If you love the idea of taking all of your favorite friends and family away with you for a weekend, Sun N Sand Resort in South Haven, Michigan, might just be the perfect venue for your intimate wedding. This resort style venue allows you to essentially own the grounds for your big day (or your entire wedding weekend!).

The day before your wedding, you and your guests can kick back and relax by the saltwater pool, followed by a cozy campfire with roasted s’mores. For couples who prefer a beach wedding, Lake Michigan is only ten minutes away! (Another bonus is that downtown Chicago is only an hour and a half away; what a great side trip for guests who have never traveled to the windy city!)

For couples who want a stress free experience, Sun N Sand provides full wedding planning services, wedding transportation, decoration services, catering and more.

Want more info about Sun N Sand? Check out their venue listing on IW.

Photo One and Photo Three (collage): 430 Studios

Just when you thought you couldn’t bear to see another mason jar, we’ve got one more mason jar idea that might just make you, well, a jar head!

Everyone loves nachos, but when they are served neatly in a jar – they taste even better! These nachos-in-a-jar are perfect single serving sizes for bridal showers or other pre-wedding parties. You can even serve them as a fun late night snack at your reception.

For each Nachos-in-a-jar, you will need:

• cooked ground turkey with nacho seasoning (you can also use ground beef)
• refried beans
• shredded cheddar cheese
• avacado, diced
• lettuce, chopped
• salsa
• sour cream or yogurt
• tortilla chips for dipping

Spoon ingredients in jar this order:

Cooked ground turkey, refried beans, cheese, avacado, lettuce, salsa, sour cream. Place a single tortilla chip on top. Serve on a plate or platter with tortilla chips.

Easy and delish!

After the loss of her father in 2009, Emma always knew that her walk down the aisle would be an unconventional one. When she and Chris decided to tie the knot, they felt strongly that an intimate setting would be best for their wedding day.

Wanting to imbue their written vows with meaning and honor the memory of Emma’s father, the couple chose to have a small destination wedding in Maui with just their immediate family present. With the bride’s sister officiating the ceremony, both mothers reading selected passages, and a symbolic candle lighting for the bride’s father, Chris and Emma’s wedding day was one truly unforgettable and love-filled affair!

Special thanks to Caitlin Cathey for sharing all the photos from Chris and Emma’s beautiful day with us!

Emma, 29 & Chris, 36

Maui, HI

Wedding Date: November 6, 2014

Number of Guests: 7

Wedding Cost: $6,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm (Maui highlands)

Wedding Reception Location: Lilikoi Lanai Plantation House (also the lodging/house for the guests), Haiku (rainforest area of Maui)

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

I knew after losing my Dad (in 2009) the walk down the aisle would already be unconventional, and so even before I met Chris I knew there would be elements of the day that departed from the “norm”. Both Chris and I envisioned writing our own vows as well, and knew an intimate setting would infuse them with the most meaning.

To honor my Dad on our day, we included a few special elements. We placed a photo of my dad near the dinner table so as to have his memory near to us on the big day, even though he was with us in spirit. I had his handwriting of the word “love” tattooed on the outside of my right wrist (the hand that represents my maiden name, my “before”). I also had a blue heart shaped swatch of fabric from one of my dad’s old ranching shirts stitched in the liner of my dress over my heart. The last touch was having a candle lit during the ceremony in his memory.

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

Being asked for lots of details (by colleagues, acquaintances, extended family) when you’re trying to keep it under wraps from even your small guest list and those closest to you! It feels weird to tell someone far removed from your inner circle about a detail that even your mom may not know. I suggest choosing a few details that you are comfortable sharing with everyone (including those attending), such as your venue, or who is officiating (especially if it’s someone meaningful).

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list? 

Because we decided from the get-go that we wanted to cover flights and accommodation for everyone (we didn’t want our decision for a destination wedding to burden anyone), it was an easy decision to stick with! We kept it to immediate family only (siblings and parents) in order to keep costs realistic.

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

Mostly we encountered disbelief. So many people assumed we would have a big wedding because we have a large group of shared colleagues and friends. We just kept reassuring everyone that it was what we envisioned, and we were enthusiastic about the experience we would be able to provide for our closest loved ones (who all, SO deserved a vacation).

