The most romantic and original ideas on how to celebrate a wedding together without guests. A wedding without guests: does such a ceremony take place?

Most people associate a wedding with a rich feast, songs and dances, toasts, with obligatory guests, and everyone is invited: relatives, colleagues, friends, acquaintances of acquaintances. The traditions and customs of most peoples on the planet clearly say: there is no marriage without festivities and rituals. However, more and more often young people choose to celebrate in the “wedding without a wedding” format. They prefer to crowds of tipsy guests and tiresome organizational fuss: cozy gatherings in a cafe in the company of their closest and dearest people; an unforgettable, romantic day with your favorite entertainment; the trip of your dreams. How does a wedding without guests usually take place?

The appearance of a wedding without a celebration

A wedding without guests is nothing new. In different countries, in different years, there was a tradition of simplified marriages. In the Union, a couple could simply sign at the nearest registry office, then modestly celebrate the event together or in a narrow circle of their closest people. The reason is the low standard of living of the majority of the population and the firm belief that luxurious, expensive weddings are a relic of the capitalist past. Later, with the growth of prosperity, the fashion returned for riotous weddings in restaurants, with many invited guests, the number of which reached hundreds. They celebrated on a grand scale in the courtyards of private houses, in apartments, and in nature.

This practice also existed abroad. In France, since 1954, Catholic weddings have lost their legal force, becoming simply a beautiful rite at the request of the newlyweds. It was enough for the bride and groom to register their marriage at the local city hall, and further events depended entirely on the wishes and financial capabilities of the young people.

Official wedding ceremony

Avoiding the dull atmosphere of the Russian registry office and officially tying the knot in another country is not at all difficult, although it is associated with bureaucracy. In a number of countries, an application must be submitted a month in advance and an impressive list of documents must be provided, and in Mexico, for example, for some reason newlyweds must take a blood test!

However, in a number of countries, marriage registration authorities ask you to appear only two or three days before the wedding or even allow representatives of the company organizing your celebration to submit documents for you. Getting married is easy in Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, Turkey and Cyprus, South Africa, most states of the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Or you can go to the islands - Cuba, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic are waiting for you.

The wedding, as a rule, is performed by an employee of the prefecture, and in some countries, for example in Italy and Cyprus, only in the city hall, but in other cases you can invite a representative of the authorities to any other place.

There are, however, countries where Russians cannot get married officially. In this case, it is possible to get married at the Russian consulate - however, you will have to declare the reasons why you have no other choice but a consular marriage.

Although marriages officially entered into by citizens of the Russian Federation outside Russia have legal force in their homeland, some, of course, are stopped by the potential hassle in the event of the loss of a marriage certificate issued abroad: to restore it, a single visit to the neighboring registry office will not be enough.

List of popular countries where the official ceremony is held

• Australia
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Hungary
• Greece
• Dominican Republic
• Italy
• Spain
• Cyprus
• Costa Rica
• Cuba
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Seychelles
• Slovenia
• USA
• Fiji
• Tahiti
• Türkiye
• French polynesia
• Czech
• Montenegro
• Sri Lanka
• South Africa
• Jamaica

A magnificent celebration or a wedding for two?

When planning to found a new unit of society, the young people try to discuss all the details of the upcoming event. The date is set, the format and style of the wedding is chosen. Will it only be registration at the registry office, or will there also be a wedding in the church? Is it worth inviting guests and who exactly? What expenses can newlyweds afford? A wedding without people has its advantages and disadvantages, so when making a decision, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons.

Positive aspects of a wedding without guests

• Preparing for a traditional wedding is a long, very tedious process that requires remarkable organizational skills, travel, negotiations with various people who are not always pleasant to talk to. And if it turns out that the performers failed, then a serious nervous load is added to the long-standing physical and moral fatigue. It is not surprising that young people arrive at the finish line in a state of squeezed lemon, but they still have to “work out” all the special events with an A plus! A wedding for only two people gets rid of the lion's share of pre-wedding worries and hassles, and the newlyweds have the energy left for sincere fun, courtship and a little extravagant actions.
• A formal wedding with all the trappings is not a cheap pleasure. The banquet alone costs a considerable amount, and gifts, according to statistics, very rarely cover the costs. If young people do not want to start their lives with large loans or spend all their savings on chic disposable outfits, then a wedding without a celebration is the most profitable and ideal option for them. You can invest your finances in a honeymoon, purchase real estate, or spend it on yourself and your loved ones.
• By refusing mass celebrations, the bride and groom leave themselves the greatest possible freedom of choice. They do not need to adapt to someone else’s wishes, health conditions, or correlate their plans with the work schedule or place of residence of one of their relatives. They can go wherever they want, have a dizzying voyage or a crazy wedding while skydiving. Choose only those dishes that they like, wear loose clothes that do not restrict movement.

