Despite some pressure from family to invite relatives that the couple didn’t even know existed, Tonia and Luciano stuck to their guns when it came to their guest list, inviting 40 of their closest friends and family to witness their nuptials.

The bride and groom exchanged their vows in the historic Church Santa Maria delle Grazie and celebrated seaside at the Castello Giusso in the coastal town of Vico Equense.

Special thanks to Valentina Casagrande for sharing all the lovely details and photos with us!

Tonia & Luciano 

Vico Equense, Naples, Italy

Wedding Date: May 29, 2015

Number of Guests: 40

Wedding Ceremony Location: Church Santa Maria delle Grazie

Wedding Reception Location: Castello Giusso, via xi febbraio

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We only wanted people there that we deeply care about, and who deeply care about us.

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

Our parents – they always want invite some faraway relatives that we didn’t even know existed.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

After a few initial arguments, not really.

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

I told my parents it was our choice who we invited, because it was our wedding day, not theirs.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

It was a short ceremony, but I was very emotional saying my vows.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Our first dance, fun moments with friends at the photo booth, and the relaxed feeling at the sunset.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Knowing everybody there made us feel so comfortable, like being at home. Also, being able to share such an important moment with those we chose to be there was priceless.

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

Talk to your parents and friends about your plans, but keep in mind that it will be your day and since you’ll only get the chance once, make it special, and don’t feel pressured by other people’s opinions and expectations.

Vendors:

Reception Venue: Castello Giusso

Photography: Valentina Casagrande  

Wedding Favors: Matrimonio Facile 

Music: Salvatore Montano

Hair and Make-up: Tonia Makeup

With logistical issues to consider, and a desire to have a meaningful wedding ceremony without any external pressures and stress, Terra and Dominique decided that they wanted to celebrate their relationship and their marriage with only each other. So, on a beautiful fall day, amongst the old growth cedar trees, with Terra’s sister officiating the ceremony and their photographer Tracie Howe and Terra’s nephew acting as their only witnesses, the brides eloped in the secluded Grove of Patriarchs in Mount Rainier National Park. The couple exchanged wooden wedding bands made of juniper and redwood, and celebrated by drinking wine in front of the fireplace of a cozy mountain cabin – making for a simple, but incredibly sweet and heartfelt wedding day.

Terra & Dominique

Mount Rainier National Park, WA

Wedding Date: October 18th, 2014

Number of Guests: 2

Wedding Cost: $3,500

Wedding Ceremony Location: Grove of the Patriarchs

Wedding Reception Location: No reception. We spent the evening with Terra’s nephew and sister (the two “guests” at the wedding) at a cabin near Mt. Rainier National Park – Jasmer’s Cabins. We ate a picnic style meal with smoked salmon, bread, cheeses, vegetables, salad, hummus, and drank lovely wine in front of a cozy fireplace.

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We really wanted a small, personal wedding by our design. We wanted to do it in a place and in a way that was meaningful to us without feeling beholden to the wishes of others. Terra had been married young and had a wedding that was dictated by what the parents wanted. This time around we both wanted a wedding without these external pressures and the associated anxiety. We love our family and friends, but we really wanted the ceremony to be unique and meaningful to us. For us, getting married wasn’t about feeling the need to consecrate or solidify our relationship in the eyes of an audience. We simply wanted a day to celebrate our relationship and our marriage.

We had some logistical issues as well. Dominique is Austrian and all of her family and friends live in Vienna. It wasn’t feasible for them to make it to the wedding and we felt that if all of our family and close friends couldn’t come, we would just do a ceremony with the two of us.

It was also most important to us to have a ceremony outside in a more remote location which required a hike to get to. This would have not only excluded some people, but also a crowd would have detracted from the solitude, beauty and intimacy of the place.

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

Finding a photographer and officiant willing to drive and then hike to the location we wanted was a challenge. The one thing we did want to have was a professional photographer. It was important to us to document this very important day. Trying to find a photographer willing and fit enough to follow us up a mountain or into the woods, however, was challenging. Tracie was wonderful in this regard, even suggesting different places and fully game to go almost wherever we wanted.

In terms of an officiant, we ended up asking Terra’s sister to marry us. This allowed us great flexibility in when, where, and how we did the wedding. Plus, we thought it would add to the personal nature of the ceremony.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

No, we had no guest list. Terra’s sister officiated. We needed 2 witnesses and we asked Tracie, our photographer, to be one and since Terra’s nephew really, really wanted to be there, he served as our second witness.

Did you have any ‘issues’ with the small guest list from friends and family?

No. Our family and friends were completely understanding and supportive of our wish to do the wedding this way. Both of us have a reputation for disregarding cultural norms so they are used to our unorthodox decisions.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

The place itself was absolutely amazing, almost surreal. It had rained earlier in the day, but then cleared for the ceremony. It was a beautiful, crisp October day. The leaves were an array of vibrant orange and yellow, amongst the towering old growth cedar trees.

In addition, our vows and Terra’s sister’s speech were so intimate and personal. It was a really moving ceremony that focused on us and the story of our relationship.