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

Having my sister marry us. She did such an amazing job; it was so sincere and heartfelt. There were so many meaningful little moments too, like having our rings passed around for everyone to hold, before Chris and I exchanged them. Our mums each read a passage we selected, and Chris and I wrote our own vows.

What were the highlights of the reception?

Our DIY approach to the ambiance and decorations, which made it comfortable, yet stylish and full of love (and inexpensive!). The money we saved went into the catering instead and it was so worth it. Because we stayed at the property prior to the wedding day and reception dinner, we had the ability to leisurely prep and customize every element. We allowed our creativity to be sparked once we arrived, inspired by things we saw out shopping, and elements from around the property. This also meant low stress (fussing over design options) during the months leading up to the wedding. I only really gathered ideas on Pinterest.

The ladies had a crafting day prior to the wedding. My mum made paper lanterns for LED tea lights along the railing. She had also previously contacted all of our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents for black and white wedding photos from all of their wedding days. She made this into a garland that we strung up so they all could be with us in spirit.

The cake was hand made and decorated by Chris’s mum (she packed it from frozen, made from her bakery “Ooh La La Cupcakes” in Victoria, Canada). She was up until 3am the night before the wedding decorating the lace fondant, but it was so worth it. It was mocha flavour because Chris and I both love coffee and chocolate and the top tier was vegan, so everyone’s dietary preferences were also accommodated.

The table decor was inspired by the lush greens on the property. Almost everything was picked or clipped from the 2 acre garden, except for some eucalyptus, baby’s breath and white peonies we got from a florist. The mothers decorated the table while I had my hair and make up done; I left it up to them and was totally impressed. The place cards were made with lava rocks from the beaches we’d visited earlier in the week.

My sister and I made the menu board for our dinner. I used chalkboard markers on black bristol board which we attached to a kids painting easel we found in the garage at the house (wow – that worked out well!). We bought burlap and lace ribbon from a hobby store, and used it on both the menu board, and also for the bride and groom chairs.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

The ability to be “present” the entire time. Every person had each other’s attention, and we were all the “head table”. We will never forget that day.

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

Do it! You won’t regret it.

Vendors:

Wedding Planner: Maui’s Angels Weddings

Photographer: Caitlin Cathey Photography

Catering: Cater2U Maui 

Hair & Makeup: I Am U’i Beauty

Ceremony Bouquet and Boutonniere: Dellables Floral Design

Venue: Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm

Today, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite Etsy garlands. If you are looking for wedding decor that will add some ‘wow’ to your photos, you will adore these handmade garlands. (All of the photos link to the listing on Etsy.)

This colorful tissue paper garland by loveLouCollective is so striking!

These paper rose garlands by LoveEmbellished  make such a stunning backdrop.

We are so smitten with this paper rose garland from LaMiaCasa.

Another lovely paper garland in pretty pastels. This garland was made by lillesyster.

This awesome paper garland by TransparentEsDecor would be perfect for a wedding with a modern theme.

Ribbon garlands make a beautiful backdrop for your candy buffet. We love the soft pastels in this garland by ohMYcharley.

Wedding tassels are one trend that we never get tired of. Lovin’ this tassel garland by  BlushBazaar.

This torn fabric garland by untoldimprint would be perfect for a rustic wedding.

These felt flowers by AllySen are beyond stunning!

If you are having a boho wedding, you will love this dreamcatcher wedding garland by StudioYuki.

*This post includes Etsy Affiliate links.

Despite the trend amongst their friends of hosting huge, blowout weddings, Kristin and Mark wanted something a little more intimate, romantic, and less overwhelming for their own big day. They chose the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville for their wedding ceremony and limited the guest list to 40 of their closest family and friends. This allowed the couple to enjoy the luxuries of a high-end wedding without the astronomical costs. More importantly, a small guest list gave them quality time  with each and every one of their guests.

Special thanks to Eddie and Chrissy of High Five For Love for sharing all the stunning photos with us today!

Kristin, 30 & Mark, 32

Nashville, TN

Wedding Date: October 18th, 2014

Number of Guests: 40

Wedding Cost: $35,000

Wedding Ceremony Location: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens Reflection Pool

Wedding Reception Location: The Watermark Restaurant

Why did you have an intimate wedding?

