

Hiring a wedding photographer is a great way to guarantee you get some excellent pictures of your guests enjoying the reception. However, one trend is pushing away from relying solely on the posed work done by professionals. Nowadays, couples are asking the people they hire to focus predominantly on taking candid shots throughout the event. A photographer who has experience in this area will be able to take hundreds of pictures without anyone ever realizing they are being photographed. 

While posed photos are nice, they often can feel forced and uncomfortable. Embracing the concept of candid wedding photography can help you uncover a plethora of phenomenal images related to your big day. You are guaranteed to get better pictures of your event when your subjects are not aware that they are being photographed. You’ll see your family members and friends caught in genuine moments of raw emotion in these pictures, which can be worth a lot more than a handful of photos where everyone is simply smiling and posing.

Little Is Big

Countless people throw large, elaborate weddings each year. Lately, there has been a popular trend moving away from big, showy events. Instead, people are embracing the concept of “less is more.” Specifically, couples are utilizing miniature versions of wedding staples. As an alternative to a giant wedding cake, for example, couples are offering cupcakes or other small desserts. Everything from the bridal bouquet to the favors can be miniaturized, so it is easy to get creative with this concept.

Cold and Bold

Once upon a time, ice sculptures were viewed as the pinnacle of elegance at high-end events. While the trend went out of style for a few decades, it seems to be making a reappearance in many modern weddings. Technology has come a long way in recent years, allowing sculptures to be crafted into specific, intricate designs. The choice does not have to be primarily cosmetic, either. Plenty of people functionally use their ice sculptures, such as using it as the base for a raw bar.

Another angle to consider with an ice sculpture is an ice luge. This is a structure that is kept at the bar and used as a way for guests to enjoy chilled shots. If the luge features more than one “path” for the alcohol to travel, guests can drink together and make the experience into a friendly competition of “who will the liquor reach first?”

Surprises Abound

Though your wedding day is all about you and your partner, you likely have an urge to “give back” to your guests in some capacity. While favors are the traditional way to achieve this, one current trend has couples embracing the idea of really astounding their friends and family. Little surprises can go a long way when it comes to making your big day memorable for all. 

Do you think your guests will be hungry at the end of the night? Hire a food truck to sit outside the venue and hand out hot meals to the crowd before they depart. Want to entertain your guests creatively? Utilize the services of a magician or performance artist and give your loved ones a show they won’t soon forget. 

Make the Day Memorable

No matter the vision you have in your mind for your big day, there are sure to be many interesting wedding trends that will appeal to your needs. Explore the current fads that couples are raving about to see how you can enhance your event and make it one to truly remember.