The rings were also particularly special to us. They were hand made by a wonderful couple in Canada. We chose to have them made of juniper and redwood. The redwood was especially meaningful to us because our relationship had developed into a romantic one while traveling in the Redwood National Park.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Having the freedom to create an intimate, relaxed, and very meaningful ceremony in a stunning and inspiring place without any outside expectations, obligations or stress.

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

Do it. And do it your way in the place you want to do it.

Vendors:

Floral: Marigold and Mint

Dominique’s Coat: Rieger

Rings: Touch Wood Rings

Photographer: Tracie Howe Photography

Finding new and original ways to keep your guests entertained at your wedding reception can be challenging, but there’s a hot new trend popping up that promises a smashing good time: the wedding piñata! If you think about it, the popularity of the piñata makes perfect sense; after all, who doesn’t love whacking paper mache with a stick, and being rewarded with candy?

When choosing a piñata for your wedding, picking something with a wedding theme is an obvious choice. Wedding cakes and diamond rings are two fun and popular piñata options.

Of course a heart shaped piñata is also a fitting choice and adding your initials is a super sweet touch.

We love the creativity and simplicity of this DIY piñata made out of post-it notes. Genius!

And how adorable are these candy heart piñatas? Perfect for a Valentine’s day wedding, don’t you think?

When in doubt, spell it out! Letter piñatas allow you to create any message you want, and the more letters you have, the more candy you can fill them with!

If a single piñata is all you want, you can’t go wrong with the ampersand – a classic and elegant symbol to represent your union.

If you want to go with a classic piñata style, you can always glam it up for the occasion with a touch of gold.

If you’d rather go modern, why not kill three trends with one stone with a stylish metallic geometric piñata?

Floral piñatas like these giant paper peonies are almost too pretty to smash, but we think you’ll find a way to get over it!

Mini piñatas are an adorable addition to any festive wedding reception especially if you’re going for a Cinco de Mayo theme. Use them as place settings/favors, reception decor, or as a fun alternative cake topper.

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As with most wedding ‘rules’, times are a changin’ and more and more couples are looking for unique alternatives. And that applies especially to wedding rings.

In fact, when I went shopping for matching “his and her “wedding bands, the store clerk told me that matching bands are no longer the norm. She said more women are opting for their own diamond encrusted wedding rings instead of matching wedding bands. We didn’t see anything we liked at a jewelry store, so we opted to make our own wedding rings–and had them match. It’s up to you whether you want a wedding ring to match your husband’s ring or something your own style.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for at a store, then turn to a designer or custom jeweler for what you want. Here are 10 wedding ring picks from Etsy that will inspire you to pick something a little more alternative.

If you’re looking for something truly different, try shopping vintage like this twisting eternity vintage wedding ring by RosenrosettAntiques.

What about a stacking ring? This also makes an amazing anniversary gift. Start with this set of six stacker wedding rings by NadineJewelry.

For a lighter weight ring instead of gold, beads make an interesting alternative. This Beaded ring is made from silver galvanized beads by JewelleryByJora.

Who says wedding rings have to be perfectly round? Experiment with different shapes, sizes and widths like this interesting silver cast organic shape wedding ring by WyckoffSmith.

For those who want matching wedding bands, a two-toned gold band is a suitable unisex choice. This love knot two-toned wedding band by arosha weaves together two different kinds of gold to represent the crossing of two lives.

There is no rule that says you need plain gold or silver for your wedding ring either. Go for a textured look or a darker tone, like this oxidized sterling silver and black wedding ring by edhelien.

Engraving is one way to add an individual touch to wedding rings. Have your wedding rings engraved with your wedding date or a favorite quote or your name, like these His and Hers thick solid gold engraved rings by MetalPressions.

This ring is sure to be a statement piece–and that’s the fun of it when it comes to an alternative choice of wedding ring. Try this Wrapped ring by AyalaVitkon on for size.

You know your ring will be one-of-a-kind when it is stamped with your fingerprint or even a paw print like this Fingerprint wedding ring by AdziasJewelryAtelier. 

A braided wedding ring is still elegant and classic, yet has a certain amount of flair. This yellow gold braided wedding ring by MayaMor is a beauty.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links

Wanting a romantic, memorable, and extraordinary wedding day experience without the stress of a traditional wedding, Derek and Emily both decided that a Paris elopement was at the top of their wedding day wish list. While the decision to elope was an easy one for the bride and groom, it was not so easy for all their friends and family. In order to make everyone happy, including themselves, the couple hired Brant Smith to document their elopement and hosted a reception in their hometown six weeks after exchanging their vows at the Place des Vosges – the oldest square in Paris – in order to properly celebrate with all their loved ones. For the newlyweds, it was a compromise that allowed them to honor their own wishes as well as their families, giving them the best of both worlds in the end.