We wanted our wedding to be incredibly special and romantic, and an intimate destination wedding with only our family and closest oldest friends was the perfect way to celebrate our love without an overwhelmingly huge party. We knew that everyone that was there was truly there to celebrate our love and union, and it was very important to us to be able to spend quality time with each and every person who attended. Keeping the guest list on the smaller side also allowed us to have all the luxuries of a high-end wedding, with exceptional details like the ceremony location, food, flowers, and transportation.

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

Our families were incredibly supportive of our choice to have a smaller wedding. Once we made our wishes – to keep the guest list small – known, they were completely on board with our vision. Our biggest challenge was planning the wedding long-distance, and we had to make a few trips from our home in Winter Park, Florida to Nashville to put things into place for the wedding. Because we had a small destination wedding, I planned nearly the entire wedding myself with the exception of a day-of coordinator to help with the final details.

Was it difficult to pare down the guest list?

At first, yes. However, once we made our wishes known to our friends and family, they seemed to understand that we wanted an intimate destination wedding, and they were accepting of our choice. Guest lists can snowball very quickly, so being very conscious of every invite was extremely important.

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

It seemed that the trend in our social circle was to have a huge, blowout wedding. When we first expressed that our guest list was limited to 40 people, I was concerned that it would potentially hurt people’s feelings. However, I think simply explaining our vision smoothed everything over with our friends that were not invited.

What were the highlights of the ceremony?

We wanted to keep our ceremony extremely simple and romantic. Our ceremony programs were done by KaKalligraphy, and the calligraphy and watercolor artwork were absolutely stunning. We included a special note in our programs to our friends and family members that have passed away and that we wanted to honor. We had an incredible string quartet – Innocenti Strings – that played a string version of Coldplay’s “Fix You” as I came down the stairwell aisle holding on to my dad with all my might. My husband was so overfilled with emotion that he teared up the moment my father put my hand in his, and he delivered the most tearful and beautiful vows I’ve ever heard. We wanted every moment of our wedding to be a deliberate expression of our love and life together, and not just an ordinary wedding tradition. Our ceremony was so incredibly joyful, and completely reflected our love for each other. It was absolutely perfect.

What were the highlights of the reception?

We wanted our reception to be full of terrific food, top-shelf liquor, beautiful music, and great company. The Watermark Restaurant did an incredible job of making sure the night flowed perfectly, and the food and drinks were amazing. Our best man and maid of honor gave some of the best toasts I’ve heard at a wedding, and it was so wonderful to be able to spend lots of time with everyone that was at the wedding.

What was the best thing about having an intimate wedding?

Stripping the guest list down to our favorite people removed so much of the formality of having a big wedding. It filled the room with the best things – love, close friends, family, great food and drinks, beautiful music and flowers, and so much joy. Most of the guests already knew each other, and even if they didn’t, everyone was friends by the end of the weekend.

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

Follow your heart! Make sure you and your groom make a list of what you think is most important for your wedding day. Stay true to those goals, because everyone will be giving you advice and you will be tempted to change your vision many times. At the end of the day, you only get once chance to make your wedding perfect for you, so stay true to yourself!

Vendors:

Photography: High Five For Love

Preparation Locations: Bride – VRBO, Groom – Union Station Hotel

Ceremony Venue: Cheekwood Botanical Gardens

Reception Venue: Watermark

Planner: Vision in White Events

Vintage Rolls Royce: 1965, formerly owned by Bing Crosby

Bride’s Dress: Wedding Atelier, Alyne Bridal

Bride’s Dress Sash: Monique Lhullier

Bride’s’ Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Bride’s Jewelry: Vintage

Bride’s Veil: Erin Cole

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Chosen by Bridesmaids

Hair: Chantelle at One10 Makeup

Makeup: Kristin at One10 Makeup

Groom and Groomsmen Attire: Vera Wang

Florist: Enchanted Florist, Caprice Palmer

Cake: Dulce Desserts, Juanita Lane

Stationary: Alissa Neely, Oh Ollie Designs

Invitations, Place Cards, + Stationary Calligraphy: KAKalligraphy

Invitations + Stationary Printing: Wiley Valentine

Wooden lanterns: Antique

Silver trays: Antique

Handkerchiefs: Antique