How to Make Your Large Wedding Feel Intimate
No matter the guest list size, there are ways to make your large wedding feel intimate. Every couple wants their wedding to be a special event shared with their nearest and dearest. However, the tone often shifts once you start planning the guest list. After accounting for all your friends and two sets of extended families, that guest list can be a mile long! You might have to make some tough calls and cut the guest list.
But if you decide that a large wedding is right for you, you can still make a large wedding feel intimate. How can you host all those people and still have your intimate wedding? Here are a few tips.
Choose a Venue That’s “So You”
When you’re hosting a large group, it makes sense to look for big ballrooms and banquet halls for the wedding venue. It’s important to find the best wedding venue for your budget. However, open rooms don’t always facilitate a sense of intimacy.
Instead, consider using a smaller wedding reception space that better suits your personal style — or fill up a larger room with furniture and decorative accents you love. This will make the venue feel more like “you” and will make your wedding feel more personal and familiar.
To Make A Large Wedding Feel Intimate, Limit Your Table Sizes
Dinnertime is always an opportunity to chat with others, and dinner at a wedding is no exception. Whether your table is made up of old high school pals, cousins from out of town, or friends of yours who are strangers to each other, you can make sure they mingle by limiting the number of seats at their table.
Generally, the seating chart should allow for no more than 8-10 people at a table. This will give the whole group a chance to interact. And while this might mean you have more tables to visit throughout the reception, you’ll be able to have more meaningful encounters with each group.
Keep The Lighting Low
Whether you’re celebrating your “I do’s” outside or in, use lighting to create a more intimate atmosphere. Warm, low lighting (such as Christmas lights for your winter wedding or candlelight) make the space seem homey and inviting unlike brightly lit fluorescent lighting. Low lighting also creates a romantic ambiance — which is exactly what you want on your wedding day. Dim the lights and stick to a color pattern with warm tones to create a cozy, intimate space.
To Make A Large Wedding Feel Intimate, Personalize The Guest Experience
Your wedding day is one of the happiest of your life… and also one of the busiest. From the moment you wake up, it’s go-go-go: get ready, take photos, talk with guests, cut the cake, and — oh yeah — get married. With so much going on, it’s only natural that some guests won’t get as much face time with you and your new spouse.
Add some personalized touches for your guests to make them feel more connected to your special day. Provide out-of-town guests with a personalized welcome bag, giving them small gifts and tips to help them enjoy the city. Include handwritten notes with your guests’ place cards, and share a favorite memory you have with them. These little extras will show just how special you think they are and will make them love your wedding even more.
With these simple suggestions, you can turn even the largest wedding ceremonies into an intimate, personal, and memorable experience for everyone.
Create a wedding that is uniquely yours with these tips from Wedivite.
