A blog dedicated to small and intimate weddings. Step inside for wedding venues, DIY wedding ideas and real weddings with 75 or fewer guests.
Aren’t these DIY name cards/wedding favors fantastic? Nerissa over at The New Domestic created them for a housewarming party. She folded origami paper in half. Then she folded and glued the bottom and stiched the sides to create mini envelopes. She put random goodies inside the envelopes so her guests got a nice surprise when they opened their place cards.
By Jennifer Cox
Should we host a simple cocktail party or an inevitably more complicated sit-down dinner?
I battled with this decision when planning my own wedding. They each have their pros and cons, and I love the feeling that each type of event creates. A cocktail party is more relaxed, the food is less costly (which means more wiggle room to splurge on certain items), and the laid-back atmosphere really reflects who we are as a couple. And yet a sit-down dinner is more formal and traditional, something we also considered ourselves to be.
So, which is best?
Cocktail party receptions are much easier to coordinate – there’s less food, meaning less logistical nightmares such as rentals (dinnerware, flatware, serving dishes); there’s often more menu choices (so there’s something for everyone to eat, including vegetarians and guests with allergies); and they’re very intimate. These types of parties are more appropriate for smaller weddings.
A sit-down dinner may take more time to plan, however there’s something to be said about the formality and elegance of hosting a three-, five-, or seven-course meal for your closest family and friends. It’s definitely the more traditional route and creates a classic setting for a reception. But don’t forget: a more formal meal calls for things like seating charts, escort cards, table numbers, complete place settings, and in general a lot more organizing.
It’s really about what works best for your party. We had a lot of out-of-towners that we were hoping would come into Montreal to be at the wedding, so in the end we decided we wanted to have a full meal for them. But I definitely think the next time I get married (to the same man, of course, maybe for our vow renewal down the road) I would love an elegant, intimate cocktail party. I even have my centerpieces picked out (but don’t tell my husband – he’ll have visions of the bridezilla I’d become last year!)
First Photo: Lilian Haidar Photography; Second Photo: Inspirador; Third Photo: The Plantation House; Fourth Photo: Project Wedding; Fifth Photo: My Dream Wedding Venue; Sixth Photo: Bridal Guide
Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!
By Jennifer Cox
My parents were married in Montreal at Loyola Chapel, which now sits on the campus of Concordia University, in 1979. Decades later, when I started studying Journalism at Concordia, I loved walking by the chapel and looking at the front steps where all of my family, including grandparents who were no longer with us, had walked, stopping to pose for pictures in front of the big wooden doors. I was never the little girl who dreamed about her wedding, but when I saw the chapel in person, I knew that that was the one thing I wanted for my own special day: to get married at the same chapel as my parents.
And we did. Just two weeks after they celebrated their thirty-year anniversary, my husband and I got married in front of the same altar, with our guests lined in the same pews, surrounded by many of the people who had witnessed my own parents tie the knot.
To really remember the significance of getting married at the chapel, I met with our photographers (the incredible davina + daniel) months before and gave them some of the pictures from my parent’s wedding. They were clever enough to photograph them so, on our wedding day, they were able to refer to the pics and then “recreate” the same photos. It worked beautifully – we had about a dozen shots that looked like mirror images from my own parent’s wedding. I later put them in side-by-side frames for my mom and dad.
Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!
Photos of Jennifer’s wedding: Davina + Daniel
Thinking of a destination wedding in the UK? Check out these stunning wedding venues!
Wedding Venue – Bradford, England
The Tomahawk Hotel Group consists of several beautiful hotels which provide the perfect wedding location; there is Aston Hall, the luxury hotel in Sheffield, Woodlands, a contemporary boutique hotel in Leeds and finally the Great Victoria, a landmark luxury hotel situated in Bradford City Centre.
Aston Hall is one of the most in-demand wedding locations throughout Sheffield and South Yorkshire. There is a beautiful local church connected to Aston Hall through the gardens, perfect for a traditional wedding. As Aston Hall is an approved location, civil wedding and partnership ceremonies take place inside the opulent hotel.
