Planning a wedding and organizing vendors on the opposite coast from where you live can be a logistical nightmare for some couples. For Sarah and Stefan, however, the solution to their vendor problems was fairly simple – they just made do without many of them!

Adopting a DIY approach to their wedding day, the bride prepared all the floral details and did her own hair and make-up while the groom took care of the music. Doing it yourself isn’t always easy, but for Sarah and Stefan it only added to the low-maintenance feel they were looking for and resulted in a relaxed stress-free day for everyone involved. At the end of the day they got everything they wanted out of their wedding day and more, including wonderful memories and photos (courtesy of Anita Martin) to share with all their loved ones who couldn’t be there to celebrate with them in person.

Sarah, 33 & Stefan, 33

Location: Montara, California 

Wedding Date: October 19, 2015

Number of Guests: 15

Wedding Cost: $5,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: The Villa Montara

Wedding Reception Location: The Villa Montara

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted to have a day that just focused on us and the people we love the most. It minimized a lot of the stress for us knowing that all of our decisions concerning colors, food, or decorations were really just to enhance our party and not for a big show. As a result, everything felt more relaxed and we really got to enjoy everything we planned and looked forward to.

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding? 

Since we decided to get married on the opposite coast from where we lived it made for some logistical challenges when it came to planning and organizing vendors from so far away. In the end, we just didn’t use many vendors which was actually great and kept with the low maintenance feeling that we wanted. We bought our own flowers at a grocery store the day before the wedding, and I made boutonnieres, a bouquet, and all the table settings the morning of the wedding. I did my own hair and makeup as well. Stefan made playlists for the wedding, and ordered and organized the delivery of party supplies and food. It was just much simpler to do most of the tasks ourselves.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

We invited our immediate family members and their spouses, and Stefan’s good friend that married us. Capping it at family and our officiant made it easier so that people wouldn’t feel left out.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

I think some family members were a little sad at first that they couldn’t invite their friends to celebrate with us, so they threw us some beautiful engagement parties instead.  When our families attended the wedding, however, I think they understood our vision and why we chose to plan it the way we did.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The location was truly breathtaking and the music Stefan put together really set the mood for a wonderful day together. It was a bright day, but right after we said our vows the sun came out and that is something I will always remember.

What were the highlights of the reception?

For the reception we hired a food truck and set one big table for everyone to sit at together; it was so relaxed and delicious and I just enjoyed the simplicity of it all.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

We got to appreciate every moment with our guests. The most important aspects for us were being able to enjoy the day, having our family there, and making sure we had amazing pictures to look back on. We were lucky to get everything we wanted. 

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

I would suggest that you set the expectations early for friends and family so you minimize hurt feelings due to the small guest list. Stick to your vision and politely decline the suggestions about how you SHOULD do things since there will be many! Also, enjoy the process; some of my favorite aspects about our wedding were the plans we made together.

Vendors:

Food: Hog Island Oysters; Sam’s Chowder Mobile; Kara’s Cupcakes

Photography: Anita Martin

Dress: BHLDN

Flowers, hair and makeup, table decorations: Bride

Music: Groom 

Party supplies: Your Party Rental

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With a breathtaking venue, adorable flower girls, and a red velvet cake to die for, Jacqueline and Andrew’s rustic Pointhouse wedding was a dream come true. Best of all, was the fact that the couple pulled it off (with the help of their wedding planner) without breaking the bank. The bride and groom giggled their way through the short, but sweet waterfront ceremony, toasted their nuptials with champagne and danced on the deck to “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. While the decision to have an intimate wedding wasn’t an easy one for the newlyweds, they both agree that they wouldn’t have had it any other way.

A huge thank you to Coco Photography for sharing all the lovely photos of Jacqueline and Andrew’s wedding day with us!

Jacqueline, 25  & Andrew, 27

Location: Sargeant Bay, Halfmoon Bay, BC

Wedding Date: August 6, 2016

Number of Guests: 13

Wedding Cost: Approximately $6,500

Wedding Ceremony Location: The Pointhouse

Wedding Reception Location: The Pointhouse

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted to connect with each of our guests and we wanted to make it as personal as possible. We invited our immediate family members and felt that a small intimate wedding would be the perfect choice as we would be able to really enjoy our day with them without feeling overwhelmed by too many guests.

