My experience of having a small wedding
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shift in how people view their wedding day. Many couples are now opting for smaller, more intimate weddings. I wanted to share my own experience of having an intimate wedding on October 1, 2015, with 18 guests.
Why I chose an intimate wedding
Growing up, I never dreamed of having a big fairytale wedding. My husband, Mairtin, and I had similar views, so we decided against a traditional Irish wedding. We love attending big traditional weddings, but we knew we wanted something more intimate for our own day. We are also not practicing Catholics, so we did not want a church wedding.
How our wedding day went
Our families stayed in the hotel the night before the wedding, so we had a relaxed dinner together in the village restaurant. On the wedding day, I got ready in a large bridal suite, and everyone chilled in my room while taking turns getting their hair and makeup done. The men went for a game of golf while sipping on whiskey.
I wasn't nervous at all, but it did feel a bit surreal. We had a beautiful ceremony with hand-picked poems and songs. It was intimate, meaningful, and I enjoyed every word. After the ceremony, we had a drinks reception outside with live music. It was perfect. We spent time with our family, enjoying the sunshine and champagne.
We took photos on the hotel grounds with our photographers, Elizabeth Toher and Jarleth. At about 6pm, we went back inside for dinner. We sat at one large table, and everyone around the table said a few words or a story about Mairtin and me. It was so enjoyable. After dinner, we went into the bar area and sat beside the fire, having a few drinks and winding down after a great day together.
The next day
The next day, we went back to Galway for a party. The men squeezed in another round of golf, and the party started at 7pm with a drinks reception and canapes. We had traditional Irish music provided by the hotel. I styled my hair differently and had a second shorter wedding dress so I could dance in comfort. Everyone stayed in the bar until the ballroom opened the doors at about 9pm. We had a few speeches and our first dance to get the night started. Finger food was brought around to each table, and everyone was well fed.
Pros of an intimate wedding
Less pressure and stress
More flexibility to change plans throughout the day
I was with the most important people in my life for all of my wedding day
No set schedule
No need for a wedding cake or wedding cars (if you don't have a second day)
Less nerves
No seating plan, less formalities
Cons of an intimate wedding
It can be more expensive to have a two-day wedding celebration
Not every family member will be happy with the idea of a small wedding
Friends may feel left out or you may be torn between who you should ask
Summary
Overall, I would highly recommend an intimate wedding with family, provided you both get on very well with your immediate families. I felt like the focus was on the ceremony and our marriage, which after all is the most important part of it. We're still very happily married 5 years later, so that must count for something!