10 RAD SMALL WEDDING IDEAS
I’m all about figuring ways to do something INSANELY AWESOME with an economical price tag. And weddings can be no joke, expensive as all get out. So since I’ve been in the wedding industry for going on 12 years now and have seen such an evolution of wedding trends, I thought I’d share some of my favorite ways you can have something rad, intimate, photogenic, and completely memorable!
Pop Up Wedding in the woods
So a pop up wedding is basically where you and a small number of guests carry everything you might need to your ceremony site, set it up quickly, and BOOM pop up wedding. Often this might only entail some picnic baskets and blankets. Many national forests in our area (South East US) allow weddings anywhere in the park as long as you keep it under a certain number of guests and are respectful of the protected forest and it’s visitors.
2. AirBnB Wedding
This is one of my favorite small wedding options, because AirBnBs come in so many styles and locations. You could go for a city loft feel, a castle like design, or a treehouse in the woods like these two did. The options are nearly endless! And you can even have all of your guests chip in for the place if they are staying with you!
3. Hike in Wedding
This one is definitely for the adventurous at heart… but hiking up a mountain in the dark and saying your vows at sunrise is an indescribably magical thing. And another perk of hiking in, is that there are often no people at the location you have chosen… so you get a completely private ceremony! And some EPIC photos. Some couples will even hike up and camp, get ready with their little mirrors propped up on trees, and come over the crest of the mountain top to see each other for the first time. No one else is around as they say their hand written vows filled with every bit of what they’ve always wanted to say, but maybe were too shy to say in front of guests.
4. Elopement + Party
Now I know that a lot of you are probably torn between loving the intimacy of a small wedding, but also REALLY want to get down with all of your friends and family at a party to celebrate you guys tying the knot! So…. WHY NOT DO BOTH?! Many of my couples are opting to have a sweet intimate ceremony or elopement somewhere with just the two of them and then coming back and having a party. Also the party doesn’t have to be right away, it can help keep things economical if you space the party out to later in the year… AND you get to celebrate twice!
5. Courthouse + Restaurant
There is something so precious and vintage about a courthouse wedding! It makes me think of times gone by where things were simpler and all about you guys committing your life to each other. Find a gorgeous courthouse, put on that fun modern (or vintage) dress, book a private room at your favorite restaurant, and maybe visit a cool distillery for drinks afterwards!
6. Boutique Hotel
I am and always will be a sucker for the individuality of a boutique hotel. And the best news is, many of them offer tiny wedding packages! Some packages may include dinner for your few guests and you, accommodations, a beautiful private ceremony spot, and maybe even some champagne and cake!
7. Sailboat wedding
There is hardly a more romantic spot on earth than out on a sailboat at sunset. Well have you ever thought you could get married there?! There are sailboats and private yachts in every shape size and style out there for rent, and some of them will help you with pulling together the meal too.
8. Surprise Wedding
This one is definitely for those who love a little fun and a LOT of a good time! So here’s how this works… you come up with a “reason” for all of your closest friends and family to come hang out. Maybe a New Years party, or a bbq for something more casual…. and when they get there… SURPRISE!!!…. you’ve just arrived at our wedding ceremony!
9. Destination Wedding
My love of travel means destination weddings will always be so special for me. And a sweet surprise for you, is that destination weddings are often much cheaper than you would imagine. Consider this… your guest list is smaller so you don’t have to pay for so much food (and they are paying for their own flights and rooms because many of them will look at this like a vacation they didn’t have to plan!), Many destination locations have packages where the wedding is pretty much free if you book so many rooms with them (which I remind you again you aren’t paying for), and you are already in this AMAZING location for your honeymoon! Kind of a win, win, win if you ask me.
10. Do YOU!
In the end just make sure you guys do what sets your souls on fire. Get together, pop a bottle of wine, and brainstorm all the things you love and build a wedding around that! Be as creative as you can be and dream all the wildest dreams! Then once you have all the crazy ideas, start boiling them down to something that you could do to celebrate. And if you want someone to walk along side with you, get crazy caffeinated and brainstorm with you… give you all the tips for elopeing, help you with permits, or find amazing boutique hotels or vendors…. we are here to do just that! We work hand in hand with our clients who have small weddings, or elope, to help them build something incredible. We are here to provide as much or as little support as you need and then we will show up on that perfect day to take some EPIC pictures!
Lets start brainstorming!
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