Presence over presents: Brits ditch wedding gifts
Karin Haglund, Head of Consumer Insights at Klarna said: "Destination weddings tap into Brits' love...
Say I do to an intimate wedding celebration
Since the pandemic, the biggest shift in the wedding industry has been towards more intimate weddings. Born out of necessity during various lockdowns and restrictions, small yet mighty nuptials made us all reevaluate what's important and remind us what a wedding is all about. So much so in fact that the trend for intimate weddings is here to stay. Here, we explore the benefits of a small but perfectly formed celebration as well as our tips for planning your own. Our mantra when it comes to intimate weddings? Quality over quantity.
BUDGET
If you're opting for an intimate wedding not to save on costs but rather to focus on sharing the day with only those closest and most important to you, you really can go all out to create the day of your dreams. Just think of how much will be saved to invest elsewhere when the meals you're providing number 10 to 20 rather than 100 to 150.
Have a think about what you want the main experience of your wedding to be. How do you want it to be remembered? This is the area you want to invest in. With fewer guests you can typically spent more on each one ensuring their day is as memorable as yours.
Elements you might want to look at prioritising are your venue, catering, and personalised details.
As ever, just be sure to keep an eye on your original budget and don't let it get away from you. You can have that flawless celebration without being left destitute!
One thing to bear in mind is that some suppliers may charge a higher fee for fewer guest numbers (sort of like a single-room supplement on holiday) so be sure to take this into account to avoid any nasty surprises.
If you're opting for an intimate wedding not to save on costs but rather to focus on sharing the day with only those closest and most important to you, you really can go all out to create the day of your dreams. Just think of how much will be saved to invest elsewhere when the meals you're providing number 10 to 20 rather than 100 to 150.
Have a think about what you want the main experience of your wedding to be. How do you want it to be remembered? This is the area you want to invest in. With fewer guests you can typically spent more on each one ensuring their day is as memorable as yours.
Elements you might want to look at prioritising are your venue, catering, and personalised details.
As ever, just be sure to keep an eye on your original budget and don't let it get away from you. You can have that flawless celebration without being left destitute!
One thing to bear in mind is that some suppliers may charge a higher fee for fewer guest numbers (sort of like a single-room supplement on holiday) so be sure to take this into account to avoid any nasty surprises.
VENUE
With a guest list of 30 or fewer you have a whole new world of venue possibilities open up to you from the chic to the quirky. Think exclusive spaces such as boutique hotels, fine-dining restaurants, private estates and gorgeous vineyards.
The beauty is that you may now be able to afford the sort of space you'd dreamed of that might be out of budget for a larger wedding.
Be sure to choose the right venue size for your guest list. If a few of you are rattling around a space designed for 150 that cosy, intimate atmosphere you've set your sights on will be lost.
Check out our venues page to explore their spaces and capacities.
With a guest list of 30 or fewer you have a whole new world of venue possibilities open up to you from the chic to the quirky. Think exclusive spaces such as boutique hotels, fine-dining restaurants, private estates and gorgeous vineyards.
The beauty is that you may now be able to afford the sort of space you'd dreamed of that might be out of budget for a larger wedding.
Be sure to choose the right venue size for your guest list. If a few of you are rattling around a space designed for 150 that cosy, intimate atmosphere you've set your sights on will be lost.
Check out our venues page to explore their spaces and capacities.
GUEST LIST
One of the most difficult parts of planning an intimate day is deciding who makes it onto your very select guest list. Carefully consider the people you're considering inviting. They should be your very nearest and dearest, those who are there for you through thick and thin, those who make a positive impact on your life and relationship, those you couldn't imagine celebrating your nuptials without. For them, being invited should be an honour, not an excuse for a booze up.
You may face the age old problem of feeling pressure to invite family you don't feel fall in any way into the above categories, so diplomacy will be required to ensure your dream day doesn't get away from you. Explain to those applying the pressure that you are only able to have very few people with you on the day. Try to keep language consistent. Perhaps open with something like this:
“We’re keeping our wedding to just immediate family and a handful of people, so unfortunately we can’t invite everyone we’d love to. We really value you and look forward to celebrating together outside the wedding day.”
One of the most difficult parts of planning an intimate day is deciding who makes it onto your very select guest list. Carefully consider the people you're considering inviting. They should be your very nearest and dearest, those who are there for you through thick and thin, those who make a positive impact on your life and relationship, those you couldn't imagine celebrating your nuptials without. For them, being invited should be an honour, not an excuse for a booze up.
