10 WAYS TO KEEP YOUR I NTI MATE WEDDI NG

INTIMATE
W I T H B O N U S P R O B U D G E T T I P S

I N T I M A T E W E D D I N G T I P S
S P I T

W O H
D N A

O T
SEI ZE
P E E K
S A E D I

THE E H T
G N I D D E W

G N I D D E W

DAY
E T A M I T N I

L L A M S

T H E M I N I M A L B R I D E

S P E P A G E 1
 " YOU KNOW
YOU' RE I N L OVE
WHE N YOU CAN' T
F AL L AS L E E P
B E CAUS E RE AL I T Y
I S F I NAL L Y
B E T T E R T HAN
YOUR DRE AMS . "
—DR. S E US S

INTIMATE MEANS JUST THAT

A wedding where you can talk to every person for a

meaningful amount of time.

And intimate in the way that most details are special to you and
your fiancé. In my opinion, that means probably around 70 or less.
But we will say less than a 100 is a typical intimate wedding. 

It’s so easy to get caught up in traditional, cookie cutter ideas of

your typical wedding. So here are 10 ways to keep your intimate
wedding intimate.

S P E P A G E 2
 10 WAYS
HE GUEST TO KEEP
TIMATE

0 and only close

nd family that you
YOUR
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get Note* Make
hat with both
INTIMATE
d your finances
ee what everyone
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WEDDING
ing.

E A VENUE
INTIMATE
OLDS LESS
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r venue will keep

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y and will make if KEEP THE GUEST
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LIST INTIMATE
ving.  Plus venues
urants or garden Under 100 and only close friends
will have tables and family that you want to see and
rs for guests. honor.

get Note* some

will rent there
*Pro Budget Tip* Create a clear
free with a budget. Make sure to chat with both
mount of catering your and your fiancés families to
see what everyone is comfortable
contributing.

S P E P A G E 3
 02 S M A L L E R V E N U E =
INTIMATE
A smaller venue will keep everyone
in close proximity and will make it
feel like a family gathering, like
Thanksgiving.  Plus venues such as
restaurants or resorts will likely
have tables and chairs for guests. 

*Pro Budget Tip* some venues have

a free rental of space with a certain
amount of catering ordered.

03 M A K E I T A
DESTINATION
WEDDING -
RENT A WHOLE
RESORT
Nothing says intimate like when
everyone can hang out for a long 3
day weekend with the ceremony and
simple reception in the middle.

*Pro Budget Note* you don’t have to

foot the room bill for each guest.
Just reserve the amount of rooms
that will be needed, and have each
guest call and arrange payment with
the resort.

S P E P A G E 4
 CHOOSE A FOOD
04
TRUCK OR
RESTAURANT FAV
THAT YOU AND
YOUR FIANCÉ
BOTH LOVE TO
EAT.
Let the meal the represent
something about your relationship.
Keeping the food personal is always
fun to chat about w your guests as
well. Grandma will love to hear that
you choose a taco food truck cuz
you fell in love after many trips of
ordering tacos at this same taco
truck. 

*Pro Budget Tip* Food will always

take a big portion of your budget.
Average cost per person is $70. Be
sure to read all the fine print on
your contract. Many caterers have
service fees, admin fees and
gratuity fees on top of tax. Make
sure they provide service as well as
catering the food.

S P E P A G E 5
 05 C O N S I D E R A L I V E
SINGER/
SONGWRITER FOR
MUSIC.
Often times a “one man show” is
great as entertainment as well as
playing all your favorite songs. Plus
if you aren’t up for the traditional
dancing butstill having good music
for the ceremony and reception.
This is a nice way to bring it all
together.

*Pro Budget Tip* if you really love

music, this may be less expensive
option.

06 C H O O S E S E A T I N G
THAT KEEPS
EVERYONE CLOSE
Opt for a really long farm house
table for dinner and/or circle
seating around the bride and groom
during the ceremony.

 *Pro Budget tip* if you need to cut

cost somewhere use the same seats
(and maybe even the same room) for
the ceremony as you do for dinner.
Ask the guests to just move their
seat from ceremony to their dinner
table.

S P E P A G E 6
 07 G E T A L L T H E C R E W
TOGETHER FOR A
GROUP PHOTO
Have the photographer get a photo
with all the guests. This will be a
great keepsake. And it won’t take
any extra time cuz it’s really easy to
get 70 people in a picture right
after the ceremony rather than 250
after dinner and drinks of a
traditional wedding.

*Pro Budget Tip* Don't skimp on the

photographer. You will notice the
difference between good photos and
WOW! photos.

08 H A N D W R I T T E N
NOTE ON A PLACE
CARD FOR EACH
GUEST
If your guest list is real small, a
little note to each one on how
special it is for them to be there on
each place card.

 *Pro Budget Tip* Write the note on

card stock and then use a paper
cutter from an office store to cut
them small enough to either stand
up. When you use a tent style you
can also write their name on the
front side to keep cost down.

S P E P A G E 7
 09 L E T T H E G U E S T S
CHOOSE THEIR
WEDDING
“FAVORS”
If your doing a donation to a
humanitarian org or a ministry
choose a few you love, and let your
guests decide which they want.
Create a voting ballot and have each
guest vote for their favorite. Then,
when you send out announcements
add winning vote and amount
pledged.

*Pro Budget Tip* Don't waste your

money on another koozie or bottle
opener that will just gets thrown
away. Choosing a donation helps
someone else, is less wasteful, and
less consumable.

S P E P A G E 8
10
DON’T DO IT FOR THE CAKE.
Wedding tradition is full of cake. But
iif you both love ice cream, create a
Sunday Bar. Or create a Candy Bar
with both your favorite candies. Or if
you have a vintage flair fill the table
full of baked goods that you both
loved growing up. Maybe Grandma's
banana bread and moon pies? If you
don’t love dessert have a salty treat -
perhaps popcorn or cheese and
crackers.
*Pro Budget Tip* restaurants and/or
local bakeries are less expensive than
big mainstream cake places. Especially
if you go "non-traditional", pick a
bakery that you frequent. They will
appreciate the order of moon pies and
it will be another way to keep that
intimate feel all the way through
dessert.

HERE ARE MORE INSPIRATIONAL IDEAS

ARE YOU READY FOR HELP PLANNING

YOUR INTIMATE WEDDING?

S P E P A G E 9