Britney and Michael took only two months to plan their gorgeous l’il Tennessee wedding! The couple said their ‘I do’s’ in front of ten of their loved ones, including their young daughter Ava, who was front row and center.

Britney’s advice to other brides and grooms planning their own intimate wedding is to not worry about the opinion of others, and to invest in a photographer that will capture your wedding day in a way that makes those who were not at the wedding, feel like they were there. Erin from Erin Morrison Photography did just that!

Britney, 30 & Michael, 33

Location: Knoxville, TN

Wedding Date: October 9, 2015

Number of Guests:10

Wedding Ceremony Location: The Bleak House

Wedding Reception Location: We didn’t really have a reception.  Mike’s parents offered to have everyone over to their house after the wedding for dinner and, of course, cake. We had a few friends come that weren’t there for the ceremony so it was nice being able to sit back, relax and just spend time with our friends and family.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

With this being my second marriage, I already had the big wedding. We debated having a wedding where all our friends and family could be there, but honestly, when we started thinking about all the details it just got too stressful. I am an indecisive person to begin with so thinking about linens, flatware, caterers and all that stuff caused me to immediately become overwhelmed. After stepping back and thinking about it we realized we would be happier just going off and eloping. However, my daughter, Ava, wanted something bigger, so we compromised! We had everything planned and taken care of in less than two months.

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

We didn’t really have any challenges. I had my heart set on the Bleak House from the start and once we got the date finalized everything else fell into place. Since we had the wedding on a Friday evening I was able to get my first choice for photographer and florist, even with such short notice.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

When we first started planning and thought about a bigger wedding, we were having a hard time narrowing down the guest list. It seemed to just keep growing. Once we decided on something more intimate, we knew we just wanted immediate family there.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

There are so many of them! First of all, I had my heart set on having the wedding outside,  but there was 100% chance of rain forecast the entire day of the wedding.  I checked the forecast almost every hour starting almost four days before the wedding. I had a backup plan, but I was heartbroken with the idea of not having the wedding under the vine covered arbor with twinkle lights. On the day of the wedding it rained that morning and was cloudy until lunchtime. The sun finally came out around two o’clock and it was beautiful outside in time for our five o’clock ceremony. As we were finishing up our pictures the sky got darker and darker. The moment we pulled out of the Bleak house the skies opened up and it started pouring rain. It was perfect timing!

Another sweet moment was being able to get ready with my daughter. She was so excited about the day. We went and got our hair done and spent some time together before the wedding. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to include her in the ceremony in a way that would be meaningful to her. We brought her up with us as were about to say our vows and expressed to her that we will both be there for her as she grows up and support her in all she does and will always love her unconditionally. It definitely brought a few tears to my eyes and I know it was a special moment for her.

Seeing Mike for the first time as I was walking down the aisle was pretty emotional too! I thought maybe I would be nervous, but I was just so happy. I know I was smiling from ear to ear as I was walking up to him.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

For me it was about not having to stress over all the little details of a big wedding. I enjoyed being able to focus on what was important, our marriage and celebrating it with our families.

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

It is definitely worth it. Don’t worry about everyone’s opinion on what they think you should do.  Splurge on a great photographer so you can share those special moments after the wedding.

Vendors:

Dress: J. Crew

Suit: Kenneth Cole

Hair and Makeup: BeStyled Knoxville

Florist: Megan Connors Floral

Photographer: Erin Morrison Photography

We all know that creating a wedding registry can be a lot of fun, but it can also be completely overwhelming! Boscov’s, however, makes the decision of where to register easy. Not only will you get exactly what you want, but with Boscov’s you’ll get a ton of perks as well, including fabulous free gifts from top brands, a 15% off shopping pass upon registration, personalized invitation enclosure cards with your name and registry number on them along with a 10% off coupon for your guests, and complimentary gift wrapping for your guests. If you’re not sure what items to add to your registry, here are a few suggestions:

1 – Not only will the KitchenAid stand mixer help you get the job done, but with a whole rainbow of colors to choose from, it will brighten up your kitchen, to boot.

2 – Everyone deserves a nice set of Samsonite luggage, especially for their honeymoon!

3 – Whether you’re the next top chef or just an enthusiastic culinary newbie, the Cuisinart cookware set will make a wonderful addition to your kitchen.

4 – Now that you’re about to be married, it’s time to throw out those dingy old frayed bath towels and treat yourself to a new set of beautiful Calvin Klein Towels.

5 – The same goes for your sheets! Upgrade to a new 300 thread count set.