Disadvantages of registering without a holiday

• Many brides dream of feeling like a princess, a queen at their wedding. Walk under admiring glances in a magnificent outfit, receive compliments and wishes for a happy life from all sides, communicate and shine. Of course, this is impossible without a mass of enthusiastic guests, and such girls are unlikely to like a modest wedding.
• Relatives and acquaintances who are confronted with the fact that there will be no wedding as such may be mortally offended. Their disappointment sometimes results in a complete cessation of communication with the married couple. If there are very touchy people among your loved ones or old traditions are strong in the family, when the absence of special events is perceived as blasphemy, you should think carefully. Most likely, in such a situation, the newlyweds will not be able to correctly explain their position.
• The lack of gifts is also an important factor. If the young people do not want to invite guests, then there will be no presents. However, most often they give either money or not too expensive things for a wedding.

Each couple must make their own decision, guided by their own preferences. If the pros significantly outweigh the cons, go for it! Treat yourself to an unforgettable fireworks display of emotions or a tender romantic day with a candlelight dinner, admiring a magnificent sunset on the seashore or a boat trip.

Reasons for abandoning the standard script

More and more newlyweds prefer to celebrate their wedding in an original way without a banquet, because they come to understand that this is a personal holiday for a loving couple. If you think about it, at most celebrations everything is done for the guests :

1. A date and time that is convenient for everyone is chosen so that as many relatives and friends as possible can attend.
2. The place for painting, photo walk and banquet should also be convenient for the guests: even going out of town is problematic for many of them.
3. You have to invite a noisy toastmaster who will amuse everyone, even if the young people themselves cannot stand such entertainment.

Strictly speaking, the bride and groom are absolutely free only in choosing wedding dresses , and even then they may be afraid to deviate from the classic options.

Sad bride

At least for the reasons listed above, the newlyweds decide to go ahead with the wedding without a wedding.

There are also more prosaic reasons. For example, a bride or groom does not want to celebrate a wedding for reasons of economy. And yet, this is a less common option: usually young people, without spending money on the celebration, invest many times more money in their honeymoon. So the question of how much money is spent may be secondary to the desire to spend a memorable day the way the couple wants, without having to please the guests.

And the last reason why newlyweds hesitate to celebrate their wedding is the banal lack of time to choose a hall, a host, and so on. Of course, in this case, you can hire an organizer who, for a certain amount, will take care of all the issues, but not all newlyweds can afford this option.

How to delicately announce your decision to your relatives?

If families on both sides are distinguished by common sense and modern views, the desire of the newlyweds to get married in a modest atmosphere does not encounter any obstacles. They will be supported, given practical advice and guidance. But sometimes the opinion of parents and close relatives, who want to do everything “as it should be,” becomes a huge problem. How to convince your relatives, avoid colossal moral pressure and at the same time not spoil the relationship?

• In some cases, the bride and groom, fearing the reaction of their families, get married secretly, notifying their relatives after the fact. Not a very good option, since sooner or later the act will become the property of society, and a wave of reproaches, insults and claims will fall on the young people.
• You can approach the problem creatively: ask your elders for advice, listing point by point all the negative aspects of a big wedding. Flatly refuse to go into debt or accept major help from parents, emphasizing the desire to start an independent life. Draw their attention to the fact that the costs of a modern wedding rarely pay off, since most Russians can only dream of gifts in the form of luxurious mansions, tropical islands and thousands of dollars in envelopes.
• It would be a good idea to ask your dear relatives for an original wedding gift: to allow you to spend this day the way the newlyweds want, according to their own choice. Few people can refuse. And so that parents do not feel deprived, it is worth inviting them to register, and then sending them to a good restaurant, where the feast will already be paid for.

Also, a good way out of the situation would be gatherings in a cafe for friends and close relatives, arranged a few days before registration or a little later, as is convenient for the young people. Such a feast is much simpler than a wedding banquet, cheaper, and more relaxed. And the wishes for a happy life are no less sincere. It should also be specifically clarified that no gifts are needed so as not to put the invitees in an awkward position.

