A small wedding is a magical thing. It truly is.
Small weddings or elopement weddings might be the only option right now, but this has got me thinking, for I photographed many small or elopement weddings long before Covid reared its ugly head and started ruining the best laid plans in a heartbeat. The small, intimate wedding is, and always has been a thing, and a beautiful thing at that. Indeed, many people choose the small, mini or elopement wedding as the wedding of their dreams. So perhaps if you can’t have the day you really dreamed of, you can still have something equally beautiful.
It is simply that it is different.
And what is that difference? The one key point is the number of people, and that is pretty much it, and this seems to be taken as a negative, but perhaps it shouldn’t be this way. Sometimes I wonder if couples follow what is deemed to be the standard format of a wedding, simply because that feels like what you should do, because it is what everyone else does. In some ways there has always been a social stigma attached to a small wedding, as if it wasn’t the done thing to get married but not invite all of your friends and family. The question is, does this make it the right thing for you?
If you have your heart set on everyone you know and love being there to see you exchanges those vows, and this is the most important thing for you, then follow your dreams. Celebrating in a big way with everyone you know around you is a magical experience. I absolutely love the intensity of a big wedding, and I miss them like you wouldn’t believe, it feels like it has been far too long. But it isn’t the only way, in some ways it is all about perspective, and what really matters. Love is a wonderful thing, and in some ways it shouldn’t have to wait.
Perhaps therefore it is worth considering the benefits and new possibilities of a smaller and more intimate, or elopement wedding that you just won’t find at a larger one, and as life takes decisions away from you, make new ones, or as the old saying goes, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade…”
There was a time when an elopement wedding meant running away cross the border and not telling anyone, of course times have changed now, and you simply take a few family members and friends with you too if you wish!
Perhaps there might be something new that you hadn’t though of, and if your plan have been curtailed through no fault of your own, then I hope you can see the positives. And there are positives, for everyone I have spoken to at the small weddings I have recently photographed has been pleasantly surprised by what they bring that you just don’t find with a larger wedding.
Time for everyone?
I remember the next time I saw a few guests after our own wedding, and hearing them say how much they enjoyed the day, but it would have been even better if they had been able to speak to us. I know we didn’t get to speak to all of our 100 guests, there is never enough time to give everyone the time they deserve, and it is exhausting, with everything else going on, and the formalities to follow. Hearing that made me sad, knowing guests had made the time to travel all that way to be with us, yet we just didn’t have the time to spend with them. It shouldn’t be like that.
Receiving lines have fallen out of favour, as what seemed like a never ending queue and endless smiles, but they were in some ways the one time you could speak to everyone, though not quality time, when you could see the length of the queue waiting, with everyone feeling awkward if they talk to you for too long.
As an observational documentary photographer, one thing I have noticed with smaller weddings meanwhile is how much time people really spend together, and how good that time really is. So many moments and memories shared, emotions, hugs, and more. It is quality time too, proper conversations and catch ups, and I have seen many people remark just how good it has been. Like all of the best parts of a family Christmas, rolled in to one. And with smaller numbers, you are forced to invite those who are closest to you.
Go anywhere!
With fewer guests, perhaps you don’t feel so bad asking people to travel. Often with smaller weddings, all guests can make a proper weekend of it, a mini break, for everyone to enjoy. As well as the wedding day, there is family time before, and after. Long walks on the beach, exploring somewhere new or somewhere special. It becomes much more than just the wedding day. You get to make memories for longer. After the day is over, you get to do it again the next day. Good times.
Make a saving
With less guests to feed, and a smaller venue, that wedding budget can go a little further. Even if you want a party as well on a different date, you might be surprised to find that the two separate events are cost effective, as you aren’t booking a big venue for a whole day.
Do something unique
Think of somewhere that means something to you, somewhere beautiful, somewhere special. Perhaps you could never imaging having 100 guests there, but with smaller numbers, suddenly it sounds much more promising.
More time for you both
Another thing I remember from my wedding, was how little time I had to talk to my wife, it was as if we hardly saw each other. Strange but true, as you try your best to catch up with everyone. With a small wedding, there is time for you to talk, time to share the moment. With elopement weddings, instead of 10 minutes of portraits, You can go for a wander for hours, take time out, do whatever you want. Capture the story of where you are.
There is also no pressure to drink, ands all the other drawbacks thsat brings, so many couples have said how lovely it was to be tucked up together at 10pm on their wedding day, talking about the magic as husband and wife, with no hangover the next day, bonus!
But what about the party….?
