Wedding planning – there are very few other times in your life that you will spend weeks obsessing over flowers, seating charts, food and colour schemes. But weddings don’t need to be stressful and they certainly don’t need to be expensive. Small and intimate weddings have been growing in popularity in the last few years, and there is good reason.
Many couples getting married today prefer to spend their money on a honeymoon, and small weddings can certainly save some money – less people of the guest list means less money spent. But small weddings also mean that you can splurge on things that matter to you – a better venue, better accommodation, higher quality wines and so on. They also mean a larger choice of unique wedding venues, like Perth’s The Bell Tower, and less issues with parking or transporting guests from wedding location to reception.
So, what are some of the trends appearing that are suitable for small and intimate weddings?
Sustainable Weddings
Eco weddings are on the rise with couples looking at ways they can save the environment or reduce their carbon footprint while still getting the wedding of their dreams. Some couples look at utilising a heirloom wedding ring, having the stone reset in their own style, while other couples look at using eco-friendly decorations. There are also sustainable wedding vendors who can source locally grown and produced food, reducing food miles.
Colour Trends
A pop of colour is taking over in 2020, and it isn’t restricted to large weddings. This year, we are expecting that couples will be looking for a way to add a splash of bright colour to their weddings either through their outfits or decorations.
Grazing Platters
Sit down meals are a thing for big weddings! Small weddings are the perfect opportunity for grazing platters, particularly if you are having your reception at a small venue. These platters afford you the opportunity to move between your guests, you don’t need to wait for meals, and they can easily be customised to suit the dietary needs of yourself and your guests. Grazing platters lend themselves to charcuterie boards, cheese boards, dessert displays, savoury options, fruit and more.
The After Party
There is still the tradition to keep on celebrating well into the early hours of the morning following your wedding, but this doesn’t always work with the venue for your reception. A big trend that is emerging is taking the wedding celebrations off to another venue.
No Wedding Parties
Very non-traditional but becoming very popular – not having a wedding party is becoming quite common, particularly with smaller weddings. This allows you to customise your wedding ceremony to exactly how you want it. Couples are honouring family members by having them sign as witnesses, while those friends who would have normally been in the wedding party, are instead honoured through a small gift or as part of the wedding speech.
Planning a wedding in 2020 and already stressed out with guest lists and venue selection? Set the trend and consider a small wedding.
By Gerry Lyng, Managing Director of The Bell Tower.
