Though the worst of the global pandemic seems to—thankfully!—be a thing of the past, we’re all still living with the lessons learned during that time. This is particularly evident in a new trend we’re seeing with weddings. Newly engaged couples, who learned the value of small gatherings with only the ones they hold nearest and dearest, are approaching their wedding planning in much the same way. Many couples are turning away from a splashy occasion for hundreds of people, opting instead to create an unforgettable experience for the people closest to them.
The size of the wedding is perhaps the first decision a couple should make, as it impacts literally every aspect of the planning process. Kristen Rauch, co-owner of PK Events New Orleans, notes that not every vendor or venue caters to an intimate experience and can have some large upfront costs that may not be necessary for what the couple wants. For example, some venues may require food and beverage minimums that may not be possible to achieve with a smaller number of guests, even with adding all the upgrades possible, or florists could require a minimum that is designed for a larger event.
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Swoop- Duggins House photo by Vieta Collins[/caption]
Linda Novak, proprietor and events director at the Historic Swoop-Duggins House remarks “A smaller wedding gives the hosts an opportunity to get more creative with the event and to use unique and beautiful venues…instead of banquet style facilities that larger weddings require.” It’s crucial to find that niche of planner, venue or vendor to help bring a couple’s vision of a more intimate experience to life. At PK Events, Rauch has this list at her fingertips, noting “One of the things I have worked to provide my intimate couples are vendors and venues that love and specialize in those types of weddings.”
Smaller guest counts can help a couple create a manageable budget, as food and beverage is typically priced per person, and smaller venues often have less expensive rental fees. That being said, Rauch cautions against planning a more intimate wedding simply because it may appear more budget-friendly at first glance, noting that internet searches may create false expectations about the ease of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) projects: “Sometimes less is more, and sometimes when it’s all said and done if you find that vendor that specializes in the intimate bride, it’s really not cheaper to DIY it.”
Echoing this sentiment, Kerrie Carroll of Girls In Black, LLC, advises “Less guests doesn’t always mean less expensive. That sounds counterproductive but it is factual.” While couples may need less of some items, they may opt to create a custom experience for the select few on their guest list, and the price of custom pieces will often be more expensive.
As examples of pieces that give a more intimate wedding an extra bit of pizzaz, Carroll offers the following list of suggestions: designing personalized details for attendees not just on the day of the wedding, but for the entire wedding weekend; creating personalized gifts for guests to greet them when they arrive at the accommodation rooms; splurging on luxury place settings for a seated dinner; engaging a private chef, personal assistant, or butler service to serve your guests throughout the weekend; and pairing custom linens with a grand floral and candle display for a tablescape.
Rauch agrees that couples today are looking to dazzle their guests: “Today’s couples are about creating a memorable experience for their guests. It could be a unique venue they want, special entertainment, an upgraded menu with elegant table settings or over-the-top florals, and even making it more about several events over a weekend. Whatever it is, they want to be able to afford that wow factor and may not be able to do that when inviting outside of their intimate circle.” Musical elements such as a second line, brass band or upgraded DJ experience also make a wedding incredibly memorable for couples and their guests.
Novak also mentions experiences such as second line and a more extravagant menu among possibilities that smaller weddings afford. Another benefit is that, because it’s not a large-scale production with many moving parts, a more intimate wedding can often be planned without the need for a wedding planner. However, Novak eschews the idea of foregoing a professional altogether: “I always recommend that the couple at least hire a day-of wedding coordinator. On your wedding day you don’t want to have to think about or worry about any details, you just want to luxuriate in the splendor of it all.” Carroll takes that advice a step further, noting that a smaller wedding leaves room in the budget for hiring your favorite wedding planner to plan, coordinate and produce your dream wedding experience.
Carroll’s advice touches on another reason couples may choose a more intimate wedding experience. Foregoing a large, extravagant celebration has the potential to save not only dollars, but also couple’s valuable time planning such a production. For couples who do not wish to dedicate their precious free hours to wedding planning, Rauch recommends an all-inclusive experience. “All-inclusive goes beyond the venue [and extends to] everything, like officiant, photographer, venue, floral, second line, cake, and planner,” she explains. “That’s what PK Events New Orleans offers, and the intimate couple really appreciates that one-stop experience. It saves them a ton of time vetting vendors.”
Choosing an all-inclusive package can be especially helpful for out-of-town couples planning a destination wedding, as the Historic Swoop-Duggins House’s website notes. Their all-inclusive event planning services bring together all elements of a couple’s big day, such as in-house catering, bar packages, a personalized event website and more. They also offer a carefully curated list of local New Orleans businesses to further assist with wedding planning from anywhere in the world.
Though having an easier planning process, saving time, and saving money are indeed factors in a couple’s decision to have a more intimate wedding, Rauch stresses that the key factor in this decision is creating especially memorable moments with those whose love and support have nourished them along the way: “Couples are realizing that weddings are a huge investment and because of that they are wanting their guest list to be meaningful—close friends and family. It’s not necessarily about spending less although that can be a driver, it’s becoming more about that dream wedding experience and spending time with the people closest to them.”
In a similar vein, Novak notes, “There are many reasons a couple might choose to have a smaller wedding and budgeting is just one reason. They may want to limit their guests to just immediate family and close friends so that their interactions with their guests are more poignant and impactful. Smaller weddings also tend to be more fun and relaxed because a lot of people don’t enjoy being in large crowds.”
Carroll comments that smaller weddings are particularly appealing to couples who want to make sure that each guest gets to participate in the entire celebration: “The experience changes when your guest list drops to a very intimate 15 or so guests. You can mingle and have very intentional conversations with all of your most favorite people in the world throughout the entire wedding weekend. No one misses any of the celebration, because everyone is in the same place.” This creates a very different feeling than a large-scale wedding, where guests in one part of the venue may not even realize an important moment, such as a couple’s first dance, is taking place in another part of the venue!
Guests of larger weddings also sometimes find themselves wishing for more time with the bride and groom, who are doing their best to say hello to everyone. An intimate wedding eliminates this potentially stressful scenario. Novak has observed: “Smaller weddings allow you to have meaningful interactions because you can spend more time with each guest instead of trying to fit facetime in with everyone in a larger crowd.”
These meaningful interactions—even more than exciting entertainment or fantastic food—are what many couples want to remember about their wedding day. An intimate wedding offers the opportunity to create memories that last a lifetime with those the couples treasure most.
