Do you want to have a small wedding with just your closest friends or family present? Here are five ways you can make your intimate ceremony extra special.
1. Chose your venue with size in mind
Having a smaller number of people at your wedding can open up so many venue possibilities. If you are choosing to have a Celebrant-led ceremony, your venue doesn’t have to be licenced for weddings so you really can pick a place to suit your style and the size of your wedding party. Consider places like museums, art galleries, breweries, woodlands, or even your own garden!
2. Include everyone in the ceremony
With a smaller number of guests, it is possible to include everyone in some way in your ceremony. With very small numbers (around 10 people) you can adapt elements such as the handfasting ritual to include all your guests in a handfasting circle. You could ask each guest to make a contribution to a time capsule, make a wish on a wishing tree, or light a candle as part of a unity ritual.
3. Dispense with some of the more traditional aspects of a wedding ceremony, in keeping with a smaller crowd
Get creative with your ceremony – you don’t have to stick with the rules or traditions. For example, you don’t have to sing songs (which, unless your guests are all confident singers, may literally fall a bit flat!), you don’t have to have bridesmaids, or groomsmen – all your guests are there because they are the most important people to you, so no hierarchy is necessary! Instead of an aisle with people seated on either side, consider an alternative seating arrangement, such as “in the round”.
4. Keep things personal and honour each of your guests
The beauty of a small ceremony is that you can make each person there feel special, and you can add truly personal touches to honour each guest. You can give special mentions to individual guests in the ceremony or give personalised keepsakes within the ceremony itself. With a small gathering you are likely to know each person really well, so you can get creative and imaginative in how to include them in ways that would be most appropriate to them.
5. Consider privacy
Intimacy and privacy often go hand in hand and you can carry this right the way through your day. You can maintain this feeling by choosing to have your ceremony “unplugged” i.e. no phones and no social media posts. Instead, you can ask one or more of your party to take polaroid pictures in the ceremony and throughout the day and give these out to each guest as a true memento of the occasion.
For more information about Celebrant-led ceremonies, please get in touch – I’d love to hear from you.