Woodlands hotel provides a similarly luxurious experience and is considered to be an ideal wedding location in Leeds and Yorkshire. The hotel specializes in “Exclusive Use weddings” meaning that the wedding party can use the whole of the venue for their celebrations. However, the hotel is able to cater for weddings of all sizes.
The Great Victoria in Bradford provides a wedding venue which is more unique, for couples wishing to avoid a stereotypical wedding. The venue often attracts modern and lively couples that are impressed by the hotels contemporary touches. The Great Victoria provides a setting which can cater fully for 45 guests during the day and 85 for the evening.
Wedding Venues - Newcastle, England
Along with being one of the most popular conference venues in the UK, The Sage Gateshead is an ideal wedding venue. Occupying one of the most dramatic urban sites in Europe, the spectacular open public spaces and glazed front offer superb sweeping views across the River Tyne and the vibrant and exciting cityscape of Newcastle Gateshead. The experienced staff at The Sage Gateshead will assist in helping you plan the ideal layout for your wedding, ensuring the wedding venue is decorated or themed to match your wedding ideas and also advise on what may work best for you to ensure your wedding day is the very best it can be.
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Jackie and Marc have lost some of the most special people in their lives. Jackie lost her mother three years ago to cancer. Her aunt and grandma also passed away one year ago. Marc lost both his parents 7 years ago, 6 months apart. Despite the many losses they have faced, Jackie and Marc were able to experience a beautiful and intimate event with family and close friends.
“We both spoke of our missing family members in our speeches, and both cried. We were so focused on what we were saying, we didn’t notice the guests’ reactions. It wasn’t our intent, but there wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” says Jackie.
And although Jackie missed having her dear mom there, she still felt her presence.
“One of the pictures is a close-up of my flowers with a gold teardrop on it {last photo}. That is a necklace that was wrapped around the bouquet containing some of my moms ashes. I missed planning my wedding with her, but she was with me all day long,” says Jackie.
Jackie, 33 & Marc, 36
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
Wedding Date: May 22, 2010
Number of Guests: 45, and 8 after-dinner guests
Wedding Cost: $9,000
Wedding Ceremony Location: The Parish Church of St. Luke, Burlington ON
Wedding Reception Location: Paradiso Restaurant, Burlington, ON
By Jennifer Cox
My four bridesmaids carried traditional bouquets that matched my arrangement – I think most brides opt to have their girls carry bridesmaid bouquets. But I love when I see unique ideas for things that stray from the conventional.
Who said bridesmaids had to carry bouquets of flowers? There are other floral configurations that are just as striking (if not more so) – I personally love round hanging arrangements (sometimes referred to as pomanders). They’re elegant and still lend a beautiful flowery feel (I wish I’d discovered these sooner!). The girls can also hold a single flower or they can each have their own bouquet rather than be matchy-matchy.
There’s also a wide range of other accessories bridesmaids can tote, everything from similar clutches and coloured fans to pretty parasols and even whimsical pinwheels.
Some brides give their lovely ladies something to carry that serves a dual-purpose – candles or lanterns are not only charming but add to the ambient light as well.
Just because it’s the “norm” to give your bridal party identical bouquets doesn’t mean it’s what you have to do. The fun in creating your wedding is personalizing it and making it unique, and if you want your bridesmaids to carry a fanciful bunch of balloons or fiery awe-inspiring sparklers down the aisle, well so be it!
First & Second Photo: Bella Destinee; Third Photo: The Design Grove; Fourth Photo: Britt Productions; Fifth and Sixth Photo: Adore; Seventh Photo: Landlocked Bride; Eighth Photo: Project Bride; Ninth Photo: Stephanie Williams Photography
Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!
The eighth person to comment on this post is Erin. Erin wins a Senseo Single Coffee Maker thanks to the generous folks at Senseo. Thanks to everyone who participated!