Derek & Emily

Paris, France

Wedding Date: May 7, 2015

Number of Guests: 0

Wedding Ceremony Location: Place De Vosges Paris, France

Wedding Reception Location: Dinner at Lapérouse

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

Coming to the decision was the easy part. After the engagement, we both decided to sit down and independently come up with ideas for the wedding. Where would it be? How would we celebrate? Then we would come together and share our top picks and come to some agreement between the two of us. Oddly enough, we both listed a Paris elopement as our number one choice and the decision was made. It really came down to the fact that we wanted to enjoy “our day” together and make it a romantic, memorable, and extraordinary experience. Weddings are expensive and exhausting. We didn’t want to spend our day worrying about everyone else. Spending our day together in Paris was magical and something we will remember and cherish for the rest of our lives. We also planned a reception for friends and family when we returned home.We were able to share our special day in Paris with our friends and family by creating a slideshow using the photographs from the wedding day. We played this slideshow as guests arrived to the party and throughout the cocktail hour and dinner. Initially we experienced some push-back from friends and family regarding the decision to elope. However, after viewing the pictures in the slideshow, our family has not stopped talking about how beautiful it was to see us get married in Paris as the photographs truly captured the story of our wedding day. We also like to think our guests appreciated getting to “watch” us get married while drinking cocktails, eating dinner, and socializing with one another. It felt like more of a celebration, rather than a stuffy, traditional wedding ceremony, which is just not us. It was also nice to have two events to look forward to with the Paris ceremony and reception at home.  Also, we enjoyed looking forward to our day in Paris and got to look forward to a party with friends and family once we returned. Splitting everything up into two events allowed us to actually enjoy ourselves.

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

We planned the wedding on our own. We did not use a wedding planner. We spent hours and hours researching, but we tried to have fun with it. It was a lot of work but it was extremely rewarding (when you think about it, the “challenges” were not that big of a deal – just a reminder that we were getting married in Paris kept things in perspective). It all came together perfectly and we wouldn’t have done it any other way. It was our day and we owned it. We had a vision, stuck with it, and tried to enjoy every minute.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

Making the initial decision to pare down the guest list was not difficult for us. Explaining our decision to everyone was more difficult.

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

Yes, several family members were disappointed at the idea of not being there for our ceremony. In order to involve everyone in some way we came up with several ideas. Since a marriage ceremony in France is not technically legal unless you live in the country for 4 straight weeks prior to the wedding date, we needed to officially get married in the United States first. Derek works as an attorney at the courthouse so it made sense for us to ask one of the judges to marry us. We decided to do this on the Friday before we left for Paris. We invited our family to witness the official marriage ceremony and then celebrated afterward by going out to dinner. We also held a reception in our home town 6 weeks after the wedding. We invited 80 of our closest family and friends for a sit down dinner in a venue near our home. After the dinner, we participated in all of the traditional wedding festivities (cake cutting, bouquet & garter tosses, dancing, etc). We also hired a photographer to capture photos of family and friends that were able to celebrate with us. By doing things this way, we were able to honor both our wishes and our families’ wishes.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Oh, there were so many highlights that day! The first highlight had to be the “first look.” We had not finalized a plan for our first look upon arriving at the hotel, so the day before the ceremony, Derek spoke with the staff at Le Meurice (the hotel where we stayed) and they were kind enough to allow us to use the Belle Etoile Royal Suite for our photographs. The suite is the entire 7th floor of the hotel that opens up to a 3,000SF private terrace overlooking the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens with a magnificent 360 degree unobstructed view of Paris.  The view was absolutely breathtaking (it has been used to film several movies including Midnight in Paris).  We could not have dreamed of a more romantic and intimate location to see each other for the first time on our wedding day.

As for the ceremony, we had originally planned on holding it at the Musée de Carnavalet, however, upon arriving to the museum, we realized the location would not work out logistically. Luckily, our driver and officiant both had a plan B ready for us. We walked approximately a block away to the oldest square in Paris, the Place des Vosges. Upon walking into the square, several college aged kids started whistling the wedding song. Right away, we knew we’d have an audience. We scoped out a location and proceeded with the ceremony. We decided to write our own vows, which we strongly encourage everyone to do. Reading them to each other in front of the fountain at the Place des Vosges in front of a jubilant crowd cheering us on really captured the moment and emotions of the day.  That is exactly how you should feel on your wedding day.

Finally, being driven around Paris in a classic French car, sipping champagne and getting pictures in front of the most romantic locations in Paris was surreal. Complete strangers would pull up alongside the car in their scooters and shout words of congratulations through the windows. We also received our fair share of attention from those on the sidewalks. It seemed all of Paris was celebrating with us.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Getting to spend every second with each other and not worrying about anything else (like saying hi to hundreds of guests, stressing about cake, flowers, seating arrangements, etc.).

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

Do what you want to do. It is your day. Don’t let guilt or fear drive you to do something you don’t want to do. You will not regret your decision. We don’t.

Vendors:

Photographer: Brant Smith

Dress: Amy Kuschel

Flowers: Aquarelle 

Shoes: Menbur

Driver: Cedric’s

Paris Hotel: Le Meurice

Hair: Sonja Stein Benhamou

Dinner: Lapérouse