Today, newlyweds often prefer to hold intimate weddings for 15-20 people rather than lavish celebrations with a large number of relatives, friends and acquaintances. Ideas for holding a wedding with a small group are so diverse that they are sure to leave a mark on the soul of every guest.
Some people want to go abroad as soon as possible and spend their honeymoon there, some want to share their joy only with their closest people, while others cannot afford to celebrate their wedding widely due to budget constraints.
Preparation
Newlyweds who choose the format of a chamber (budget) wedding appreciate, first of all, its comfort and warmth, because on this day only relatives will be next to them. And the small wedding itself has other advantages:
- Budget savings. A modest ceremony allows you to save money, which can later be spent on your first family vacation or on furnishing your apartment.
- Feeling of comfort and calm. Unlike a large wedding, when organizing which the newlyweds face a number of difficulties, preparing a small wedding involves a minimum of hassle. In addition, knowing that their closest relatives will be present at the ceremony, the bride and groom are less nervous on the eve of the celebration and do not worry that they may find themselves in an awkward position in front of dozens or hundreds of acquaintances if any unforeseen difficulties arise.
- Warm atmosphere. Only the closest people will be around. This means that each guest can personally congratulate the couple on their wedding and say kind words. In addition, in such a company, the invitees themselves will feel comfortable, relaxed and will willingly take part in the proposed entertainment.
- Choosing a place for the celebration. Ideas for a small wedding for 10 people involve holding the celebration in a cafe or restaurant. It will be easier for young people to find a suitable establishment and they will not have to save on food.
- An original holiday. What a small wedding will be like depends on the preferences of the newlyweds, because there are a lot of ideas for holding it! Entertainment for guests can also be original or even extreme.
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Ideas for a small wedding, of course, allow you to reduce costs, but this does not mean that you need to save on wedding attire, a banquet, the services of a makeup stylist, or give up a photo shoot. Despite the fact that only relatives and best friends will come, it is necessary to spend the holiday at a decent level.
If the young people have chosen a restaurant, then you should not choose a banquet hall that is too large - it will look somewhat ridiculous, because there will be few guests. It’s better to gather with your loved ones in a cozy and bright cafe. Another great option for a chamber ceremony is a country house or apartment. If the budget does not allow you to celebrate the holiday in a cafe or restaurant, then the banquet can be held in your own home. In this case, you can beautifully decorate the room and hold a themed party. And if the weather permits, you can hold a wedding outside the city in nature, having prepared a site for this in advance.
We should not forget that this day never ceases to be solemn, despite the small number of guests. Moments of an important event must be captured on film in order to preserve it as a memory: the morning of the bride and groom, getting ready for the registry office, marriage, first dance, walk, banquet. You can arrange a themed photo session by preparing the necessary attributes in advance, or go to the park to get some good shots.
Wedding evening options
The wedding after the painting is completed can be held in the following places:
- A restaurant or cafe is a classic place where you can calmly celebrate a long-awaited event without bothering with serving dishes or paying attention to the table. Many restaurants have dance floors that will allow you to delimit the space and conveniently hold interesting competitions and relay races.
- An interesting option is open areas with buffet tables . This choice is especially relevant in summer, late spring, early warm autumn. As a rule, they are located in picturesque places outside the city. Beautiful videos and photos are provided in this version. The disadvantages include the presence of insects and changeable weather. However, they will not be able to prevent you from celebrating this day with bright positive impressions, because a wedding in nature is truly original.
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- Home holiday with family. The house of the groom's parents continues to be one of the top places where you can easily and conveniently celebrate a wedding. Such an evening is suitable for a low-budget wedding and can not only save some money, but also become no less interesting. The main thing is to approach the script wisely and move according to the planned scheme.
- Romantic wedding for two while traveling.
- A modern version of a wedding via Skype. An ideal option for uniting friends living in different cities and saving on a feast.
How to celebrate
Ideas for a small wedding are related to the seasons: summer, autumn, winter and spring. A spring wedding has its advantages: low prices for wedding dresses, many free dates in registry offices, discounts on rental premises. In the summer, there are many more ideas for organizing a small celebration: you can choose, for example, an outdoor ceremony and it will be more pleasant to go on a honeymoon at this time.
