4 Benefits of Having an Intimate Wedding | Arizona Intimate Wedding Photographer
4 Benefits of Having an Intimate Wedding | Arizona Intimate Wedding Photographer
You may have noticed that I use the term “intimate wedding” a lot, instead of just “wedding.” An intimate wedding is sort of a cross between a traditional wedding and an elopement. (Fun fact: in my opinion, all elopements are intimate weddings, but not all intimate weddings are elopements. Ya feel?)
An intimate wedding is simply a wedding with very few (or no) guests - usually less than 30.
It’s no surprise that I’m a big fan and advocate for intimate weddings. I’m not at all trying to tell you what to do for your wedding - if you want a huge bash with all your family and friends in attendance, that is absolutely what you should do, and it will be equally beautiful because it’s what YOU wanted. But if that doesn’t appeal to you, and maybe you’re torn because you do still want your squad to see you get married, here are some benefits of choosing a more intimate wedding.
(PS I do think that elopements with just the couple count as intimate weddings - but for this post I’m talking about weddings with a small amount of guests!)
Intimate Wedding Benefit #1
It can take some of the pressure off of you
Unfortunately, a lot of couples feel immense pressure planning, leading up to, and during their wedding day. Pressure to please people who want to see them do certain things, pressure from being the center of attention, pressure to basically “perform” on their wedding day. Ugh. Pressure is lame.
If you have an intimate wedding, it takes a load of that pressure off you. If you’re surrounding yourself with only your favorite people, then you won’t feel so much pressure to perform or please anyone. Here’s what one couple of mine had to say about it:
“Neither of us really likes to be the center of attention and the thought of 100+ people watching me walk down the aisle made us totally anxious… So, with both eloping and a larger wedding out of the question we settled somewhere in the middle. It turned out to be a great choice for us, less pressure on the ceremony, time to enjoy our first day married alone before the party later that night, and an awesome celebration.”
This particular couple had a reception/dinner/dance party with a lot more people the next night. Still got to celebrate with all their friends and family, but only the most near and dear got to see them tie the knot!
Intimate Wedding Benefit #2
It usually costs a lot less
I mean… need I say more? :P When you don’t have 100+ guests to entertain and feed, your wedding costs go down by quite a lot! You can spend your money where it matters most to you (clothes, photography, experience, whatever!) instead of worrying about gigantic venues and catering and a DJ and other things that often go along with a large, traditional wedding.
Getting married with just a few guests at a courthouse or out in nature and then having one long table at a restaurant after costs a looooot less than all that. :) Which is not to say any/all of that is WRONG. Not at all. But if money is a big factor for you, this is a great reason to go intimate!
Intimate Wedding Benefit #3
You can do whatever you want!
For reals. WHATEVA. YOU. WANT. For example: If you’re only having a handful of guests, it will probably be a lot easier to have them all tag along on a destination wedding. If someone wouldn’t be willing to travel to Iceland or the Grand Canyon or wherever to see you get married, they probably don’t need to be there. ;) Just sayin.
But also, having less people just means less people to please! Just do YOU, be authentic to yourselves and your relationship. You don’t need your judgy great-aunt who will scoff at your nontraditional ceremony. Smell ya later, Karen.
Here’s what another couple has to say on this point:
“…a lot of the wedding traditions didn’t really fit our personalities. We wanted our wedding to be representative of who we are and not based on traditions that we didn't relate to or felt comfortable with.”
A-frickin-men.
Intimate Wedding Benefit #4
You are surrounded by your biggest supporters
This point ties into pretty much all the other ones. The bottom line is - the people you want watching you get married are the ones who will support you no matter what.
I’ll be honest. I’ve attended a wedding or two (as a guest) where I felt like a complete impostor. Like yeah. I know and love this person, and I’m happy to be here, but did they REALLY want or need me here? I’ve never even met their future spouse. I cringe at other guests who I KNOW haven’t seen this person in years taking phone photos JUST to display on their Facebook page.
Really. I wouldn’t want those people witnessing one of the most important, intimate moments of my life. Would you?
I’d much rather have a handful of my closest family and friends by my side, with a tear in their eye (and their phone in their damn purse). The people who will be happy for me and support me no matter what I choose. That’s really what an intimate wedding is all about. :)
