7 Ways to Elevate your Intimate Wedding

From designing a fancy bar to planning a little getaway, having a smaller guest count opens up an abundance of possibilities to make your wedding extra special for you and your loved ones.

We have always loved the fact that with a small wedding guest count, there are SO many ways you can treat your guests–and yourselves–to an extra special wedding day. With a more intimate wedding, you have the possibility of making every step of the wedding process ultra-personalized with your closest friends and family–and we think that makes for a truly unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Here are our favorite ways you can elevate your once-in-a-lifetime, intimate wedding:

Have the destination wedding of your dreams

Whether its a couple of hours drive away or a short flight, having a smaller wedding count gives you the possibility of having a destination wedding that you’ve always dreamed of. With a smaller wedding, you’ll be able to coordinate travel plans easier, be able to actually relax once you’re all together, and of course be able to spend some quality time once you’re at your destination. Your closest friends and family will definitely love to make a little vacay out of your wedding weekend–because we all know that a little RnR is much needed nowadays. 

Have an elevated dinner menu

Treat yourself and your guests to a dining experience that they surely will remember. Whether its opting for the salmon instead of chicken, or adding on wine or beer pairings, you can make the dinner an elevated service experience (that is also properly socially distanced). One of our favorite things we’ve seen at a wedding is offering ate-night snacks after your guests dance the night away, whether its mini spam musubis or Taco Bell!

Design elaborate invites, welcome gifts, and/or thank you favors

With less guests, we think the possibilities for making the introduction to your thank you gift ultra-personalized is endless. If you’ve fallen in love with those elaborate wedding invitations you have pinned on your Pinterest board, go ahead and hire that calligrapher for that extra special touch. If thinking about a thank you gift that everyone will love is hard to decide on, know that you can curate your gifts for your extra special guests: from a soy candle for your longtime friend to a whiskey glass for your favorite uncle.

Deck out your wedding bar 

If the words “open bar” make your ears perk up, we think you’ll love the sound of a mixology or craft beer station with a bartender to pour it up for you and your guests all night. Make the bar a super cute photo-op with a mobile bar complete with a lounge area, or make it a socially distanced experience by adding a couple of different stations for your guests.

Let your decor dreams run wild

A hanging floral installation, an ultra-posh lounge area, the wedding arch of your dreams: all of these are certainly possible with a smaller guest count and a bigger styling budget. We love letting your styled tablescape dreams become a reality with fresh floral runners, beautiful glassware, and adding extra special touches like handwritten place cards or table numbers. Share your Pinterest boards and let us take care of the rest.

Include a fun entertainment element to the reception

From build-your-own perfume/cologne bars, a wine tasting station, or a cute photo booth station, this part can be totally up to you and your partner’s taste. Create a fun station for your guests to learn and create for a super fun treat they can take home and remember your wedding day with. This interactive element is a great way to keep the energy going at a more intimate event, and a way for everyone in your wedding party to be entertained if they aren’t big on dancing or drinking.

Get creative with the seating arrangements

We think there are so many fun ways you can make your seating chart both super creative and, of course, socially distanced. Get those low lying picnic tables for an intimate table for four and sprinkle in some cocktail tables so you can give people the option to roam around if they please. For table layouts, maybe opt for a U-shaped or staggered set up to give optimum space in between tables.