What are some of the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

The biggest challenge was not being able to invite our friends and other family members. We agreed, however, that having a small and intimate wedding was more our style and would allow us to appreciate every detail of our wedding day. We had a wedding planner – it was included with our wedding package at the venue – so there honestly were no challenges with the actual planning of the wedding; the planner took care of all the details (thank God!).

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Yes, it was difficult since we would have loved to invite more people, but at the end of the day we also wanted it to be a special intimate wedding with just close family.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

We were a bit worried that people would be offended if they weren’t invited, but they understood that it was our choice to have a small ceremony. I think nowadays more and more people are having smaller intimate weddings because it makes more sense; it allows you to enjoy your day more. Also, financially it would have been a huge burden if we had to spend tens of thousands on our wedding day as a young couple.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The ceremony was very small and quite short (about 15-20mins), but it was lovely. We had my husband’s nieces (ages 5 and 2) walk down the aisle before me with a burlap sign that read “Here Comes the Bride”. They were adorable! Also, during the ceremony my husband and I couldn’t keep a straight face and were giggling when we probably shouldn’t have, but we couldn’t help it. We tend to laugh at everything!

What were the highlights of the reception?

Highlights included the small, close setting. The venue was out of this world. The Pointhouse is a waterfront B&B property and we rented the entire building so it was just our family in there. With the backdrop of the ocean, the driftwood, and all the natural elements, it was absolutely gorgeous. Our guests are still talking about how wonderful the venue was and everything about that day. The decorations were beautiful. I went for a rustic feel using materials such as burlap and lace, and pastel colors. The cake was to die for as well! The caterers did an excellent job with the dinner and the wedding cake – red velvet with cream cheese frosting.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The best thing was being able to connect with our guests and actually enjoy every element of our wedding. It wasn’t a long, drawn out day. It was absolutely perfect and at the end we danced along the deck to our first song “Can’t help falling in love”. It was great! Looking out onto the water was breathtaking and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

Honestly, it was the best decision we could have made and I would highly recommend it. If you’re second guessing your decision to have a smaller wedding and are concerned about not being able to invite more people, I have to say that I didn’t think about that factor at all on the day of. We were able to talk to everyone and be comfortable without having to worry about too many guests and not being able to connect with everyone. Also, it was great having the wedding planner as she helped us every step of the way and I really had a stress-free wedding. People would always asked me before the wedding how all the prep was going and I really only had to worry about finding my dress and getting the marriage license! She took care of everything else and I would highly recommend finding a venue that teams up with a wedding planner; it really helped and we truly had our dream wedding.

Vendors:

Wedding Planner (included with venue package): Coastal Wedding and Events

Caterer: Emelle’s 

Photography: Coco Photography

Hair and Makeup: Hair Matters

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Everyone likes a little appreciation – and that goes for your guests too! When it’s all said and done, sending your guests a thank-you card can be your way of reminding them that you feel lucky that they were able to celebrate with you! Here are some wonderful thank-you designs from Etsy.

Bohemian brides will love this woodsy take on a thank you card created by WillowandSass.

This nature-inspired floral design by SimplyCBoutique brings a bit more of color.

We love this retro flower vase thank you card by AnchorAndSpruce.

French is the language of love, so why not say “merci” with this great card by TheOystersPearl.

Monograms are the trend of the year, so naturally, we love this monogrammed thank you card by PrintSmitten.

If you’re a bit last minute, these printable and personalized thank you cards by Salsaldesign are a great way to say “thanks!”

Your bridal party took such great care of you during your special day. Why not thank them with these sweet bridal party cards by FawnAndFloral.

This bohemian-chic watercolor thank you card by CardaMoonPaperie comes as a digital download. It couldn’t be easier to say thank you!

 This t “Thank you” stamp by tinoiseau is a sweet and simple way to say thank-you!

Watercolors are perfectly paired with summer and spring weddings. Send this ocean-like thank you card by saidinlayers to remind your guests of your dreamy night.

We love this classy personalized photo-card by Blushly, and can’t see how anyone could resist setting it on the mantle for all to see.

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links

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When the big day finally comes, you’ll want to dance the night away in a memorable (and comfortable!) pair of shoes. Taken straight from some great Etsy designers, here are a few of our favorite white wedding shoes for your special day.

Nothing says “first dance” quite like your very own grown-up ballet flats. Designed by thewhiteribbon these will melt hearts, and surly bring back memories during your father-daughter dance.

Feel the sand between your toes with these lovely jewelled bohemian barefoot sandals by PassionflowerJewelry.

