The Hopeful Bride: A Perfect, 15 Person Wedding

Earlier in the year, 2020 bride Sarah shared a wonderful poem with us inspired by the #WhatAboutWeddings campaign. If you missed the poem, you can find it here. Since then, Sarah has continued to plan her COVID wedding and despite all the ups and downs, had a wonderful wedding day with 15 people as the first part of a sequel wedding. Here she gives other couples planning during COVID some tips for a wonderful day despite the restrictions...

As the weeks rolled on, we began to make arrangements for our new wedding date - 11th October.  As plans started to unfold and the path to normality continued to look rocky, we gave ourselves the choice that most couples never need to consider; what was more important to us: to get married or to have the wedding of our dreams? We were under no illusion that 2020 would let us have both.  The choice was easy.  More than anything else, we just wanted to get married.  

 

And so it was.  On the 11th October, we celebrated our tiny, yet perfect wedding for 15.  The sun shone, smiles were aplenty and we soon realised this; not only had we got married but we had had the most beautiful, magical wedding day. As we look back on what was undoubtedly the best day of our lives, and while we wait until we can have our larger celebration with all our family and friends, I wanted to share my tips for making a micro wedding the most wonderful experience possible.

 

1 - Splash out on the things that are really important to you

Whether it's a great wine, special jewellery or fabulous transport, do it.  It's likely you can afford some of these additional touches if you were budgeting for a larger wedding and these details will help make the whole day feel really special. 

2 - Think about investing in clear face masks for the ceremony

This is probably one of the best things I did.  As a bride, there is nothing more significant than looking at the faces of the people you love as you make the most important promises of your life.  As it was, I got to see every expression of emotion which was very special.  

3 - Think creatively about how you can involve people who can't attend

Perhaps you could send them their confetti or favour in the post.  Maybe write a special poem to invite them to view any Live stream arrangements you have in place, or ask them to share a snap of them raising a glass to you on the day.  In addition, churches and some other venues are public places; there's nothing to stop well-wishers coming along to give you a wave and a cheer.  All these ideas help bring a real sense of love, support and togetherness to the day.

4 - Don't assume everyone has the same attitude towards the pandemic as you

Whether you are very concerned or more relaxed about the situation, err on the side of caution.  A short note ahead of the day covering the health & safety / social distancing protocols will help to reassure more nervous guests and ensure they can relax and enjoy themselves on the day. This will also help you to relax on the day too!

5 - Reimagine your wedding day

The recent restrictions have no doubt left you feeling deflated and disappointed.  Have a think about what you can now do for 15 people that you couldn't have done for larger numbers.  Perhaps you could swap prosecco for champagne, serve cocktails before dinner, buy individual gifts for guests or include a cheese course in your meal.  Be creative and embrace what you can do rather than feel sad for what you can't.  

6 - Think about how you might need to adapt your venue for 15 

Your venue now might feel far too big for your new plans.  Find out if they have a smaller but equally lovely space you could use.  Could part of a larger room be partitioned off to create a cosier feel?  Your table plan may now feel a little out of place however U shaped or open square tables are spot-on for special meals of this size.  

7 - Don't lose your special touches

Whether it's an important reading or an epic playlist, these little details don't have to be scrapped.  Perhaps your readings could be included before you eat, or printed on the back of your menus.  Why not have your playlist on quietly in the background to add a touch of personality to the atmosphere.  Be creative - you won't regret it.  

8 - No dancing... now what?

With a stop to dancefloors (I get it - I was really sad about this too), there are other ways to have a little fun after dinner.  Whether it's a game of Mr & Mrs or a wedding quiz, there are plenty of ways to have a giggle without having to leave your seat.  Have a chat with some of your most fun friends and see what you can come up with!

So, as the last beautiful card was opened and the final slice of wedding cake enjoyed, we learnt that - actually, with a little imagination and breaking of traditional conventions - 2020 hadn't stopped us from having the best day of our lives.  We could, in fact, have it all.  

 

Sarah and her new husband plan to have a blessing and celebration with their wider friends and family in 2021. Follow Sarah for more tips and ideas on @TheHopefulBride. For the latest wedding news and updates, don't forget to bookmark our COVID Wedding News article which is kept as up to date as possible.