Advantages of marriage without a feast

As already mentioned, there are two main advantages of a wedding without a banquet: significant savings in the family budget and the desire to organize a holiday for two, without taking into account the needs of many guests.

Reluctance to spend money or lack of it

Of course, prices for a festive feast vary both throughout Russia and within specific cities, depending on the chosen establishment. Even without spending on alcoholic drinks, the costs are decent.

For each guest you will have to spend from 1.5 to 5 thousand rubles, depending on the location of the celebration. At the same time, the average amount of a gift from invitees is 3 thousand rubles

Obviously, only a very modest wedding in an inexpensive cafe can pay off , and the pleasure from such an event is doubtful. As well as the decision to organize a feast not in the city, but in the nearest village, for the sake of economy.

The bride is worried about expenses

It is worth noting that newlyweds may not have any funds at all, even for a modest wedding, and fewer and fewer couples today decide to start their family life with a loan. Or the amount for the celebration may be limited, and you have to make a choice: either a festive feast or a honeymoon trip for two.

Reluctance to organize an event for guests, and not for yourself

Considering how much is done to please the guests, the bride and groom may become tired even at the stage of preparation for the celebration . But this should be one of the happiest days in life! Understanding this, young people can only spend money on what will bring them pleasure: outfits, a photographer, a honeymoon.

Registration at the registry office without a wedding

The simple procedure for registering a marriage is noticeably different from the solemn one. In the second case, the ceremony may be delayed for a month or more due to the heavy workload of the registry office staff. In addition, such weddings with obligatory music, guests and good wishes are held only on certain days of the week.

You can sign in the office on any weekday by paying the minimum state fee. There is no need to stand in line and wear special outfits, just a beautiful dress and suit, or even casual clothes. The wedding itself takes just a few minutes. You can invite your own photographer or agree to the services of a person who usually takes pictures of celebrations at the registry office.

Signing the documents and no fuss

Especially for such couples who do not need a formal part, painting is allowed at any time during the week. What is very important is that they do not have to wait for their turn for several months.

All actions are performed purely in an official setting. No witnesses, no musical accompaniment. The newlyweds came to the registry office, signed the documents, received stamped passports and that’s it, now they are husband and wife.

No one shouts “Bitter” or sprinkles rice or confetti. Everything happens quietly, modestly and in a matter of minutes.

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Bridal outfits

There are no rules regulating the dress code for a wedding without guests. It is difficult to surprise employees of the registry office and other institutions that the newly-minted spouses plan to visit. Therefore, clothes can be anything.

For the groom

• Classic suit.
• Jeans and a shirt, or straight trousers with a pullover or sweater.
• In the summer, you may prefer light linen trousers and a T-shirt.

For the bride

• Long white dress with a simple silhouette, mini dress.
• Cocktail dress, evening dress.
• A skirt with a blouse or a classic two-piece with a jacket or vest.
• Pantsuit or versatile jeans with a blouse or T-shirt.
• Sundress from any fabric, favorite dress.

The main rule in choosing clothes for lovers is that they should be in the same style and not shock others too much. Beach shorts or a radically revealing outfit are not a good idea for a formal event. It would also look ridiculous to see a girl in a T-shirt and jeans next to a young man in a classic suit, or a guy in informal attire next to a dressed-up beauty in an evening dress. If you are planning a photo shoot, themed costumes are appropriate, which will add an interesting twist to the ceremony - prince and princess, pirates, elves, dudes, etc.

Celebrating a wedding without guests

The absence of guests at the wedding does not mean that the newlyweds themselves should be sad and locked within four walls. There are many wonderful ideas, because young spouses are absolutely free in their choice!

• A romantic getaway for several days or even weeks. You can go to a resort, on a tour of Russia, Europe or America. Buy tickets on an ocean liner or rent a room in a forest or mountain boarding house.
• Favorite hobbies. Depending on the wishes of the newlyweds, you can take a ride on river transport or rent a stroller drawn by white trotters. Arrange a city tour, stopping at your favorite bars and relaxing in the park. Go to the shore of a lake, sea, river, with a tent, guitar and barbecue. Relax your soul by putting together an excellent cultural program with trips to museums, theaters, and cinema.
• For lovers of extreme tourism, now is the time to go on a wedding bike ride, have an ATV race, or go to the mountains. It would be interesting to go rafting on rivers, go on a multi-day hike on horseback, or visit places that are iconic for all tourists.
• If outdoor recreation doesn’t appeal to you, you can rent a table in a good restaurant, including one with a national menu. Dine on board the ship or on the terrace of a high-rise building, arrange a romantic candlelit dinner with an individual music program for only two. To do this, they usually hire a good performer, singer or song and dance group.