A good option for a spring or summer intimate wedding is a boat trip and a “sea” celebration with the appropriate paraphernalia. A small wedding in the fall is somewhat limiting, just like a winter celebration. But you can always find an interesting way out. Ideas for a small wedding in the summer are more varied and budget-friendly.
The first thing you should think about when preparing for a wedding is invitations. Of course, when there are few guests, you can call them all and invite them simply by phone, but it will be much more pleasant if each friend and relative receives an individual invitation to the ceremony. Cards should be decorated in accordance with the style of the wedding, and you can also give a small gift along with them.
The basic wedding program after painting includes the following points:
- Meeting the newlyweds on the doorstep of the house. A mandatory attribute is eating bread and salt, and sprinkling wheat grains on the young spouses. These elements symbolize a thorny life with joys and sorrows, as well as wishes for prosperity and healthy children in the future. According to Orthodox tradition, before entering a house, the icons of the Mother of God and Christ Pantocrator are also kissed;
- Table activities. After the meeting, everyone heads to the table. The right of the first toast belongs to the bride's parents, because they hand their daughter into the hands of the groom and on this day, as it were, say goodbye to her. Next, the groom's parents speak, not only wishing the young people well and happiness, but also promising to keep their daughter-in-law as their own. Afterwards, toasts are distributed according to family significance, brothers, grandparents, etc.;
- Competitions and dances. The time for active action comes during the break after serving the main course and dessert. It is important to take into account the state of the audience, its capabilities, and mood. The first dance is given to young people, it can be a waltz, tango or free composition, at their choice. It is also better to dilute competitions with musical inserts, songs, and verbal quizzes. This makes it possible to dilute the action and change the contestants.
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- A wedding cake. The final stage of the evening is the serving of the cake, undoubtedly the most beautiful in the lives of the young people. Its cutting can be played out in an interesting way, and the first piece, for example, can be sold at auction. After this, the young people also perform a dance that completes the whole action.
Leading
Ideas for a small wedding for 20 people do not exclude an entertainment program, because guests should not get bored. Yaranov Artyom
Small wedding - how to hold it in order to successfully implement the ideas of the newlyweds? First of all, you need to choose the format of the celebration: perhaps it will be a theme party, an off-site registration or a wedding on the seashore. The bride and groom will not go wrong if they decide to hold the ceremony in the open air and organize a family dinner under the shade of trees.
But the classic version with painting in the registry office and celebration in a restaurant is also excellent. However, regardless of the venue, you must try to make sure that the atmosphere is joyful, cozy, romantic and does not create the feeling that this is an ordinary family dinner and not a wedding. Every guest should feel comfortable and not bored.
If the celebration will take place in a restaurant, then you can choose an establishment with a homely atmosphere, where instead of the usual strict chairs there are soft sofas. Guests will not sit at separate tables, but at one large one. This will allow you to sit comfortably and feel at ease throughout the evening.
But it is important to consider that even a small company will need a platform for dances and competitions, as well as photo zones , congratulation zones, where those present can leave their messages and parting words to the newly-made spouses in a special book.
If the newlyweds are not fans of the classics, they can choose unusual places for the ceremony and gala dinner, for example, a forest clearing, a river bank or the sea. The main thing is to prepare in advance: set up a table, chairs, armchairs, get pillows and blankets, take care of canopies.
For a winter wedding, the best venue for the celebration is a country house with a fireplace. A real winter fairy tale and magic: guests can be treated to delicious mulled wine and a home-cooked dinner. Each of those present will definitely take with them a piece of warm memories associated with gatherings by the fireplace, an extraordinary photo shoot in the winter forest.
As for the menu for a small wedding held in a restaurant, the list of dishes must be discussed in advance with the chef. If the feast is organized outdoors, then it makes sense to use a catering service. Of course, the menu is also discussed with the company in advance, and it should be thought out taking into account the chosen style. Thus, a Russian wedding would not be complete without caviar on the table, dumplings, mushrooms and cucumbers. A “sea” wedding will be reflected in fish dishes, seafood delicacies, etc.
The variety and size of dishes depends on the number of guests. It is much easier to organize a feast for a narrow family circle, because, knowing the taste preferences of your loved ones, you can accurately choose appetizers, main courses, and drinks that your guests will definitely like.
What to focus on when organizing a celebration?