I’ve already been moved to write poetry about the humble mason jar. Just when I thought I’d run out of DIY ideas with the ever-useful jar, I stumbled on this DIY mason jar soap dispenser tutorial. This would perfect for your bathroom decor if you are having a shabby chic outdoor wedding.
I’m blown away by the fantastic DIY wedding projects that you can make with felt. I scoured the internet for a few of my favourite DIY felt crafts. Here they are:
I love this colorful garland made from felt. Get the instructions on how to make this felt garland here.
Adorable felt hearts. Find the tutorial here.
These felt flowers serve as name cards, boutonnieres and favors! On the bottom of the flower is a clip. Women can clip them in their hair, to spruce up their hair and men can pin them on their lapel as a boutonniere. (Photo: Michigan Wedding Blog)
Felt fortune cookies make a cute wedding favor!
Ribbon Heart Favors from Heartfelt Project.
Sara, 28 & Iain, 29
San Francisco, California
Wedding Date: April16, 2010
Number of Guests: 23
Wedding Cost: $9,000
Wedding Ceremony Location: Ceilo Suite Hotel Vitale
Wedding Reception Location: same as above
As wedding budgets retract, and guest lists shrink, the backyard has become the wedding venue of choice for many savvy couples. But backyard weddings are not for everyone.
Are you a perfectionist? Do you make yourself and others around you crazy in an attempt to make everything ‘just so’? If your answer is yes, you might want to cross a backyard wedding off your list. Unless, of course, you want to drive yourself and your significant other looney – but in the end have the most wonderful wedding possible. Kinda like I did.
Perfectionists and at-home weddings can be a volatile combo. There are so many extra details involved with planning a backyard wedding at home that it can be overwhelming for anyone – but especially those who have a penchant for perfection.
Not only will you be trying to eliminate everything on your wedding day to-do list, you’ll also want to make your home extra special for your big day.
If you’re like me you’ll be re-decorating the interior, power washing the exterior and landscaping the heck out of your yard.
Of course, not all couples planning an at-home wedding spend months fixing up their place. Some people don’t lift a finger on home improvements. If that’s the case, planning can be a whole lot easier.
However, there are still things to keep in mind if you are planning a backyard wedding.
For us it was all worth it. Will it be worth it for you?
Photo: Hanna and Mathew’s real wedding photographed by Katelyn Demidow Photography
By Jennifer Cox
Brides and grooms want their weddings to be memorable, and one way couples are adding that “ooh” and “ahh” factor to their special day is by releasing sky lanterns. A long-time tradition at Asian festivals for thousands of years, paper lanterns were used to celebrate the Chinese New Year and as a signaling device. Countless were launched to rid the people of their worries and to decorate the city’s sky with light. The flame would symbolize knowledge and wisdom.
There are several vendors who sell sky wish lanterns, which are now 100% biodegradable and come in a wide range of flame-resistant papers. They’re touted as being a calm, beautiful tradition as guests release their lanterns to light up the night sky. They can fly in the air for up to 20 minutes to more than 1,000 feet in altitude and will travel several miles in distance, after which the flame is supposed to blow out and gently float back down for a safe landing.
However, it’s precisely this lengthy trip that sky lanterns take that can make them potentially dangerous (very dangerous, in fact). They can’t be controlled once they’ve been released and they could drift into trees, building rooftops, fields, and other combustible materials while the heat source is still burning, which could create a significant fire hazard.The Saskatchewan government (The Office of the Fire Commissioner), for example, formally asked fire departments to caution members of their community about the potential fire risks of the flying lanterns.
So if you do decide to integrate a sky lantern release into your wedding, make sure you adhere to all safety warnings and proceed with extreme caution.
First Photo: Weddingo; Second Photo: Event Accomplished; Third Photo: Fireworks Arcade; Fourth Photo: Scissor Paper Stone; Fifth Photo: Chasing Rainbows Kissing Frogs
Jennifer Cox is a Montreal based freelance journalist who loves everything from weddings to foodie news, photography & candy!
