An Intimate Celebration

The day you have been dreaming of since you were little is just an arm’s reach away. Well, that was until COVID-19 rolled around and spoilt your big day… Or has it?

2020 has brought about some massive changes in everyday life, one of them being wedding celebrations. Yes, maybe you wanted an extravagant wedding with 500 guests at that fancy castle venue but unfortunately, the restrictions of COVID are not going to permit that. However, it may be a blessing in disguise, and here is why.

Firstly, weddings are still allowed. Yay!! It may mean you will have to cut back on your guest list but that allows you to have a super intimate celebration. Instead of only greeting each of the guests, you can now spend some time with them and relish in your day. You could also add more personal details to your wedding like writing a heartfelt thank you letter to each guest. Adding these small personal touches will make your day even more magical.

The biggest blessing in disguise is the amount of money you will save which can be put into a honeymoon, or that kitchen renovation you have been dreaming of. Another increasingly popular idea is a longer celebration. Generally, you would spend a lot of money in one afternoon but let us say there are only 20 people coming, you can now make a weekend-wedding out of it. This might be more in-budget for some couples and will leave a lasting memory for the guests.

You will have to use your imagination for the finer details. Whether you are celebrating at home or a venue with social distancing restrictions, try and find a way to make your guests feel connected with you. This could be done by giving them each a flower to hold during the ceremony or weaving some twin in around the guest's chairs, and one end for you and your new spouse to hold so that you are connected with them.

If you had already planned a wedding but had to cut back in people, there is still a way to make them feel included. It can be as simple as a live stream of the ceremony and the reception. You could even organize a gift box that could be sent to their house with a bit of bubbly champagne, a cheeseboard and crackers selection, and a link to a Spotify playlist so they can still sing and dance along at home.

It may not be the day that you had hoped for, but it can still be exceptional. And if it still does not tickle your fancy, you can always have a big celebration after COVID has passed.

Marlene Mina