As the weather continues to get hotter, your big day may be coming up soon. As memorable and wonderful weddings are, there is a lot to plan and prepare for. As much as there is love in the air, there sure can be a great deal of tension as well. But there is no need to fret, because we are here to help.
There are many benefits to small weddings. Your guests are among your closest friends and family and there is far more time to spend with everyone. Instead of worrying about accommodating more guests, you can focus more on smaller details that would be overlooked in a bigger event.
While these pros to a small wedding alleviate some of the stress, that does not mean that there is time to slack off. Planning and preparation are integral to the success of your big day and it is important that you make sure you cross your t’s and dot your i’s.
Through the chaos, there will always be something that gets forgotten. That is why we are here to go over the ultimate checklist to make sure your small wedding is everything you have ever dreamed of.
Don’t Make a Fist, Check the List
Preparing your wedding can at times feel challenging, but it gets much easier with proper planning and execution.
Whether you thought you did it months ago, or completely forgot about it. Whether it is a big detail or small one. Whether your partner said they did or didn’t do it, a checklist is a very handy tool in getting ready for your wedding.
Make a Budget
If you have not already, this should be your first step. Figuring out how much money you can or can not spend is absolutely crucial. The worst feeling someone can have is overcommitting financially and being forced to sacrifice a feature that could have been beautiful.
We all want our big day to be everything that we dreamed of and the numbers prove this. Around 56% of weddings go over budget and even a small service’s price can escalate quickly.
A great deal of people can forget about the smaller necessities and costs that go into a wedding. Of course there is the venue, the caters, a band or DJ, but many expenses get overlooked:
- Tips
- Marriage license
- Transportation
- Dress storage and preservation
- Overtime
Budgets can be scary and get on your nerves, but developing a strong financial estimate will take some of the edge off.
Pick a Date
Although obvious, picking a date can be easier said than done. The date can be often dictated by your venue’s availability, and an outside wedding in November can be on the chillier side and not to the best interests of your guests.
One of the reasons why small weddings are so great is because you know everyone there. You don’t have to be introduced to your third cousin twice removed or your partner’s Mom’s friend’s college roommate and there are more quality moments with whom you are closest to.
That begs the question: don’t you want them there to witness your big day? As much as it is your wedding, it would not be the same without some specific guests and they have their own lives, too. Therefore, it is important to make sure the event does not interfere with any major conflicts.
The Venue
Finding a venue that aligns with your small wedding date does not have to be a drag if you communicate and plan in advance.
Smaller weddings open up more opportunities for your dream venue, as different locations will have different maximum capacities. If you found a small church or beach or whatever, it could be awkward if one of those closest family members or friends gets left out.
You also want to communicate with your fiancé on what you are both looking for. Some important questions to consider when choosing a venue are:
- Destination or local?
- Outside or indoors?
- Are potential weather conditions a deal breaker?
- What is the lighting like?
- Will the venue be accessible to all guests?
- Does it fit into our budget?
By discussing these questions and preferences with your partner, your expectations will be aligned. The venue will set the tone of your wedding so it is worth your time to plan accordingly.
When everyone is on the same page, it does not matter if you are planning a wedding or a middle school science project, everything will flow more smoothly.
Guest List
Some of the most important, and hardest, decisions when planning a small wedding is the guest list. As close as you used to be to your high school or college friends or distant relatives, your partner has just as many. If you want your wedding to be intimate, then some people are destined to not make the cut.
This is not to discourage you from having a small wedding, but even in a larger service, there will be people who will not receive an invitation. Another thing to consider is that for every person on the fringe that you have, your partner could have just as many and if not more.
You also need to think about plus ones. Perhaps you could be close friends with Taylor Swift but you also hate the Chiefs and can’t have Travis Kelce at your wedding. On the other hand, maybe your cousin is Jay Z and your fiancé has always dreamt of meeting Beyoncé.
Plus ones can cut your guest list in half at a wedding that is already intended to be small, but can also be deal breakers for whether or not some guests attend. That is why your invitations need to be on your small wedding checklist.
Band or DJ?
A highly debated topic in wedding planning discourse is deciding between hiring a wedding band or a DJ. Both sides have their pros and cons, but a great deal of the time this choice comes down to a pure preference or budgeting.
Why a DJ is the Right Choice
Listen to all of your favorite songs and genres with a professional DJ or receive exhilarating live entertainment with a local wedding band.
Considering the budget, the cost of bands can range from four to ten times more expensive than a professional DJ. You want your first dance to be perfect too and for that to be the case, the song must be perfect. If your song is already chosen and you want it played just like Taylor Swift sings it, then a DJ is the right choice.
Bands can also have a limited selection of songs or genres to play from, whereas you can jump from Sam Cooke and “Bring it on Home to Me” to PSY and “Gangnam Style” with a DJ.
Why You Should Pick a Band
Despite the cost, there is something special about listening to live music. Live bands can create unforgettable memories through their audience engagement, high volumes, and a stage presence that no DJ can ever replicate.
There is an additional charm with bands when hiring within the community as it adds a hint of local culture and flavor to your wedding. Bands also offer an aspect of visual entertainment. While DJs can dance their hands behind a turntable and laptop, live bands will move all around the stage creating a more immersive experience.
Caters
The food and beverages at a wedding can make or break your big day. When setting up a small wedding, there is a lot more leeway because your attendance will be smaller.
Some things to remember before you pick your vendor are:
- Style
- Tastings
- Availability
- Venue
- Price
- Trendiness
- Bar?
Your menu can be very dependent on the style and location of the wedding as a whole, as it will be preferred that everything fits together. The style may not be as important, however, as the tastings. An absolute must when preparing for your small wedding are scheduling tastings with your top three options because you, of course, want to enjoy the food that will be served.
Similar to venues, the availability of a potential vendor must be considered and align with your save the date. Some venues will only allow catering through themselves, and consequently, this may change your decision on a venue.
When planning your wedding, you must consider beverages as well. Do you and your partner want a dry or a wet wedding? An open or a closed bar?
Make a list and check it twice
At the end of the day, the true ultimate key to planning a successful small wedding is communication with your partner. It is crucial that you both can agree and collaborate together so that your wedding day comes with as little disruption and chaos as possible. As long as you have and go over your small wedding checklist, everything will turn out beautifully.