Sometimes young people still want to organize a small celebration for their closest friends and relatives, but there is no desire to spend money on a restaurant banquet hall. In this case, a trip to nature is perfect, with an appropriate menu and disposable tableware, competitions and dancing to music. In the same format, you can celebrate a wedding in your apartment or in the courtyard of a private house, without unnecessary expenses. The menu should be thought out so that there are no large surpluses and too exotic dishes.

Buffet instead of a banquet

If you have an idea to hold a wedding without a banquet, you can arrange it with a buffet. This is a small post-wedding event that is appropriate to organize even if only the registry office is supposed to be the main wedding ceremony.

Here are a few basic steps that will tell you how to hold a wedding without a traditional banquet, but brightly and tastefully:

• invite a small jazz orchestra or just musicians who will accompany the entire event. As a last resort, you can limit yourself to a good stereo system with powerful speakers;
• The program of such a celebration necessarily includes a photo session of the newlyweds, dancing to live music;
• gifts to the newlyweds from the guests.

Such a buffet in itself can be interesting are sufficiently varied, prepared at the highest level and decorated in an original way.

There are many menu options - it all depends on the skill and imagination of the chefs and the budget spent for these purposes.

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However, a buffet table presupposes a certain set of dishes that must be present on the table and will become its basis at any celebration in this format:

• cold appetizers, especially canapés - this is the most common type of appetizer, which can consist of anything: from meat and fish to simple vegetables;
• fruits, cut into pieces;
• seafood decorated with herbs;
• various salads;
• cakes, pastries, sweets.

A buffet table does not imply abundant dishes, long gatherings, or intricate competitions and fits perfectly into a wedding, where the main celebration is only registration. Everything should be relaxed, tasty and elegant, and most importantly, comfortable.

It is important to position the tables correctly so that they do not stand against the wall, but in the middle of the room. In this case, it will be easy for guests to approach them from any direction, and there will be no crowds in which guests will interfere with each other’s elbows or have to wait until they can come up for the next dish.

In summer, it is best to organize this kind of event directly in the open air, placing tables on the street. Don't forget about the pleasant musical accompaniment. To do this, it is not even necessary to invite a live orchestra, but simply connect powerful speakers to the equipment. An excellent place for such a celebration is a country house.

Wedding photo shoot

The memory of the most exciting event in the lives of the newlyweds should remain for them and their children and friends, regardless of the presence or absence of guests at the wedding. You can, of course, shoot on your own, fortunately, any photo and video equipment is available today; there are cameras on cell phones and any laptop. But it is better to entrust the photo shoot to a professional. You can hire a person for the whole day or several hours, choosing a suitable background for gorgeous photos. Photos taken outdoors, on board a river yacht, in a gilded horse-drawn carriage or in an antique convertible are impressive. If everyday clothes are confusing, you can rent magnificent costumes in any theme you like, including vintage and fantasy, for the duration of the photo shoot. Collected in the family photo and video archive, such stories evoke a lot of positive emotions and awaken memories of the feelings that the newlyweds experienced on their wedding day.

A wedding without a wedding is an excellent solution for those who are tired of the everyday hustle and bustle, imposed communication, and want to devote this significant day entirely to the most dear, beloved person in the world. This is a holiday exclusively for two loving hearts, without regard to the opinions and desires of the guests. It must be carried out in such a way that the memory of this day remains for many years. Make your cherished dreams come true by capturing happy, loving faces in photos and videos.

Honeymoon

This is the best way to avoid the traditional wedding celebration. Airplane or train tickets will force all relatives to agree with the need to celebrate the wedding without guests, because everyone will not fly away with you.

How to organize a trip? You should take into account the recommendations given regarding registering a marriage in a foreign city or country. The main thing is that tickets are purchased for a flight departing a few hours after official registration, then you can go straight from the registry office to the airport.

Think about what you will do on each day of your trip, outline the routes and places you want to visit. Plan romantic events. And don’t forget to take videos and photos of everything interesting, which your family and friends will then enjoy watching.

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