6 – If you’re busy whipping up cookies in that new KitchenAid mixer of yours you’re going to need some Anolon Bakeware to bake them on.

7 – Last, but not least, the Keurig Coffee Machine – because coffee, obviously!

Now, if you’re still stumped about what to add, you can always ask for a Boscov’s gift card and pick out what you want after the wedding. Even if you don’t receive everything on your list, you’ll receive a registry rewards certificate for 10% of all purchases made off your registry before your wedding, earning you up to $250 to spend on the remaining items, plus a 10% discount on most of those items. How could you go wrong?

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Having a rustic wedding? We’ve found 12 great pieces from Etsy oozing with rustic charm!

Finding a great sign like this rustic wooden welcome sign from PaperandPineCo is the perfect way to introduce your guests to your theme.

What would a rustic wedding be without mason jars! if you are looking for a unique way to incorporate this staple into your big day, why not give out these mason jar shaped cookie cutters from MoosesCreations as favors? Or you could use these cookie cutters to create cool mason jar shaped cookies with your initials on them!

This rustic, wooden farmhouse sign from ThePaperWalrus is a way to tie in the country part of a rustic theme, but in a sophisticated way.

If you are looking for a unique alternative to a ring bearer pillow, we recommend this rustic, wood, personalized, ring bearer tree stump from braggingbags.

We also love this personalized, wood ring bearer pillow box from braggingbags.

The little touches throughout your wedding decor are what can really bring the rustic theme together. These wooden oak log slices from TheLetterLoftUK would look charming as a cake holder or used in your centerpieces.

Are you looking for a save the date that stands out from the typical paper and ink varieties? We suggest these mason jar shaped, wood, magnetic save the dates from StylineDesigns.

Another magnet and wood option that conveys that rustic theme unquestionably are these round, wooden save the date magnets from RedCloudStudio.

These rustic, personalized thank you tags from BlissPaperBoutique are perfect way to add a rustic touch!

These rustic wedding invitations from DAYDREAMPRINTS scream rustic in a fun, cute way!

This banner wedding topper from BetterOffWed is a perfect mix of fun and sophistication with that exact dash of rustic that brings it all together.

Looking for the perfect sign for your gift table? We’ve found it! This elegant and rustic card and gifts sign from PaperandPineCo fits in perfectly with the rustic theme.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links

Here’s a scenario that might be familiar to some brides. You have finally whittled the guest list down to a manageable size when your parents give you a huge list of friends to invite that you barely know. This is a tough situation because you want to be nice to your parents, but  at the same time, you want to keep your wedding intimate. Depending on whether your parents are contributing to the wedding costs, you may feel like they are taking over your wedding plans more than you would like. Here are a few things to consider to help ease the tension:

1. Pay for Your Own Wedding

If your parents are footing the bill for your wedding – or at least a good portion of it, they have every right to have a say in your guest list! It you want ultimate control over the guest list, pay for the wedding yourselves!

2. Stand your ground

Maybe one set of parents has ideas of what they want and the other side doesn’t, or both parents are contributing to the wedding costs. Depending on the situation make sure you are clear with everyone about the wedding specifics—this includes numbers. It could be that they want to invite a lot of people because they think you want them to. Or they didn’t realize how much each person would cost to invite.

3. Be specific

Guest list tensions should not ruin relationships. These talks are difficult to have, but talking about it with them is better than ranting to your partner about how angry you are. Sit everyone down to talk about things instead of a “tell your Mother she can’t control our guest list!” type of conversation. Don’t invite 50 of your closest friends to the wedding and then tell your parents they can’t invite anyone. Let them have a few people at the wedding they can talk to and share the memories with. Give them a specific number of people in mind or suggest a few family friends you know well.

4. Have them help in other ways

Take the focus off of the guest list and have your parents help in other ways. For example, ask them to plan the rehearsal dinner or assign another wedding related task. Ask your mom to help plan a pre-wedding shower, Stag and Doe or party where she can invite all of the people she wants (just make sure they know if they are invited to the wedding or not!).

5. All you need is love

Your parents love you. Maybe they want to invite everyone they know to your wedding because they want everyone to see how amazing you are! As much as you might think they are controlling the wedding, they also want you to be happy. Your parents are from a generation that had a different idea about weddings. Try compromising with their ideas. The key is to tell them how you feel and respect their wishes, while sticking to your own vision of an intimate wedding.

Kelli and Mart married in July at the stunning Põhjaka Manor in Estonia. From the onset, the couple knew that they wanted an intimate wedding.