You may face the age old problem of feeling pressure to invite family you don't feel fall in any way into the above categories, so diplomacy will be required to ensure your dream day doesn't get away from you. Explain to those applying the pressure that you are only able to have very few people with you on the day. Try to keep language consistent. Perhaps open with something like this:
“We’re keeping our wedding to just immediate family and a handful of people, so unfortunately we can’t invite everyone we’d love to. We really value you and look forward to celebrating together outside the wedding day.”
WE DO
An oh-so romantic intimate ceremony is always worth considering, even if you choose to open up more invites for the ensuing celebrations.
The fewer guests you have for this part of the day, the easier it is to get them involved in your nuptials. For example, ask your celebrant about the various rituals that can be included such as a wedding ring warming, or unity candle ceremony.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Just Ceremonies
Love, Loud & True
An oh-so romantic intimate ceremony is always worth considering, even if you choose to open up more invites for the ensuing celebrations.
The fewer guests you have for this part of the day, the easier it is to get them involved in your nuptials. For example, ask your celebrant about the various rituals that can be included such as a wedding ring warming, or unity candle ceremony.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Just Ceremonies
Love, Loud & True
CATERING
Just because you've set enough budget aside to cater for 100 guests, doesn't necessarily mean you need to invite that many. If you decided to halve that or even cut it down to a third for the same budget, you'd be looking at quality over quantity. For so many of us, food tells a story and is a crucial part of any wedding day, so if it's the area you've both chosen to prioritise you really could go all out!
What about a seven-course fine-dining tasting menu with wine pairings? Just some food for thought!
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Caroline's Little Kitchen
Paxton & Brown Caterers
The Fat Pig Co.
Just because you've set enough budget aside to cater for 100 guests, doesn't necessarily mean you need to invite that many. If you decided to halve that or even cut it down to a third for the same budget, you'd be looking at quality over quantity. For so many of us, food tells a story and is a crucial part of any wedding day, so if it's the area you've both chosen to prioritise you really could go all out!
What about a seven-course fine-dining tasting menu with wine pairings? Just some food for thought!
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Caroline's Little Kitchen
Paxton & Brown Caterers
The Fat Pig Co.
STATIONERY
So much more is possible when your guest list consists of 30 or fewer, you can really make everything super-personal for you and your loved ones. Each and every person will be there for a great reason, so think of the ways they positively influenced your love story, or have been beside you on the journey. You could include these little nods in a bespoke table name or wedding favour for that guest. Perhaps a personal, handwritten note, or a meaningful illustration on their place card. We love the idea of a couple's trip to the Lego store to put together a minifig resembling each guest! This is the sort of thing that just wouldn't be possible with 100-plus guests.
You could even get creative with your place names and turn them into something they'll want to take home and treasure. What about an agate slice or sea glass adorned with sweeping calligraphy?
Gorgeous handmade stationery also becomes more viable the fewer guests you have. You can commission an illustrator to create an impression of your venue or your very own monogram. You could also opt for sumptuous materials with wax seals and ribbons. The sky's the limit.
So much more is possible when your guest list consists of 30 or fewer, you can really make everything super-personal for you and your loved ones. Each and every person will be there for a great reason, so think of the ways they positively influenced your love story, or have been beside you on the journey. You could include these little nods in a bespoke table name or wedding favour for that guest. Perhaps a personal, handwritten note, or a meaningful illustration on their place card. We love the idea of a couple's trip to the Lego store to put together a minifig resembling each guest! This is the sort of thing that just wouldn't be possible with 100-plus guests.
You could even get creative with your place names and turn them into something they'll want to take home and treasure. What about an agate slice or sea glass adorned with sweeping calligraphy?
Gorgeous handmade stationery also becomes more viable the fewer guests you have. You can commission an illustrator to create an impression of your venue or your very own monogram. You could also opt for sumptuous materials with wax seals and ribbons. The sky's the limit.
VENUE STYLING
When it comes to styling an intimate space creating the desired atmosphere is much easier to cost effectively achieve with a carefully curated set of props and floral designs, than it would otherwise be in a much larger space.
When it comes to your table layout you'll likely be able to seat everyone around a single table for a wonderful community feel. Or what about a horseshoe layout with the two of you seated at a sweetheart table?
Your tablescape will be the focal point and with only a single table to worry about you can give it your heart and soul! Think colour coordinated napkins, statement chargers, a stunning floral display and gold-toned cutlery - chef's kiss!
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Bramble & Wild
Crescent Moon
When it comes to styling an intimate space creating the desired atmosphere is much easier to cost effectively achieve with a carefully curated set of props and floral designs, than it would otherwise be in a much larger space.
