A small, intimate wedding is an amazing opportunity to have a truly unique, personalised day.
Whether it’s due to personal preference or budget limitations, there are many benefits to having a small wedding. Fewer guests help you cut down on wedding costs and you’ll have the opportunity to really spend time with each guest making wonderful memories. As a photographer, I find with fewer people, everyone really relaxes and I’m able to capture the special moments you’ll treasure forever; the laughter, the tears and the happiness.
A smaller guest list means you can get creative with your venue.
Perhaps you can make the day really sentimental by getting married where you first met or at place that’s meaningful to you both, like a café, library, heritage building, gallery, museum, bar, restaurant, brewery, vineyard, garden or park. The options are endless!
Having your wedding at home or a family bach can work well for smaller groups. Consider hiring a boutique Airbnb near a beach or with a great view of the countryside. There are so many great locations in Auckland including Piha, Muriwai and Wenderholm. For a chilled out reception, hire local caterers, have grazing plates delivered or a hire a food truck with fish ‘n’ chips, burgers or wood fired pizzas. Perhaps you could have a cocktail caravan with a signature cocktail for your wedding!
There are some amazing gems in the form of local halls set in rural bush and small towns. These venues are available for a fraction of the price of a traditional wedding venue and are perfect for smaller guest lists. Look into Coatesville Settlers Hall, Puhoi Centennial Hall, Stillwater Hall, The Ship on Coxs Bay, French Bay Yacht Club and Huia Hall.
For a nautical experience, get married on a boat or small yacht. It’ll be a unique day captured with incredible photos. If there’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit, why not have a destination wedding? We have amazing locations around the country; the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, the Coromandel, Hawkes Bay, Nelson and Queenstown. You could also plan some sight-seeing around the wedding or even split guests into teams and have a scavenger hunt! Don’t be afraid to ask your photographer if they are willing to travel with you. I love travelling to new places, trying out new ideas and creating beautiful photos with my clients!
If you keep your guest list small, there will be others who want to know you got hitched. Send out an announcement after the big day, throw a party at a later date with a slideshow of your wedding photos or you could even video the ceremony and stream it live.
Emily can help you capture the perfect small wedding, book a session today!