“We wanted to make sure we had a chance to talk personally to every guest during the wedding, as seeing our closest friends on a regular basis is somewhat of a challenge with two young children,” explains the bride.

Thank you to Gerry Sulp, the photographer who perfectly captured Kelli and Mart’s intimate affair.

Kelli, 32, & Mart, 32

Location: Estonia

Wedding Date: July 11, 2015

Number of Guests: 47

Wedding Cost: $16,000 USD

Wedding Ceremony Location: Põhjaka Manor, Estonia

Wedding Reception Location: Põhjaka Manor, Estonia

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

I don’t think we ever even thought of having a big wedding. We had all our closest friends and family members we really wanted to have with us that day, and we felt it needed to be a cozy and fun celebration. Another thing is that we wanted to take really good care of our guests and have a chance to spend more on quality than quantity.

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

We wanted our wedding to have a very personal touch in every aspect. We had quite a clear idea of the setup and feel of the wedding and finding a place where we could have both the atmosphere, food and accommodations that we wanted, was not an easy task. In the end, we designed and organized the solution for accommodation on our own; for us Põhjaka Manor was the perfect venue in every way, including the fact that head chef and owner Joel Kannimäe is amazing.

While we knew Põhjaka from having eaten there on several occasions in the past, we met Joel for the first time during our initial meeting at the manor. Actually, we were supposed to meet the manor/restaurant’s event’s contact person, but as she ran late, Joel sat down at our table and guided us through the entire event setup. Not just from the culinary aspect, but all items that related to our event.

For the accommodations, we stumbled upon the only tipi tent rental company in Estonia, by accident actually, and ended up buying all the fixtures on our own; mattresses, pillows, linen, carpets, outdoor washing items, there was even some sewing to be done by the bride!

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

It wasn’t really. Perhaps in Estonia there is no strong tradition of large-scale weddings and extended family members don’t expect invites, so having a shorter guest list was not a challenge. We did invite more friends from overseas, but due to logistics and other circumstances, some were unfortunately not able to attend.

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

We probably agreed on every guest from the beginning, the list already included the most important people to us. Somehow there’s mutual understanding who are the most important ones. No issues there 🙂

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We officially got married two years ago, and decided to have a proper party for our loved-ones later, but I still hadn’t legally changed my last name. So it was a challenge to come up with a reason or story for the wedding ceremony. We came up with the idea that I would write an application for a new ID card with my new married name, and a postman would deliver it to me a few minutes later. We knew it would either be extremely funny or be a complete disaster. Thanks to our fantastic host and MC, it turned out exactly as we hoped – brief, clever and funny.

We also had couple of special songs performed during the ceremony that made the atmosphere absolutely perfect. While standing under an old oak tree, it felt really powerful. Also standing there and seeing all the people together that were so important to us was very heart warming, and made me feel we should have all of them around us more often.

And of course the main highlight for me was to finally take my husband’s name.

The photos by our photographer Gerry Sulp captured the whole atmosphere beautifully.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Where do I begin? I think the whole reception was a highlight: the food, the music, the speeches, the dancing, the venue, the everything. All the items came together as we had planned, with many thanks to all the people who participated in the preparations and took care of us during the evening.

Just being there and enjoying ourselves and having everything turn out so great that day was a highlight on its own. It was a fantastic laid-back summer day with a lot of love and laughter around us. I wish we could do it again, straight away!

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

It was good that we had time for everyone, at least a little more than just a “hello”. There was no one we felt we had to invite or felt awkward having with us. Everyone there, knew they were all close to us; it felt like being home and just being ourselves among the best people.

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

Even when you don’t have many guests or are doing a lot of the planning yourself, it is useful to have a wedding planner (as did we), so at least when the day arrives, they will take care of every detail and you just need to sit back and enjoy the ride. We also hired someone to care for and entertain the children, not just to ask them to sit at a table the whole night. Being a parent of two little ones, that was a pretty important part of the planning too.

Vendors:

Wedding Planner: Gätlin Tanni AGT Studio

Hair and Make Up: Mari Ojasaar

Photographer: Gerry Sulp

Videographer: Getter Kuusmaa

Dress: Idea Bride, executed by HV Haus

Music: Kaire Vilgats and Raivo Tafenau Band

Catering: Põhjaka Manor

Craft Beer Roosimägi Ale: Madis Tüür, Matsalu Pruulikoda 

Coffee Beans: Tim Wendelboe

Wedding Host: Veiko Tubin