When it comes to your table layout you'll likely be able to seat everyone around a single table for a wonderful community feel. Or what about a horseshoe layout with the two of you seated at a sweetheart table?
Your tablescape will be the focal point and with only a single table to worry about you can give it your heart and soul! Think colour coordinated napkins, statement chargers, a stunning floral display and gold-toned cutlery - chef's kiss!
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Bramble & Wild
Crescent Moon
CAKE
We love the initmate wedding cake options out there. A Lambeth cake is oh-so on trend and generally a single tier. Iced in palette fitting hues and scribed 'Just Married', it's a playful, chic addition.
Tall single tiers are every bit as elegant as a multi-tiered wedding cake, while ensuring you avoid the wastage. If you've always dreamed of a three-tiered showstopper though, all hope is not lost. Chat to your cake maker about your options. Often, they'll be able to ice dummy tiers, so you get the drama without the costs and food waste.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Anna Baker Cakes
Louise Cannon Cakes
Sanna's Cake Design Co.
We love the initmate wedding cake options out there. A Lambeth cake is oh-so on trend and generally a single tier. Iced in palette fitting hues and scribed 'Just Married', it's a playful, chic addition.
Tall single tiers are every bit as elegant as a multi-tiered wedding cake, while ensuring you avoid the wastage. If you've always dreamed of a three-tiered showstopper though, all hope is not lost. Chat to your cake maker about your options. Often, they'll be able to ice dummy tiers, so you get the drama without the costs and food waste.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Anna Baker Cakes
Louise Cannon Cakes
Sanna's Cake Design Co.
ENTERTAINMENT
Buying dinner for 30 people as opposed to 100 will leave you more budget to spend on what you love. Perhaps in your case it's entertainment. Carefully consider though what will be appropriate for a small group.
By all means, hire a band, after all you can't beat live music; but consider the size of it. If there are more members in the band than there are people on your guests list, this will likely overwhelm the perfect vibe you've worked so hard to achieve. A trio or quartet would be ideal and if they can also perform a chilled acoustic set before taking you through a more lively party setlist for the evening, then more's the better.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Entertainment Nation
Booth Nineteen
Sarah Bailey Cartoons
Ace Fun Casinos
Otis Philip Music
Buying dinner for 30 people as opposed to 100 will leave you more budget to spend on what you love. Perhaps in your case it's entertainment. Carefully consider though what will be appropriate for a small group.
By all means, hire a band, after all you can't beat live music; but consider the size of it. If there are more members in the band than there are people on your guests list, this will likely overwhelm the perfect vibe you've worked so hard to achieve. A trio or quartet would be ideal and if they can also perform a chilled acoustic set before taking you through a more lively party setlist for the evening, then more's the better.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Entertainment Nation
Booth Nineteen
Sarah Bailey Cartoons
Ace Fun Casinos
Otis Philip Music
PHOTOGRAPHY
We always recommend investing in a great photographer to suit your vibe, and for an intimate wedding they can truly come into their own with opportunity for a more editorial or fine art style to come to the fore.
The greatest difference will be in your group shots. While we often suggest keeping them to minimum to avoid wasting the entire day in forced poses and rounding up various groups, with a select few joining you, your photographer will have much more opportunity to capture great portraits of each one.
Plus, as your day will likely be filled with a myriad of personal details, they'll be able to document them to the max to show just how stylish and intimate your day was.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Jake Janes
Photography by Simon
Timi Oshin Studios
We always recommend investing in a great photographer to suit your vibe, and for an intimate wedding they can truly come into their own with opportunity for a more editorial or fine art style to come to the fore.
The greatest difference will be in your group shots. While we often suggest keeping them to minimum to avoid wasting the entire day in forced poses and rounding up various groups, with a select few joining you, your photographer will have much more opportunity to capture great portraits of each one.
Plus, as your day will likely be filled with a myriad of personal details, they'll be able to document them to the max to show just how stylish and intimate your day was.
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
Jake Janes
Photography by Simon
Timi Oshin Studios
FASHION
We'd advise to keep your wedding party small. After all, you don't want your team to outnumber the other guests! Perhaps you'll choose a maid-of-honour and a best man to be by your sides. Not only will this save you money on a whole stream of outfits, it'll give you the opportunity to really treat these VIPs, perhaps adding shoes and other accessories to their look. The look for the four of you will look beautifully curated and you can even go for a fashion-forward vibe.
What's more, since this is another area of significant saving for you both, allowing you to invest more of your valuable budget into those important experiential moments.
We're giddy with excitement for you!
CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL LOVELIES
14 & Sixpence
Lara Belle Bridal Boutique
