Junior Rasmussen
Planning a small, intimate wedding reception can be a great way to celebrate your special day with your nearest and dearest without the stress of managing a large event. Small weddings are perfect for those who want to focus on creating a warm and inviting atmosphere and fostering meaningful connections with their guests. With a smaller guest list, you can get creative with unique touches like innovative lighting ideas, luxurious picnic spreads, and intimate seating arrangements that bring everyone together.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Guest list | Keep it small, with only your nearest and dearest, and no obligations to invite extended family or coworkers |
| Plus-ones | Discuss with your partner beforehand, and establish guidelines to keep the guest list small |
| Venue | Choose a venue that suits the small size of the wedding, and consider an outdoor reception |
| Decorations | Use innovative lighting ideas, such as a canopy of string lights, to enhance the atmosphere |
| Table arrangement | Opt for a single long reception table to make the event feel more intimate and encourage conversation |
| Centrepieces | Instead of towering centrepieces, consider suspending a hanging installation from the ceiling |
| Food | Go for a picnic theme, with a traditional blanket and cushions, or hire a company that specialises in luxurious picnic spreads |
What You'll Learn
Lighting ideas
Small, intimate weddings are the perfect opportunity to get creative with lighting.
A canopy of string lights above a banquet table at your outdoor reception will cast a warm, inviting glow over your evening and provide a beautiful backdrop for photos. You could also consider hiring a planning company that specialises in setting up luxurious picnic spreads with romantic candles and dazzling place settings.
When it comes to the table, instead of tall centrepieces that can obstruct your guests' views, consider suspending a hanging installation from the ceiling. This will create a unique and memorable focal point for your reception and ensure that your guests can see and connect with each other easily.
To create an intimate atmosphere, it is also recommended that you seat your guests at a long reception table. This will make your event feel more welcoming and comfortable, whereas sitting at round tables spread throughout the room will create distance that doesn't work for a small-sized wedding.
Finally, think about how your lighting will fit into the larger space. Envision how the decoration will look with plants, fabrics, and candles. For example, you could use instrumental music and an abundance of classic picnic food to create a relaxed atmosphere, with lighting that complements this theme.
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Picnic theme
Planning a small, intimate wedding reception can be a great way to ensure your wedding is a memorable occasion. A picnic theme is a fun and unique way to celebrate your special day with your nearest and dearest.
To create a picnic-themed wedding reception, consider hiring a company that specialises in setting up luxurious picnic spreads. This can include elaborate floral arrangements, romantic candles, and beautiful place settings. You can also go the traditional route with a large blanket and cushions. To enhance the atmosphere, incorporate some innovative lighting ideas, such as string lights floating above a banquet table. This will create a warm and inviting ambiance and provide great photo opportunities.
When it comes to food, a picnic wedding reception offers an abundance of classic picnic snacks. Think about what foods will work best for a picnic setting and be sure to provide a variety of options to cater to different dietary needs and preferences. You could even set up a self-serve picnic buffet, allowing guests to help themselves to a range of delicious treats.
To make your event feel more intimate, consider having your guests sit at a long reception table. This will encourage conversation and create a cosy atmosphere. Instead of round tables spread throughout the room, which can create distance, opt for a single table to bring everyone together. You could also leave room on the table for conversation by avoiding tall centrepieces that may obstruct your guests' views.
Finally, don't forget the music! Instrumental music wafting around your picnic reception will create a relaxed and joyful atmosphere for you and your guests to enjoy.
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Guest list
Planning a small, intimate wedding reception means you can focus on creating a special day for you and your nearest and dearest. You won't have the 'obligations' of inviting extended family, co-workers or friends you've lost touch with, so you can keep your guest list small and focused on the people you really want to be there.
If you have room in your wedding budget, you could allow your guests to bring a plus-one. However, this can quickly increase your headcount, so it's important to discuss this with your partner and establish guidelines before sending out invitations. Typically, plus-ones are reserved for significant partners (meaning the couple is engaged or married).
To make your event feel more intimate, consider having your friends and family sit at one long reception table. This will help your guests feel more welcome and comfortable, and create a sense of connection.
With a smaller guest list, you'll also have more opportunities for your guests to chat and connect, so it's a good idea to leave room on the table for conversation. Instead of tall centrepieces, consider suspending a hanging installation from the ceiling to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
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Table layout
When it comes to the table layout for a small, intimate wedding reception, it's best to opt for a single long table rather than round tables spread throughout the room. This will make your event feel more intimate and your guests feel more welcome and comfortable.
If you're having an outdoor reception, consider a canopy of string lights floating above the table to create a warm, inviting glow and provide photo opportunities. To enhance the atmosphere, you can also incorporate innovative lighting ideas, such as suspending a hanging installation from the ceiling instead of using traditional centrepieces. This will leave more room on the table for conversation and ensure that your guests have an unobstructed view of each other and the rest of the space.
For a truly unique and memorable reception, you could even opt for a luxurious picnic, complete with instrumental music, cushions, and an elaborate floral arrangement.
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Decorations
When it comes to decorations, there are many ways to make your small, intimate wedding reception feel special.
If you're having an outdoor reception, a canopy of string lights above the table will create a warm, inviting glow and provide great photo opportunities. You can also incorporate plants, fabrics, and candles to enhance the atmosphere. If you're having an indoor reception, consider a luxurious picnic with elaborate floral arrangements, romantic candles, and beautiful place settings.
To make your event feel more intimate, opt for a long reception table instead of round tables spread throughout the room. This will bring your guests closer together and create a cozier atmosphere. You can also leave room on the table for conversation by choosing hanging installations or low-lying centrepieces that won't obstruct your guests' views.
Instrumental music and classic picnic food will also add to the relaxed and intimate vibe of your reception.
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Frequently asked questions
Small, intimate weddings are perfect for people who want to focus on their nearest and dearest without the 'obligations' of having to invite extended family, coworkers or friends you've lost touch with. If you have room in your wedding budget, you can allow your guests to have a plus-one, but keep in mind that your headcount can grow quickly.
Small weddings provide more opportunities for guests to chat and connect, so you'll probably want to leave room on the table for conversation. You can also incorporate innovative lighting ideas that will enhance the atmosphere, such as a canopy of string lights floating above a banquet table.
Small weddings are less about what the food was like, but if you want to make your reception extremely memorable, consider a picnic. Go the traditional route with a large blanket and cushions, or hire a planning company that specialises in setting up luxurious picnic spreads with elaborate floral arrangements, romantic candles, and dazzling place settings.
Having your friends and family sit at a long reception table will make your event feel more intimate and your guests feel more welcome and comfortable. Sitting at round tables spread throughout the room will create distance that doesn't work for a small-sized wedding, so opt for a single table instead.
Small weddings are less about what the decorations looked like, but you can still make your wedding feel special with flowers, candles and place settings.