If you are looking for a classic pump, these white heels by Parisxox couldn’t be more perfect. 

For an understated pump, this beautiful pair of heels by ChristyNgShoes look perfect with their amazing decorated heel.

We love these personalized heels by DinkiDs. The lace detailing and sweet inscriptions are so wonderful! 

Who needs heels when you have these beautiful strappy sandals by thewhiteribbon? These would be perfect for a warm summer wedding.

Swarovski crystals help make this original pair of heels by Parisxox stand out anywhere!

These incredible Jane Eyre inspired Victorian booties by RoniKantorShoes are perfect for a winter wedding.

*This post contains Etsy affiliate links

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With large families to consider and a big group of friends from all over the world, Ian and Bianca quickly realized that they could either have a grand traditional wedding at home in Australia or they could elope in Paris and spend five weeks traveling through Europe together for the exact same cost. While it was difficult to break the news to their friends and family, the decision was a no-brainer for the couple. After struggling to select a ceremony location from all the great options that Paris has to offer, the bride and groom exchanged their personalized vows on the terrace of their suite at the Shangri-La Hotel overlooking the Eiffel Tower, and ended their perfect day with a spectacular view and an exquisite meal inside the Eiffel Tower itself at the Michelin starred Le Jules Verne Restaurant.

A huge thank you to Brant Smith for sharing Ian and Bianca’s gorgeous and romantic Paris elopement with us!

Bianca, 31 & Ian, 31

Location: Paris, France

Wedding Date: May 9, 2016

Number of Guests: The only onlooker we had besides Brant Smith (our fabulous photographer) and our gorgeous celebrant, Claire Bay, was the stunning Eiffel Tower. 

Wedding Cost: We aren’t too sure about this one as we ended up spending a total of five weeks in Europe. It might seem like a long holiday, but we are from Australia, which is a long way from anywhere!!

Wedding Ceremony Location: On the terrace of our suite at the Shangri-La. 

Wedding Reception Location: Our reception was an intimate degustation for two at Le Jules Verne overlooking the Trocardero Gardens.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We have been together since our late teens, and over the time of our relationship we have been fortunate enough to live in a lot of different places and have made wonderful friends along the way. When we originally started to plan our wedding, we realized that in addition to our large families, we had quite a lot of people that we wanted to invite, but probably couldn’t. And then we had trouble trying to narrow down a location that would suit everyone. After we finally settled on guest numbers and a location and roughly calculated costs of all the bells and whistles, we discovered that having a wedding in Australia would be the equivalent of spending 5 weeks in Europe. So we decided on the latter!

What are some the challenges that you faced planning an intimate wedding?

We thought that planning a wedding in another country where we did not speak the language was going to be our biggest challenge. However, everyone we dealt with along the way was extremely kind and accommodating. Our biggest challenge ended up being trying to select a final location to hold the ceremony – Paris has so many great options!

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It was extremely difficult for us to inform our family and friends that we had decided to elope. We know that as tradition goes you aren’t supposed to break the news until after the ceremony, however it didn’t feel right to exclude the people we love when it came to our decision. All of our friends and family were very understanding which solidified that we had made the right decision to elope. 

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family? If so, how did you address them?

Luckily no, although one of my sisters did keep suggesting in jest that she might just ‘rock up’ on the day!

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Intimately sharing our personalized vows with no one else but ourselves. 

What were the highlights of the reception?

Feeling as though we were floating over the top of Paris. Our spirits were already high from our perfect day, but nothing finished it off quite like the spectacular view we had that evening.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding? 

While weddings are a fabulous way to celebrate your relationship with your family and friends, sometimes it can feel as though you are putting on a show just to entertain your guests. Before you know it, the whole day is over and it’s just another memory. When you elope, the day really does put the focus on the two of you and you have the opportunity to take your time, be yourselves and enjoy every single minute of the day in each other’s company.

What advice do you have for couples who are considering an intimate wedding?

If you’ve even entertained the idea of eloping, we recommend just diving in and doing it. It’s minimal stress, it can be much cheaper (if you want it to be!) and really allows you to celebrate the fruition of your relationship (and all the personal memories that you’ve created together) just between the two of you. Just do yourself a favour and make sure you arrange a quality photographer like Brant Smith so you can reflect on the beautiful memories you created together for years to come. 

Vendors:  

Photography: Brant Smith  

Hair and Makeup:  Allison Depriestre   

Officiant: Claire Bay at Une Belle Ceremonie 

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