Ah yes, the elephant in the room! Well guess what, you can still always have one, and do it all again at a later date! A chance to roll out the dress again if you wish, relive your wedding without the stress, and truly enjoy yourself without the pressure and worry the day can bring. In some ways you get two days for the price of one!
So small weddings really are rather lovely, and I firmly believe they are here to stay, for all the right reasons.
If you are getting married absolutely anywhere and are planning a small intimate wedding, or planning an elopement wedding somewhere beautiful, then give me a shout, I’d love to come along too!
The mini wedding is a magical thing. It truly is.
Smaller weddings might be the only option right now, but this has got me thinking, for I photographed many small or elopement weddings long before Covid reared its ugly head and started ruining the best laid plans in a heartbeat. The small, intimate wedding is, and always has been a thing, and a beautiful thing at that, indeed something many people chose as the wedding of their dreams. So perhaps if you can’t have the day you really dreamed of, you can still have something equally beautiful.
It is simply that it is different.
And what is that difference? The one key point is the number of people, and that is pretty much it, and this seems to be taken as a negative, but perhaps it shouldn’t be this way. Sometimes I wonder if couples follow what is deemed to be the standard format of a wedding, simply because that feels like what you should do, because it is what everyone else does. In some ways there has always been a social stigma attached to a small wedding, as if it wasn’t the done thing to get married but not invite all of your friends and family. The question is, does this make it the right thing for you?
If you have your heart set on everyone you know and love being there to see you exchanges those vows, and this is the most important thing for you, then follow your dreams. Celebrating in a big way with everyone you know around you is a magical experience. I absolutely love the intensity of a big wedding, and I miss them like you wouldn’t believe, it feels like it has been far too long. But it isn’t the only way, in some ways it is all about perspective, and what really matters. Love is a wonderful thing, and in some ways it shouldn’t have to wait.
Perhaps therefore it is worth considering the benefits and new possibilities of a smaller and more intimate , or elopement wedding that you just won’t find at a larger one, and as life takes decisions away from you, make new ones, or as the old saying goes, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade…”
Perhaps there might be something new that you hadn’t though of, and if your plan have been curtailed through no fault of your own, then I hope you can see the positives. And there are positives, for everyone I have spoken to at the small weddings I have recently photographed has been pleasantly surprised by what they bring that you just don’t find with a larger wedding.
Time for everyone?
I remember the next time I saw a few guests after our own wedding, and hearing them say how much they enjoyed the day, but it would have been better if they got to speak to us. I know we didn’t get to speak to all of our 100 guests, there is never enough time to give everyone the time they deserve, and it is exhausting, with everything else going on, and the formalities to follow. Hearing that made me sad, guests had made the time to travel all that way to be with us, yet we just didn’t have the time to spend with them, perhaps it shouldn’t be like that.
Receiving lines have fallen out of favour, as what seemed like a never ending queue and endless smiles, but they were in some ways the one time you could speak to everyone, though not quality time, when you could see the length of the queue waiting.
As an observational documentary photographer, one thing I have noticed with smaller weddings meanwhile is how much time people really spend together, and how good that time really is. So many moments and memories shared, emotions, hugs, and more. It is quality time too, proper conversations and catch ups, and I have seen many people remark just how good it has been. Like all of the best parts of a family Christmas, rolled in to one. And with smaller numbers, you are forced to invite those who are closest to you.
Go anywhere!
With fewer guests, perhaps you don’t feel so bad asking people to travel. Often with smaller weddings, all guests can make a proper weekend of it, a mini break, for everyone to enjoy. As well as the wedding day, there is family time before, and after. Walk on the beach, exploring somewhere new or somewhere special. It becomes much more than just the wedding day.
Make a saving
With less guests to feed, and a smaller venue, that wedding budget can go a little further. Even if you want a party as well on a different date, you might be surprised to find that the two separate events are cost effective, as you aren’t booking a big venue for a whole day.
Do something unique
Think of somewhere that means something to you, somewhere beautiful, somewhere special. Perhaps you could never imaging having 100 guests there, but with smaller numbers, suddenly it sounds much more promising.
More time for you both
one thing I remember from my wedding, was how little time I had to talk to my wife, it was as if we hardly saw each other. Strange but true, as you focus on time to catch up with everyone. There is time for you to talk, time to share the moment. With elopement weddings, instead of 10 minutes of portraits, You can go for a wander for hours, take time out, do whatever you want. Capture the story of where you are.
But what about the party….?
You can still always have one! A chance to roll out the dress again, relive your wedding, and truly enjoy yourself without the pressure and worry the day can bring. In some ways you get two days for the price of one!
.