Wedding Planning Tips for the Laid Back Couple
Laid back, stress free and full of fun with family and friends - sounds like the perfect wedding day doesn’t it? More and more couples are ditching the traditional wedding and opting for relaxed and informal weddings, a microwedding or elopement an instead. I’ve compiled a list of 5 tips to planning a laid back wedding that everyone will be talking about for years to come.
Location is Key
One of the most important factors to planning a relaxed wedding day is the venue. It’s one of the first things most couples consider when wedding planning and it sets the tone for the whole day, so it’s important to know what you’re looking for.
Are you planning to hire out one of the best wedding venues in Surrey? Maybe you’d rather stick to a smaller venue such as this wedding I shot at a venue called Blake Hall in Essex. Its completely up to you whether you decide to invite lots of people or whether you want to plan on having a small wedding with only a few family and friends. If you’re reading this blog then you’re probably planning a more relaxed event; i’ve listed a few low key wedding venue ideas below that you might consider:
Airbnb wedding
Woodland wedding
Barn wedding
A tipi or a marquee wedding
A wedding at home or an intimate garden wedding
Farm wedding
Beach wedding
If you need more inspiration, I’ve written a whole blog post about some of the best wedding venues to consider in Surrey and Hampshire here!
The guestlist
We’ve all got certain people we feel obliged to invite to events when in reality you haven’t spoken to them in years. This can add unnecessary stress to your wedding day rather than the laid back vibe you’re after. If you don’t really care about chatting to that friend you haven’t spoken to in 5 years or your great great aunt Gertrude - don’t invite them.
Remember your day is about you and the people you choose to spend it with. If you’d rather have a more intimate wedding with only your nearest and dearest then make that a priority. Your wedding day will fly by and I’m sure you’d rather not spend it making small talk with people you don’t normally choose to spend your time with. Relax, have fun and spend the day with people you love and care about. Keeping your guestlist short can have the added bonus of keeping down costs too!
The Food
If you’d rather avoid the headache of creating a formal seating plan, or you’re a shy couple worried about all eyes being on you at the top table, then why not consider alternative dining options. Wedding catering food trucks are becoming more and more popular amongst couples when planning a wedding. No stressful seating arrangements, just a few food vans full of whatever cuisine you fancy! You could even provide home cooked food options if this is something you want to do. This option works especially well for outdoor weddings and allows you and your wedding guests to mingle freely with whoever you want!
Go Unplugged
Imagine walking down the aisle and looking up to see all of your wonderful guests happy and excited to see you - but they’re watching you through their phone camera. It kind of ruins the moment doesn’t it? Many couples are deciding to ban phones and photos during their wedding ceremony. There’s nothing worse than looking back at your wedding photos and seeing people with their phones, or having to experience flashes from photos as you’re walking down the aisle. By preventing guests from using their phones during your ceremony you’re also ensuring that nobody is posting your personal wedding photos on their social media before you’ve had the chance to experience them yourself.
The Photographer
This leads us nicely to choosing your wedding photographer. Knowing how to choose the right wedding photographer can be tricky. Just like how you don’t want your guests shoving a phone camera in your face, you probably don’t really want that from your photographer either. There’s nothing worse than having your wedding photographer showing up with a huge camera lens and interrupting a personal moment with family and friends, or forcing you into uncomfortable poses that really don’t feel like you. To avoid this, it’s important to do your research to ensure you’re hiring the best wedding photographer for you. I’ve written a blog post all about how to choose the right wedding photographer here.
If you’re after an unobtrusive and relaxed photographer who focuses on capturing the natural and candid moments of your wedding day then feel free to get in touch. I cover all areas of Surrey and Hampshire but frequently travel all over the Uk too!
