Small Wedding Ideas
Small Wedding Ideas for Hard Economic Times
With the economy in its current shape and so much uncertainty in the financial and real estate markets, it’s a good time for small wedding ideas. Given that the average wedding costs around $20 thousand dollars, maybe it is a good time to think outside of the box when it comes to your wedding. What you may actually find is that by limiting the number of guests to your wedding, you not only reduce the overall cost of the event, but you create a truly memorable and meaningful event for all involved.
Of course, we are tempted to have the lavish wedding where you invite every relative under the sun and every friend you have ever had. We fear that if you don’t invite that cousin who we haven’t seen since the Reagan administration that they will be hurt or offended. The truth of the matter is, however, that unless you are an immensely popular or socially involved person, you only have a limited group of people who are deeply intertwined with your life.
In fact, given the harsh economic times, you might actually be doing your more distant family and acquaintances a favor by not inviting them. The cost of getting into formal wear, buying you a wedding gift and perhaps taking a day or two off to come to your wedding might put an unnecessary economic pressure on them.
Small Wedding Ideas and Locations
One of the most freeing things about having a small wedding is that it allows you to be more adventurous with the location of your wedding. Of course, having fewer guests also allows you to get away from the large wedding venues that are typical. You no longer have to rent out a church and ballroom. This can be quite a savings.
Instead, you can have your wedding at a less common location that perhaps has some special meaning to you and your spouse. Afterwards, the reception can be at a restaurant you both fancy.
Here are some locations you might consider for the wedding:
On a beach: One of the more free-spirited of the small wedding ideas is the shoreline wedding. If the ocean has had special significance to you or if you are just generally an outdoorsy type, you might want to consider the beach as a location. It should probably be a private beach so you can get some privacy and you will need to consider what this will do to wardrobe in terms of the sand and all, but many people have found this a great and unforgettable choice for a wedding venue.
On a boat: Along the same lines, you might consider having your wedding on a boat. The captain can perform the ceremony and your guests can enjoy a little ocean tour afterwards. You can keep the lifesaver with the date of your wedding as a memento.
At your home or someone who you know: private residences, if they are large enough and if they have a nice view can make for a good place for a small weddings. Depending on how big your invitation list is you may have to add to your expenses by getting extra chairs etc., so you should consider this.
Other Benefits and Savings of a Small Wedding
A small wedding also allows you to save money on the number of servers, on much of clean up, and just by the shear smaller number of invitees (fewer meals, fewer invitations, etc.).
The other thing it does is that it allows you to make the participants a more active part of the actual ceremony. One of the great small wedding ideas is to have participants give toasts to the bride and groom and share personal memories of them (rather than just have best man and maid of honor take on this task). You can get them to document the eventful day by giving them disposable cameras and asking them to take pictures (you should probably not forego a professional photographer, however).
Finally, the very intimacy of the smaller wedding can make it extra special. Rather than seeming meager, this intimacy can make you feel more involved with each other’s families. It can be a deeper, more meaningful event for all.