The wedding ceremony is the most important event for lovers, requiring a responsible approach. This is the only way the event will be held at the highest level.
When planning an evening wedding ceremony, there are several nuances to consider:
- Timing. There are two options: during sunset and after. The moment of sunset captivates with its natural beauty, and the time after sunset attracts with many lights from garlands and candles.
- Season. It is much more difficult to hold an evening ceremony in winter than in summer, spring or autumn. Sunset comes quickly. Therefore, all actions must be planned exactly to the minute.
- In the evening it is cooler than during the day. It’s better to think through this moment and prepare blankets for both yourself and your wedding guests.
- During the warm season, take care of protection from mosquitoes and midges.
- It is more convenient to locate the registration place near the location of the further celebration. At night, it is more difficult for guests to move from place to place.
- Make a plan for the event from the beginning to the end of the ceremony.
- Think in advance about ways to illuminate the area for your wedding celebration.
- Discuss all ideas with the photographer and video operator in advance. Shooting in the evening is a difficult job that should only be trusted to an experienced professional.
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An evening wedding primarily means organizing a festive event in nature. A romantic gazebo, the foot of the mountains, the edge of a forest or the seashore - lovers choose according to their wishes.
Images of the bride, groom and guests
Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day, even if her closest relatives will be present. When choosing the format of an intimate celebration, which, one way or another, helps save a significant part of the budget, some brides prefer not to look at the price of the dress and choose the option they like.
Others believe that for a modest celebration, the dress should not be too pretentious and choose an outfit at an affordable price. Short dresses are well suited for a small wedding, including colored ones, which will highlight the natural beauty and add brightness to the image. In addition, such a dress can subsequently be worn to various events.
In addition, the bride can choose a lush princess dress that suits almost any body type, an Empire style dress, a straight cut model or a Mermaid dress. You will definitely need to take care of accessories: veil, tiara, jewelry, shoes, as well as makeup and hairstyle.
The wedding bouquet deserves special attention. The choice of colors and shades should be approached carefully: they should fit perfectly with the dress and the color scheme of the groom’s boutonniere. Recently, flower arrangements made from many buds of small roses have become popular, which do not fade for a long time and retain freshness and beauty.
The groom can wear either a traditional suit or a modern fashionable outfit. The most important thing is that the images of the bride and groom are harmoniously combined with each other. For a small wedding in a relaxed atmosphere, a convenient option is suitable. Guests can also choose the outfits they like, but it will be great if the bridesmaids choose dresses of the same color scheme.
Important! The wedding stylist will competently select a suitable wedding suit for the groom, taking into account his body type, color type of appearance and wedding style.
Night club format
Any chosen place can be decorated in a nightclub style without much effort. White, black and silver colors, flashing garlands of different sizes and colors are required. It is important not to overdo it so as not to spoil the pleasant atmosphere.
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Entertainment for 10-20 people
A small wedding means that special attention will be paid to every detail. So, in the morning you can arrange a photo session on the topic of getting ready for the bride and groom, then go for a walk and to the registry office, and then have dinner at a restaurant or country house.
Various board games and creative competitions with memorable gifts are suitable for entertainment. For young people, an excellent option would be a quest with a variety of tasks and an unexpected ending. If there are an even number of guests invited to the wedding, they can split into two teams and battle it out for the grand prize!
Ceremony at dusk
If you schedule the ceremony in the early evening, then the gathering of guests will fall just on the “golden hour” - the time before sunset, which is considered the best time for photographs. Diffused soft light gives photos a beautiful golden glow and visually smoothes the skin - ideal for bride and groom photo shoots and guest photos.
The ceremony can be held at dusk: it will not yet be completely dark, but at the same time you can already turn on aesthetic garlands of lanterns and light candles. Their warm light will immediately create a romantic and mysterious atmosphere, emphasizing the deep meaning of the mystery taking place.
Photographer: Andrey Baida
Recommendations for young people
It is important to remember that organizing a small celebration is a serious task: you need to find a venue, prepare a program and ideas for a photo shoot. To create a memorable, romantic wedding, it is important to take a few expert tips:
- The end of the holiday should be original and memorable: fireworks, the launch of balloons or Chinese lanterns.
- Take care of background and dance music by making a playlist of your favorite songs, or invite a professional DJ.
- Be sure to have a joint photo session with your guests.
