A small, intimate wedding may be just right!
By Emily Pilk, Hotel Weyanoke
Small, intimate weddings have gained footing in the past year. Having a wedding during a pandemic has brought new challenges to the table.
Once the decision is made to embrace a small wedding, you will find three items on your checklist requiring adjustment – guest list, venue and budget.
Guest List – This conversation needs to happen early in the planning process. Creating a guest list may be easier than you think. Start with immediate family and close friends. Your invitation list will come together quickly. Also, remember it is essential to adhere to the guest limit restrictions.
Venue – A small wedding offers an opportunity to visit various sites. During your research, consider your favorite hotel. Hotels offer your guests a gathering place for the entire celebration from rehearsal dinner to send-off. A restaurant may be perfect for the foodie couple! Perhaps a ceremony and reception in the restaurant where you had your first date may be the memory you want to share with your guests. A smaller event space will bring intimacy to the ceremony for those family and friends who are delighted to be celebrating this special day with you.
Budget – A small, intimate wedding often translates to lower costs. Fewer guests should reduce your per person cost for food and beverage, as should a smaller event space. Beginning with a pre-set wedding package from the venue is a good building block offering financial structure and a way to save money.
Even with this new pandemic lifestyle, everything you want on your special day can stay the same – the dress, the style, the décor, the dances, the getaway. Remember that your wedding day is just the first step in a lifetime of memories. Maybe a small, intimate wedding is the perfect fit!
Emily Pilk is a wedding planner and event coordinator at Hotel Weyanoke, located in Farmville, VA (between Richmond and Charlottesville). Reach out to Emily at (434) 658-1005 or visit www.hotelweyanoke.com to schedule your wedding consultation.